Indio native Abi Carter makes 'American Idol' Top 5 after Fall Out Boy, Adele covers
The Top 7 contestants on "American Idol" Season 22 played double duty Sunday, putting on a whopping two performances that put both their choreography skills and their vocal range to the test.
The "Idol" hopefuls, mentored by "1, 2, Step" hitmaker Ciara, were challenged to sing one dance song and one Adele hit that would springboard them into the Top 5.
Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan found themselves surprised (in ways both good and bad) multiple times throughout the two-hour live episode.
More: When does the next 'American Idol' episode air? Here's when and what has happened so far in 2024
As singers Abi Carter and McKenna Faith Breinholt gave performances that showed their determination to stay in the competition, Emmy Russell befuddled the judges — who, the consummate professionals they are, still doled out positive feedback — by remaining seated at the piano for one of the most literal dance songs of the past decade.
Georgia native Will Moseley got out of his comfort zone to add a little dance step to his performance of "Gimme Three Steps."
Here's what happened in Episode 16, what each contestant sang and who was sent home.
Abi Carter's fiery performance makes Katy Perry 'scared for my job'
During rehearsals, Ciara declared she was going to help Abi "put some sauce" into her performance.
She didn't disappoint.
For her dance song, the 21-year-old singer-songwriter donned a bold red jumpsuit with cutouts and stretched her already impressive vocal range in a new rockstar-worthy style as she performed Fall Out Boy's "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)."
Flames firing into the air behind her and all, Abi gave her most unexpected performance yet. The performer that Perry describes as "angelic" week after week? She can't come to the mic right now. (Well, until she returned for a stunning and, yes, "angelic," performance of Adele's "Hello" later in the program.)
As well as delivering on the vocals, the Indio native smoothly rescued her unsecured mic pack early in the song, amazing the judges.
"Where has all this energy been? Where has all this physicality been?" Perry exclaimed. "Why were you saving that for almost the last show? You can do that?" She added, "That performance made me scared for my job."
"You handled it like a pro," Bryan said of the mic pack issue. "We thought you just played piano and sang."
Indio city officials call for celebration if Abi Carter makes Top 3
The City of Indio is planning a special hometown celebration for Carter if she makes the Top 3. On its Instagram account last week, the city announced plans for a free celebration that Carter herself would attend. The event would take place of the city's monthly Second Saturdays event — but only if she gets enough votes to enter the Top 3.
The whole post is as follows:
"As many may know, Indio native, Abi Carter is a contestant currently on American Idol. If she makes it to the Top 3 (which we have every expectation that she will), we will be hosting a hometown visit for her on Tuesday, May 14! This event will be open to the public and free to attend. We are very excited at the prospect of being able to celebrate Abi making it to the Top 3. Be sure to take the time to vote for her starting at 5 p.m. this Sunday: https://idolvote.abc.com
More details to be announced!
Due to this special event, we will not be hosting our Second Saturdays event for May. Please mark your calendars for our June Second Saturdays concert on June 8!"
Who was eliminated from 'American Idol'?
Another platinum ticket winner bites the dust.
Julia Gagnon (songs: "Roam" by The B-52’s and Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain") and Mckenna Breinholt (songs: "E.T." by Katy Perry and Adele's "Make You Feel My Love") unfortunately didn't muster enough votes to stay in the competition this week.
Who's in the 'American Idol' 2024 Top 5?
Abi Carter (songs: "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark" and "Hello)
Jack Blocker (songs: "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard and "One And Only" by Adele)
Triston Harper (songs: "T.R.O.U.B.L.E.” by Travis Tritt and "Easy on Me" by Adele)
Will Moseley (songs: "Gimme Three Steps" by Lynyrd Skynyrd and "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele)
Emmy Russell (songs: “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon and "Water Under the Bridge" by Adele)
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Indio native Abi Carter makes American Idol Top 5
