For the first time in “American Idol” history, the show introduced a new “Ohana” round on March 9, 2026, sending the top 30 contestants to Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa in Hawaii. Host Ryan Seacrest began the episode by calling the new round a “crossroads in the competition,” during which the contestants would be whittled down to the Top 20, ready to compete for America’s vote.
All About the New ‘American Idol’ Ohana Round
With contestants tasked with focusing their Ohana performances on one or more beloved family members, there were many moving performances. Seacrest said that for this round, three groups would be “charged with making some critical decisions — the Idols themselves, the Ohana (their family), and a panel of top music influencers and pop culture tastemakers.”
That last group, with a combined 150 million social media followers, include renowned vocal coach Cheryl Porter; “Dancing With the Stars” pro Sasha Farber; social media sensation and singer Loren Gray; singer Anthony Gargiula, known for his kitchen collabs with music superstars; Rolling Stone co-editor-in-chief Shirley Halperin; radio host and Grand Ole Opry emcee Kelly Sutton; and “TikTok power couple” Terry McCaskill and Kaniyia Brown, known for their new music reaction videos.
Each group will vote on the performance that moved them most,” he said, with the top vote recipients awarded Platinum Tickets that sent them straight to the Top 20. Judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie, Seacrest said, would then determine which other contestants would be in the Top 20.
Standout Performance Highlights Recap from ‘American Idol’ Ohana Round
There were many standout performances during the Ohana round, but here are a few that had the judges and crowd on their feet or in tears.
Jordan McCullough of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was the first up and got choked up thinking about performing with and for his family before taking the stage. On a small circular stage surrounded by the three groups, including his mom Denise and dad Laran, the 27-year-old worship director sang a rousing version of Bill Withers’ “Grandma’s Hands.” Everyone, including the judges, were on their feet by the end and Richie declared his performance “fantastic.”
Lucas Leon, 18, pulled up a stool and brought out his acoustic guitar to play Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me,” noting that his parents in the audience were “really built me.” The high school student from Gallatin, Tennessee, fully impressed the crowd; Underwood told him that his vocal control is “mind-blowing” and Sutton was brought to tears.
Keyla Richardson, a single mom and music teacher from Pensacola, Florida, whose young son Drew has become just as popular as her, sang Christina Ricci’s “A Thousand Years” with her little boy and her dad Willie in the audience. Keyla’s brother, Elisha, played the keyboard as she soulfully belted out the tune. Drew sang along in the audience, which got Underwood choked up, and Porter looked floored by Richardson’s vocals.
Hannah Harper of Willow Springs, Missouri, who went viral with her audition — singing her original song “String Cheese” — took the stage to say she was singing a country classic in honor of her grandpa, “who played music till the day he died.” The 26-year-old’s rendition of Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High on That Mountain” prompted Bryan to compare her to Dolly Parton.
Rocker Genevieve Heyward of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, showed her softer side, sitting at the keyboard to sing Elton John’s “Your Song” in honor her dad, a Vietnam veteran, who was brought to tears. Richie told the 26-year-old, “Identity is hard when you sing such an iconic song like Elton’s, but for you to hang on and keep in control of that, is amazing.”
Sixteen-year-old Aboyami Lewis of San Francisco, blew the crowd away with her version of Andra Day’s “Rise Up,” sung in honor of her mom. Cameras caught Underwood telling Bryan, “She’s freaking 16 and she’s like a Disney star.”
Brooks Rosser, 23, took on “Everywhere, Everything” by Noah Kahan, telling the crowd, including his mom and sister in the audience, that “family is everywhere and they mean everything.” The Bel Air, Maryland, singer’s voice had the industry experts stunned. Gargiula whispered that it was “one of the most unique voices I’ve heard in my life” and he got a standing ovation from all of the experts and the judges.
Who Got the 3 ‘American Idol’ Season 24 Platinum Tickets
DisneyThe final segments of the show were tense, as the three different groups cast their votes for their favorite singers, with each group picking one Platinum Ticket winner. The Ohana could not vote for their family members, and contestants couldn’t vote for themselves.
The industry experts admitted it was a tough call, with Halperin calling the decision “stressful” and Porter admitting it was “the hardest thing I’ve done in my life.”
Seacrest announced the results, sharing that the person chosen by their peers for the Platinum Ticket was Jordan McCullough, who opened the show. Meanwhile, the family members voted for Brooks Rosser, who looked shocked to be chosen, and the industry experts named Kyndal Inskeep their Platinum Ticket winner.
‘American Idol’ Judges Revealed the Rest of the Top 20
As Underwood, Richie, and Bryan headed backstage to deliberate over which 17 contestants would round out the Top 20, Underwood said it was the “worst part” of the night having to decide.
“For anybody that doesn’t make it through,” Bryan told the remaining contestants, “we love you guys.”
The judges then revealed the rest of the Top 20 are: Philmon Lee, Madison Moon, Braden Rumfelt, Jake Thistle, Jesse Findling, Ruby Rae, Genevieve Heyward, Lucas Leon, Hannah Harper, Chris Tungseth, Julián Kalel, Rae Boyd, Daniel Stallworth, Abayomi, Kutter Bradley, Makiyah Mustiful, and Keyla Richardson.
They will join Inskeep, McCullough and Rosser next week for the first of two episodes in which viewers will get to cast their votes for the first time.
