American Idol
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American Idol contestant Emmy Russell is a coal miner’s great-granddaughter, and she paid homage to her grandmother, the late Country Music Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn,on Monday’s (April 29) episode of the talent competition.
Seated at a piano, Russell performed Loretta Lynn’s signature song: the 1970 hit “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” The song focuses on Lynn’s Kentucky childhood, watching as her father worked hard in the coal mines to provide money for basic food and clothing for his family. As Russell performed the song, large screens showed Russell’s mother, Patsy Lynn, as she watched in the audience.
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On Monday night, Russell advanced to the top seven on the show. For her Idol audition, Russell performed her own original song called “Skinny.” Throughout her time on the show so far, she’s also performed covers of Blink-182’s “All the Small Things” and Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”
Russell previously told People of a special moment just prior to her Idol performance of “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” “I think just closing my eyes and telling her, ‘I’m proud of you.’ I did that in rehearsal. I was like, ‘I’m proud of you.’ I want people to feel proud of their story, where they’ve come from, and I hope that that song made them feel like, ‘Oh, I can be proud of where I come from.’ I’m just really grateful.”
Loretta Lynn died at age 90 on Oct. 4, 2022. Lynn earned 16 chart-toppers on what is now the Hot Country Songs chart and was the first woman to win entertainer of the year at the CMA Awards. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988. Lynn’s 1976 autobiography Coal Miner’s Daughter was later adapted for the big screen, with Sissy Spacek in the lead role as Lynn in the 1980 movie. Spacek won an Academy Award for her role as Lynn. In 2021, Lynn issued her 46th solo studio album, Still Woman Enough.
Russell is following in the family tradition, as her mother Patsy has also been involved in music. Patsy teamed with her sister Peggy to form the duo The Lynns in the 1990s and earned CMA Awards nominations for vocal duo of the year in 1998 and 1999.
See Russell’s performance below:
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The 22nd season of American Idol is steaming toward its May 19th finale, but before this year’s winner is crowned the show has a few more tricks up its sleeve. During Monday night’s (April 29) Judge’s Song Contest episode that pared the pack of hopefuls down to the top 7, the lineup for Sunday’s (May […]
The latest episode of American Idol was an eventful one, as the top seven contestants were identified, America waved goodbye to one hopeful, and a musical tribute was paid to the late Idol alum, Mandisa.
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Monday night was the Judge’s Song round of Idol’s 22nd season, a game within a game that saw the Top 8 perform one of three songs secretly selected by Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
Will Moseley covered Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” Kaibrienne sang “Traitor” by Olivia Rodrigo, McKenna Faith Breinholt hit Lissie’s “Everywhere I Go,” Jack Blocker belted out “Always On My Mind,” Abi Carter tackled “Bring Me To Life,” Julia Gagnon went with “Over The Rainbow,” Triston Harper impressed with Morgan Wallen’s “Sand In My Boots” and Emmy Russell performed Loretta Lynn’s signature song, “Coal Miners Daughter.”
Just to add some spice, America voted live for the Top 6, and the judges made a save for the Top 7. When the votes were tallied, Kaibrienne was eliminated.As previously reported, the special two-hour episode also welcomed back three American Idol alumni to pay homage to late season five star Mandisa. Melinda Doolittle (season six), Danny Gokey (season eight) and Colton Dixon (season 11) came together to sing one of Mandisa’s favorite songs, “Shackles” by gospel duo Mary Mary.The 47-year-old Grammy-winning Christian contemporary singer was found dead of as-yet-undisclosed causes in her home earlier this month.
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“Mandisa was an adored icon on American Idol and in the music industry,” read a statement from the show. “She had become a platinum-selling artist and had won [a Grammy] for her music. Her passing has left everyone on the show heartbroken, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family.”
Watch the performance below.
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Monday night’s (April 29) live episode of American Idol will include a tribute to Mandisa, the season 5 finalist who died April 19 at age 47.
Melinda Doolittle (season 6), Danny Gokey (season 8) and Colton Dixon (season 11) — who were all personal friends and professional colleagues of the late Grammy-winning artist — will return to the Idol stage in Hollywood to honor the late singer with the song “Shackles (Praise You),” a 2000 top 10 hit by Mary Mary.
Doolittle and Mandisa became friends before either one competed on Idol. “I met Mandisa in the studio,” Doolittle told Billboard while waiting for her flight to Los Angeles to appear on the show. “We were both singing background for a project produced by our good friend Chance Scoggins. Mandisa was singing soprano, of course, and I was definitely singing alto, and we hit it off. She told me she was going to compete on American Idol and I said, ‘That couldn’t be me. You have a great time.’
“I remember watching Simon Cowell say some words to her that weren’t kind, but she was so resilient. She was willing to forgive him while I was thinking: ‘What kind of human being is he?’”
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Melinda Doolittle
The following week, Cowell made a rare on-air apology to the singer he insulted. “I’ve been learning from her ever since how to navigate life and treat people well,” says Doolittle. A year later, she told Mandisa she was going to audition for Idol after all.
“She immediately said, ‘What’s going to be hard is Hollywood Week. That almost broke me, so I made myself a Bible study and I’m going to give you that so every day you have something to read.’ She gave me this pink bedazzled folder of Bible studies to go through. Her other advice was, ‘Take snacks.’ Those were the two best things she could have told me about Hollywood Week.”
The two singers stayed in touch during Doolittle’s season. “She was the biggest cheerleader anyone could ever have. After my performances, she would message or call me and tell me everything that was good. If I brought up something that went wrong, she would say, ‘That’s not what we’re here to talk about.’ She remained a cheerleader for the rest of her life. She would buy front-row seats to my concerts and be the loudest audience member ever.”
Their friendship continued to grow as the years passed by. “We would go to dinner together. We both got mistaken for the other all the time. I would just say, ‘Thank you.’ And when I was by myself, people would come up to me and tell me how the song ‘Overcomer’ [which spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart in 2013] changed their lives. I couldn’t wait to pass that along to her.”
With her flight delayed, Doolittle talked about returning to Idol 16 seasons after her run on the show. “I’m petrified every time. That stage holds such a beautiful pace for me and a scary place, all at the same time. I am so beyond grateful that they’ve chosen to honor Mandisa and to be a part of it with my buddies Danny and Colton. We’re good friends and we go to church together. I’m glad to have them with me. But I would be lying if I didn’t tell you I still get extremely nervous about that stage.”
Colton Dixon
Jimmy Fontaine
Billboard also reached out to Dixon, who was in Alabama on his final stop in a four-show tour, before flying to Los Angeles on Monday morning. Like Mandisa, Dixon was signed to Capitol, which led to his own very successful career in Contemporary Christian music.
“I remember when I met Mandisa the first time, discovering how much of a fan she was. She was so supportive of what I was doing. Not only did our industry lose a really big voice and a powerhouse of a person, but Christian music lost its No. 1 cheerleader. She was that for everyone.”
Asked about Mandisa’s hit single “Overcomer,” Dixon said, “It was a massive song with so much truth. Everyone needs to hear that. Buckle up, keep going, and you can do it. And that’s who she was too. I loved all of her songs. There’s so much joy in her music.”
Dixon recalled that he toured with Mandisa one time. “We were out with TobyMac. Mandisa and I were on a bus together. Every morning, I would beat her to the front lounge, and when she came up, I would sing her song ‘Good Morning’ to her. I’m pretty sure she hated that song by the end of the tour. But we had so much fun together. What I’m going to miss the most are those Mandisa talks, those hugs. I believe I’m going to get those again one day, but I’m going to miss it while I’m here.”
Billboard also asked Dixon about his thoughts on returning to Idol. “Anytime American Idol reaches out, it’s an honor for me to be a part of that stage. I wish it was under different circumstances. But as both a fan of the show and a friend and colleague of Mandisa, when I get there today, I’m going to say, ‘Thank you for paying tribute to her,’ because she was a big voice on the show and a big voice in our industry off the show. It means a lot to those close to her that they would recognize that. So I’m humbled and honored to be a part of that tribute.”
Danny Gokey
Rachel & Connor Dwyer
On Sunday, Gokey was singing at an evening worship service on Maui to offer hope to the survivors of the devastating Lahaina fire of August 2023. He sent Billboard a written statement about participating in Idol’s tribute to Mandisa.
“Mandisa was not only a fellow Idol, but a true friend and a huge part of the CCM music community. I had the privilege of touring with her several times and it was always fun to sing together. Her joy was infectious and she encouraged people on and off stage! When I made my debut in Christian music, she was my greatest supporter. It wasn’t easy coming off a failed record deal after the show, but she was the one who welcomed me first and loudest and rallied everyone to support me. She loved to cheer people on, to help them see the God-given purpose they had in the world. It’s an honor to be the one cheering her on this time and highlighting the impact she had in so many people’s lives.”
Showrunner and executive producer Megan Michaels Wolflick, who has been with Idol since season 2, tells Billboard, “Mandisa was a bright light who brought joy to the millions who fell in love with her on American Idol back in 2006. She continued to have a storied career, always showing her dedication to her fans and her faith. She will be missed on an immense level. It is with a depth of gratitude that we are able to celebrate her life on our show.”
American Idol airs live Monday night at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC.
Three American Idol alumni will return to the show’s stage on Monday night (April 29) to pay tribute to late season five star Mandisa. The 47-year-old Grammy-winning Christian contemporary singer was found dead of as-yet-undisclosed causes in her home earlier this month. The performance will take place during Monday night’s Judge’s Song round of the […]
Music industry professionals are often reminded, it ain’t the glitter or the glamor, the magic is all in the song. And, yes, the delivery.
Cher’s “Believe” is a case in point.
The veteran entertainer dropped “Believe” in 1998, a dreamy club thumper that featured Cher’s vocals reimagined with the input of AutoTune. In the late ‘90s, no veteran mainstream artist was messing Autotune. Only Cher.
In 1999, Cher’s “Believe” went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, just days short of 25 years after her previous leader, 1974’s “Dark Lady.” That meant Cher had the longest gap between No. 1 hits in the chart’s history, Fred Bronson wrote in the Chart Beat column at the time.
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“Believe” took on another guise, had another life, this time when DMA’S performed the song live in 2016 for listeners of Australia’s triple j network. On this occasion, the song was stripped to its heartbroken bones, Tommy O’Dell’s impressive pipes driving it home. DMA’s are on fire. Their last two studio albums peaked at No. 4 and No. 3 in the U.K., the Aussie band’s spiritual home.
“Believe” reminded music fans about the power of a great song, and the importance of delivery, when Jack Blocker tackled this classic song on ABC‘s American Idol for a spot in the final eight.
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The 25-year-old native of Dallas, TX, Blocker turned “Believe” into a country number, and earned a standing ovation from the three mentors Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
Blocker played in a student-led worship band at high school, is self-taught on guitar (using YouTube videos for guidance), and never had vocal coaching until he auditioned for this 22nd season of American Idol.
With his latest performance on season, he’ll believe he can go all the way.
America voted live, and Blocker won passage into the top 8 where he’s joined by Abi Carter, Emmy Russell, Julia Gagnon, Kaibrienne, McKenna Faith Breinholt, Triston Harper and Will Moseley.
Watch below.
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Katy Perry is working late… with all her roles! The superstar took to Instagram to share a sweet video lip syncing along to Sabrina Carpenter’s summery new single, “Espresso,” while she changes from a casual outfit on the set of American Idol into a stunning purple leather dress ready for the taping. “I’m a singerrrr […]
Born: June 14, 2000 – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Favorite Alums: Chris Daughtry, James Durbin
Musical Influences: Bon Jovi, Journey, Whitesnake, Queen, Ed Sheeran
First Idol Experience: “When Chris Daughtry got voted off, I wrote a handwritten letter to American Idol and said, ‘You made a mistake. This guy’s a star.’”
“I have older parents and they looked in the Yellow Pages to find a piano teacher. My dad said, ‘I want you to teach my son. He’s three years old. And the teacher said, ‘We normally like them to read English before they read music.’ My dad told him, ‘He reads, let’s get him in. We’ve got to start him early.’ So I went to his studio and my little legs didn’t touch the floor. I was swinging off the piano bench and I learned how to read music along with English. When I was 10, my parents asked if I actually liked taking lessons. I said, ‘I’ve been doing it forever, so I might as well keep doing it. It’s a part of my identity at this point.’”
Kayko says he was always a music kid. “I did classical piano competitions for a long time and then I always wanted to change the song and not play what’s on the page, so I did jazz. And I thought, ‘This really isn’t really my vibe. I’m a rocker. I would never do a singing competition, not even American Idol. I would never try out for that.’ And then I did theater.”
After appearing in musicals like Side Show, In the Heights, Ghost, Cabaret and 9 to 5, Kayko turned to YouTube and Billboard to see what music was popular and was inspired to record cover songs. “I was definitely a YouTube kid and that’s how I learned how to produce my own music.”
Kayko attended Berklee College of Music for three semesters, until he realized he didn’t want go to school. “I quit and moved to Nashville. I needed to write and produce my own songs. I needed to book live shows. I had no mentorship or insight, just a dream of being an artist and putting out music.”
Kayko’s audition for Idol was unlike most other tryouts but he assures Billboard that what was shown on television was 100% true. “I don’t know if the world will ever believe that. One of my very good friends from college, Abby Blake, got a call to do American Idol and they wanted her to prepare two songs but said the accompanist would only play one. She said, ‘I feel more comfortable with you in the room.’”
Kayko agreed to go with her. They woke up at 4 a.m. for the Nashville audition and sat in a room all day without ever seeing the judges. The producers asked Blake to come back the next day and Kayko said he would return with her.
“Abby’s voice was shot and she wasn’t feeling well that day and I was thinking I have to break the ice for her, so I was probably talking way more than any accompanist has ever done before. Abby sang her song and got a yes. Katy Perry looks at me and says, ‘There’s something about you. You look like an artist.’ I said, ‘No, I’m not doing this.’ Abby said I should sing for these three music legends. I played an original song and they look at each other and tell me I’m going to Hollywood. What?!”
But Kayko had a huge conflict. “I booked a job in New York playing guitar for a new off-Broadway musical, Hard Road to Heaven, and I had this in place for a year. The guy who got me the gig put his neck on the line for me and now I have to call him and say, ‘I don’t know what to do. Katy Perry just told me that I have a thing and I need to go to Hollywood Week and I could get cut and get no airtime and lose this thing, or it could be great.’ He said, “I would never hold you back from doing something like that.’ So I spent a week and a half in New York and flew directly to L.A. for Hollywood Week. The only reason I went was for that chance for airtime and the potential viral moment and for my friend Abby. She got cut in Hollywood and I’m still here.”
It could have been an awkward situation, but it wasn’t. “Abby and I are real friends and we’re both in the music industry and know that it’s not personal. I didn’t take her spot. My dad always said, ‘If Simon Cowell walked into the bar and you’re playing a lousy gig, are you going to blow him away?’ And it actually happened with Katy Perry.”
Luke Bryan, “Small Town” (written and performed by John Cougar Mellencamp)
Triston Harper, “Heartbreak Hotel” (performed by Elvis Presley; written by Mae Boren Axton, Thomas Durden & Elvis Presley)
Julia Gagnon, “Run to You” (performed by Whitney Houston; written by Jud Friedman & Allan Rich)
Roman Collins, “You’re All I Need to Get By” (performed by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell; written by Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson)
Kaibrienne, “I Hate Myself for Loving You” (performed by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts; written by Desmond Child & Joan Jett)
Jayna Elise, “I Have Nothing” (performed by Whitney Houston; written by David Foster & Linda Thompson)
Mia Matthews, “Those Memories of You” (performed by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris; written by Alan O’Bryant)
KAYKO, “High and Dry” (written and performed by Radiohead)
Emmy Russell, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (performed by Bonnie Raitt; written by Mike Reid & Allen Shamblin)
Jordan Anthony, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” (performed by Whitney Houston; written by George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam)
McKenna Faith Breinholt, “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (performed by Chicago; written by Peter Cetera & David Foster)
Jack Blocker, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” (written and performed by Bob Dylan)
Nya, “I Say a Little Prayer” (performed by Aretha Franklin; written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David)
Will Moseley, “Night Moves” (written and performed by Bob Seger)
Abi Carter, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (performed by Elton John; written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
The stars came out as the Rock Hall class of 2024 was unveiled to the world Sunday night (April 21) during ABC‘s American Idol.
Another star-in-the making, Julia Gagnon, used the special occasion to announce herself as a strong candidate for this year’s title.
For a shot at the top 12, Gagnon, the college student from Cumberland, Maine, wore a long red dress and rows of pearls, and channeled the “greatest singer of her generation” — Whitney Houston.
Gagnon and the other top 13 contestants performed songs by Rock And Rock Hall of Fame inducted artists, and two more contestants were eliminated.
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Gagnon delivered with a rendition of “Run To You,” by class of 2020 singer Houston, which appeared on The Bodyguard soundtrack.
During the season 22 auditions, Gagnon shared the story of her tough upbringing. Born in Guatemala, and put up for adoption as a baby, the youngster was raised by a loving family in the U.S. At school, she experienced bullying, but she found her voice through singing.
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Curious of her background, Gagnon went and located her birth mother. The Idol stage would provide a platform for the contestant to “do something for” her birth mom. “I felt really helpless, because I can’t go to her in Guatemala. It’s really far. But she’s really proud of my voice,” she said during the auditions. “And she wanted to see me do something big.”
There was nothing small about her performance on Sunday night, which showcased her vocal power and range. A standing ovation awaited from the audience and the three judges: Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. And on she advances, into the final dozen.
Gagnon wasn’t the only must-see moment on Idol.
During the show, Ryan Seacrest and Rock Hall inductee Lionel Richie revealed the Rock Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024. As previously reported, Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige, stalwart pop icon Cher, roots rock jam band Dave Matthews Band, stadium rock hitmakers Foreigner, guitar pro Peter Frampton, funky R&B legends Kool & the Gang, metal god Ozzy Osbourne and alt hip-hop progenitors A Tribe Called Quest are all entering the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year in the performers category.
Watch Gagnon’s performance during the Rock Hall-themed episode of Idol below.
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