American Idol 2025: Top 5 Revealed in an Emotional Showdown -

Read Time:1 Minute, 52 Second

Anaheim, California | 12 May 2025

American Idol 2025 has entered its final stages, with only five contestants left in the competition. The journey to the finale has been full of emotional performances, and the latest episode was no exception. As the season 23 finale draws closer, the pressure has increased, and the contestants are giving it their all. This episode stood out for its touching tributes and Disney-themed performances, making it one of the most heartfelt episodes of the season.

The night featured a special guest appearance by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is best known for his work on Disney hits like Moana and Encanto. He helped the Top 7 contestants pick songs from Disney and Pixar movies. Gabby Simone delivered a powerful performance of How Far I’ll Go from Moana, a song co-written by Miranda. Breanna Nix followed with a strong number from Mulan, and Jamal Roberts brought energy with a song from Hercules. Slater Nalley, although he forgot some lyrics to Can You Feel The Love Tonight?, managed to recover and win over the audience with his effort and emotion.

Advertisements

In the second half of the episode, the theme shifted to a Mother’s Day tribute, which led to many emotional moments. Judge Carrie Underwood was visibly moved during this segment. Marrie Pruitt performed Raised By Those Kind of Women to honor both her mother and stepmother. Thunderstorm Artis sang an original song dedicated to his wife, showing his side as a husband and father of two. John Foster closed the show with Believe by Brooks & Dunn, a touching tribute to his mother. Carrie Underwood described his performance as the “perfect” way to end the night.

By the end of the episode, two contestants—Mattie Pruitt and Gabby Simone—were eliminated. The Top 5 contestants moving forward are Slater Nalley, Breanna Nix, John Foster, Jamal Roberts, and Thunderstorm Artis. With the finale scheduled for May 18, the competition is getting more intense with each performance.