Honestly, there is something about the American Idol Top 24 that just hits different. By the time we get to the Hawaii round, the wheat has mostly been separated from the chaff, but the stakes suddenly feel personal. We’ve watched these singers through the nervous auditions and the absolute meat-grinder that is Hollywood Week. Now, they're on a beach, but they're also one bad note away from flying home.
Season 23 really threw us for a loop. Having Carrie Underwood back on the panel instead of Katy Perry changed the entire vibe. It wasn't just a "full circle" moment for the show; it brought a specific kind of technical scrutiny that we haven't seen in years. When the Top 24 landed at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii, you could tell the contestants were vibrating with a mix of "I made it" and "I’m terrified."
The Hawaii Split: Group 1 vs. Group 2
The show usually splits the 24 into two groups of twelve. It's a classic format, but the 2025 season felt like two entirely different mini-concerts.
Group 1 had Ashanti as a mentor. She’s a legend, obviously. She pushed the singers to find their "star power," which is a bit of a cliché, but for someone like Kolbi Jordan, it actually worked. Kolbi had that Platinum Ticket momentum, and her rendition of "New Attitude" was basically a victory lap before the voting even started.
Then you had the more soulful side. Jamal Roberts—who ended up winning the whole thing, remember—closed out Group 1 with "Liar" by Jelly Roll. It was one of those moments where the audience just kind of goes quiet because they realize they’re looking at a finalist.
Who survived the first cut?
Not everyone handled the beach breeze well.
- MKY (Mikey Jimenez) sang "Adorn." It was smooth, but maybe too smooth? He ended up being one of the first casualties.
- Penny Samar went for a big risk with "Good Luck, Babe!" by Chappell Roan. It’s a massive song, and honestly, it just didn't quite land with the voters.
Group 2 felt a bit more "vocal powerhouse" heavy. They had Josh Groban as a mentor, which is basically like having a human tuning fork give you advice. Thunderstorm Artis, who we already knew from The Voice, did "Is This Love" and reminded everyone why he’s a professional-grade talent. But the real surprise for many was John Foster. He came out with "Callin' Baton Rouge" and locked down the country vote instantly.
The Platinum Ticket Curse?
We always talk about the Platinum Tickets. In theory, they’re a golden parachute that lets you skip a round of Hollywood Week. In practice? It’s a lot of pressure. In Season 23, we had Kolbi Jordan, Filo, and Canaan James Hill.
Filo is an interesting case. He did "Who's Lovin' You" in Hawaii and it was technically perfect. But sometimes being "perfect" early on makes it hard to show "growth" later. Voters love a journey. If you start at a 10, where do you go?
Canaan, on the other hand, leaned heavily into his gospel roots. His performance of "Glory to Glory to Glory" was basically a church service on the sand. It worked. He sailed through. But the "curse" is real—often, these frontrunners get complacent while the "underdogs" from the Head-to-Head round are hungry.
The Shocker: Who missed the Top 20?
The transition from the American Idol Top 24 to the Top 20 is brutal because it’s the first time the public really gets to swing the axe.
- Kyana Fanene performed a Māori version of "I Am." It was beautiful, culturally significant, and... she still got cut.
- Grayson Torrence did "Ceilings" by Lizzy McAlpine. It was very "indie-pop," very current, but it didn't grab the casual viewer at home.
It just goes to show that you can be a great artist and still not be a great "Idol" contestant. There’s a difference.
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Why the Top 24 stage matters for the "Edit"
If you’re a superfan, you know that the "edit" is everything. By the time the Top 24 is revealed, the producers usually have a narrative for each person. Baylee Littrell (yes, Brian Littrell’s son) had the legacy narrative. Zaylie Windsor had the "teen prodigy" vibe.
But narrative only gets you so far. When the live voting starts, the "Idol" bubble can burst. You’ll see someone like Desmond Roberts or Victor Solomon—both incredible singers—suddenly find themselves in the "Danger Zone" because their song choice didn't connect with a 45-year-old mom in Ohio.
What we can learn from Season 23's lineup
If you're an aspiring singer or just a die-hard fan, looking back at the American Idol Top 24 shows exactly what the judges are looking for now. They aren't just looking for "The Next Kelly Clarkson." They want versatility.
Look at Slater Nalley. He’s a guitar player who did "Over the Rainbow" in Hawaii. It was stripped back. It wasn't a "vocal gymnastic" performance. It was a moment. In the modern era of the show, having a specific identity is worth more than having a four-octave range.
Actionable insights for the next season:
- Song choice is 90% of the battle. Don't pick a song just because you like it. Pick a song that makes people want to pick up their phone.
- The mentor is there for a reason. Contestants who actually listened to Josh Groban or Ashanti usually fared better than those who stuck to their original "plan."
- Hawaii is the "Look" test. This is where you prove you can look like a star on a big stage, not just a singer in a small room.
The journey from the Top 24 to the finale is a sprint. Jamal Roberts winning with 26 million votes didn't happen by accident; it started with that first impression in Hawaii where he proved he could handle the pressure of a live-to-tape performance.
Check the current TV schedules on ABC or Hulu to see where the newest batch of hopefuls stands. Watching the transition from the American Idol Top 24 to the live shows in Los Angeles remains the best way to spot the winner before the confetti falls. Keep an eye on the "Artist in Residence"—like Jelly Roll in 2025—as their influence often shapes the final sound of the season's top contenders.