Who made the Top 7 on American Idol 2025: Judge’s Song Contest recap

After a pair of shocking eliminations, American Idol bid farewell to yet another contestant as the Top 7 was revealed.
AMERICAN IDOL Ð Ò815 (LadiesÕ Night)Ó - Powerhouse performances celebrate the Iconic Women of Music, featuring Miranda Lambert, as the Top 10 return hoping to earn a spot in the Top 8. America votes live to decide who moves one step closer to becoming the next American Idol. SUNDAY, MAY 4 (8:00-10:01 p.m. EDT/7:00-9:01 p.m. CDT/6:00-8:01 p.m. MDT/5:00-7:01 p.m. PDT), on ABC. (Disney/Eric McCandless)
MATTIE PRUITT, BREANNA NIX, MIRANDA LAMBERT, SLATER NALLEY, GABBY SAMONE, JOSH KING, JOHN FOSTER,
AMERICAN IDOL Ð Ò815 (LadiesÕ Night)Ó - Powerhouse performances celebrate the Iconic Women of Music, featuring Miranda Lambert, as the Top 10 return hoping to earn a spot in the Top 8. America votes live to decide who moves one step closer to becoming the next American Idol. SUNDAY, MAY 4 (8:00-10:01 p.m. EDT/7:00-9:01 p.m. CDT/6:00-8:01 p.m. MDT/5:00-7:01 p.m. PDT), on ABC. (Disney/Eric McCandless) MATTIE PRUITT, BREANNA NIX, MIRANDA LAMBERT, SLATER NALLEY, GABBY SAMONE, JOSH KING, JOHN FOSTER,

Sunday night’s American Idol saw the Top 10 go to the Top 8 with the shocking elimination of two frontrunners in Canaan James Hill and Kolbi Jordan, proving that no one is truly safe from the threat of elimination. 

Tonight, the Top 7 were revealed, but before the results rolled in, the contestants joined in on the annual Judge’s Song Contest! Keeping with tradition, the episode saw each contestant presented with three songs: one selected by each of the season’s judges. The twist being that they didn’t know who was behind the song selections until after they selected their song and performed it for America’s vote.

Unlike most weeks of the competition, Judge’s Song Contest week gives the judges something to compete for as well! The judge whose songs are selected by the most contestants not only gets bragging rights, but they also get the chance to save a contestant from elimination at the end of the night! America selects the Top 6 based on their votes, with the winning judge of the Judge’s Song Contest getting to save one of the contestants in the bottom two, giving them the final spot in the Top 7.

Here’s a recap of the night’s performances from the Top 8 as they happened throughout the night, with a look at the songs they were presented, their selections, and the judges behind them!

Breanna Nix

Song Choices:

  • “The Blessing” by Elevation Worship feat. Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes
  • “Independence Day” by Martina McBride
  • “Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande 

Selection: “Independence Day” by Martina McBride

Judge Behind the Song: Luke Bryan

Mattie Pruitt

Song Choices:

  • “Always Been You” by Jessie Murph 
  • “I Need You” by LeAnn Rimes
  • “Parachute” by Chris Stapleton 

Selection:  “Always Been You” by Jessie Murph 

Judge Behind the Song: Luke Bryan

John Foster

Song Choices:

  • “Two Dozen Roses” by Shenandoah
  • “I Cross My Heart” by George Strait 
  • “Crazy” by Willie Nelson

Selection: “I Cross My Heart” by George Strait 

Judge Behind the Song: Carrie Underwood 

Josh King

Song Choices:

  • “You Make My Dreams (Come True)” by Daryl Hall and John Oates
  • “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis
  • “Home” by Michael Bible 

Selection: “Home” by Michael Bible 

Judge Behind the Song: Lionel Richie 

Gabby Samone

Song Choices:

  • “The Power of Love” by Celine Dion
  • “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys
  • “Hero” by Mariah Carey 

Selection: “Hero” by Mariah Carey 

Judge Behind the Song: Lionel Richie

Jamal Roberts

Song Choices:

  • “I Believe” by Fantasia 
  • “Lately” by Stevie Wonder
  • “Grenade” by Bruno Mars

Selection: “I Believe” by Fantasia 

Judge Behind the Song: Lionel Richie

Thunderstorm Artis

Song Choices:

  • “Northern Attitude” by Noah Kahn
  • “Let It Be” by The Beatles
  • “Faithfully” by Journey 

Selection: “Faithfully” by Journey 

Judge Behind the Song: Carrie Underwood 

Slater Nalley

Song Choices:

  • “Hope the High Road” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
  • “Atlantic City” by Bruce Springsteen
  • “Believe” by Brooks and Dunn

Selection: “Atlantic City” by Bruce Springsteen

Judge Behind the Song: Luke Bryan

In addition to our solo performances, the night also featured a few group numbers in which the contestants took on songs by the judges. It was a fun way to bring the artists together with Gabby, Josh, and Jamal performing "Dancing on the Ceiling" by Lionel; Thunderstorm, Slater, and John performing "Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day" by Luke; and Breanne and Mattie performing "Something in the Water" by Carrie.

Who went home on American Idol tonight? Our Top 7 revealed! 

After the final performance of the night, it came time for the live results! First, Ryan revealed the names of the six contestants saved by America with Slater Nalley, Thunderstorm Artis, Gabby Samone, Breanna Nix, Jamal Roberts, and John Foster all making it into the Top 7 by America’s votes. 

This left Josh King and Mattie Pruitt as our bottom two for the night. After a quick deliberation, Luke and Lionel, the winners of our Judge’s Song Contest in a tie with three of their songs selected, chose to save Mattie. This meant that we bid farewell to Josh King. To recap, that leaves the following artists to make up our Top 7:

  • Breanna Nix
  • Mattie Pruitt
  • Jamal Roberts
  • John Foster
  • Gabby Samone
  • Slater Nalley
  • Thunderstorm Artis

Next week, the Top 7 will get the chance to perform songs from the Disney catalogue as well as a special tribute to their moms for Mother's Day. That will give way to the Top 5 being selected, with the Top 5 then taking to the stage on Monday as the contestants fight to make it into the finale!

Be sure to refresh as we'll be recapping the episode live!