With the competition on “American Idol” season 24 narrowed down to the Top 20, it’s time for viewers to start voting on who should advance to the live shows — and the competition is intense.
Still in Hawaii after last week’s Ohana round, the Top 20 contestants got to work with celebrity mentors Keke Palmer and Brad Paisley before half of the hopefuls took the stage at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa for the first night of performances on March 16, 2026. Here’s our recap of what happened — and how to vote for your favorites.
‘American Idol’ Judges Were Ready — Except for Luke Bryan — to Hear the First Half of the Top 20 Perform
Disney“American Idol” Top 20.
Host Ryan Seacrest kicked off the episode by telling viewers that voting has changed in 2026, with the “American Idol” app gone and — for the first time — social media voting in. At the top of the “American Idol” Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok accounts, there’s a post with the Top 10 performing on March 16. To vote for someone, Seacrest said, they simply need to put the contestant’s first name in the comment section and can do so up to 10 times total. (For full details, here’s our instructions)
After a cute skit in which judge Luke Bryan was supposedly floating in the resort’s lazy river instead of being on time for the show, he appeared onstage in shorts and a t-shirt with a tray full of Dole Whip for the cast — including Seacrest, fellow judges Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie, and Palmer, who joined them for the performances — and for members of the audience.
Here’s a bit about each of the 10 contestants’ journeys, their performances, and how to vote for them — in the order they performed on the episode.
Makiyah Mustiful Shoots Her Shot as ‘American Idol’ Show Opener
Makiyah Mustifu, 24, was especially thrilled to meet Palmer, noting that she was the NAACP’s 2025 Entertainer of the Year. She opened up briefly about how her family struggled to make ends meet when she was little, so it felt surreal to be living it up in Hawaii.
Makiyah then practiced her selection with Palmer and Paisley — “Bang Bang” by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj — and blew them away. They said she didn’t miss a note, and Paisley praised her stage presence, telling her, “Don’t change a thing.”
For her performance, Makiyah — dressed in a pink floral pant suit — belted out the tune as she moved easily across the stage. All of the judges were seen dancing in their seats and on their feet by the end, and Richie told her, “That’s how you start a show!”
HOW TO VOTE FOR MAKIYAH: You can vote for Makiyah up to 50 times. First, you can vote up to 10 times for any one contestant online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote. Second, you can text a contestant’s unique number (Makiyah is number 1) to 21523 up to 10 separate times. Third, you can type in Makiyah’s first name up to 10 times on each social media platform (here for Instagram, here for Facebook, and here for TikTok). All votes must be cast by 6 a.m. Eastern time on March 17.
Jake Thistle Rocked the House With ‘The Power of Love’
Jake Thistle, 21, compared notes with Paisley on how they both sang at bars when they were growing up, and then Thistle revealed he was going to sing Huey Lewis’ “The Power of Love” — which Paisley said is one of his “favorite songs of all time.” The country star was impressed with Thistle’s guitar playing, urged him to go for the high notes, and to express emotion as he performs, telling him to “make it look hard.”
The judges loved Thistle’s performance, with Richie even noticing his “ugly face,” and Bryan said it was great to see the New Jersey performer “branch out” after singing some quieter songs in prior rounds. Palmer quipped, “It felt like a party — you saw how the girls were screaming!”
HOW TO VOTE FOR JAKE: You can vote for Jake up to 50 times. First, you can vote up to 10 times for any one contestant online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote. Second, you can text a contestant’s unique number (Jake is number 2) to 21523 up to 10 separate times. Third, you can type in Jake’s first name up to 10 times on each social media platform (here for Instagram, here for Facebook, and here for TikTok). All votes must be cast by 6 a.m. Eastern time on March 17.
Genevieve Heyward Took the Crowd to the ‘Pink Pony Club’
After a performance by 2023 winner Iam Tongi of his new single, “Good For My Soul,” and his duet with 2025 finalist Thunderstorm Artis on “Island Style,” it was Genevieve Heyward’s turn for a mentorship session with Paisley and Palmer. She sang her rendition of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” and Paisley said he was “floored” by Genevieve, noting that “she knows who she is already” with her “rock and roll energy.” Palmer loved her personality and helped her bring it out even more from the start.
Genevieve, 26, rocked the crowd and the judges were all on their feet by the end, with Underwood telling her, “I love that you took this pop-rock anthem and, like, toughened it up a little bit. I love the gloves, I love the outfit, the second you walk out onstage, it’s like, ‘What’s this girl about to do?'” Bryan agreed, telling Genevieve that he’s drawn to her presence on stage, saying, “My eyes go to you and that’s what stars have to have happen to be a star.”
HOW TO VOTE FOR GENEVIEVE: You can vote for Genevieve up to 50 times. First, you can vote up to 10 times for any one contestant online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote. Second, you can text a contestant’s unique number (Genevieve is number 3) to 21523 up to 10 separate times. Third, you can type in Genevieve’s first name up to 10 times on each social media platform (here for Instagram, here for Facebook, and here for TikTok). All votes must be cast by 6 a.m. Eastern time on March 17.
Daniel Stallworth Stuns Lionel Richie With His Cover Song
Daniel Stallworth, 27, began his mentorship session talking with Palmer and Paisley about his work as an elementary school music teacher, sharing sweet notes that his students have sent to him during his “Idol” journey. Stallworth admitted he felt “like a kid all over again” getting to sing and relax at Aulani.
Stallworth gave the mentors a preview of his performance, covering Richie’s “All Night Long,” which Palmer called “bold” and Paisley deemed “the riskiest thing anybody’s doing.” Starting out soft and slow before launching into the party song, and Richie was floored from the first note, telling Stallworth “you took the song and made it yours … he made it a totally new song, so refreshing!”
HOW TO VOTE FOR DANIEL: You can vote for Daniel up to 50 times. First, you can vote up to 10 times for any one contestant online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote. Second, you can text a contestant’s unique number (Daniel is number 4) to 21523 up to 10 separate times. Third, you can type in Daniel’s first name up to 10 times on each social media platform (here for Instagram, here for Facebook, and here for TikTok).All votes must be cast by 6 a.m. Eastern time on March 17.
Kyndal Inskeep Flies Solo & Soars With Noah Kahan Tune
Kyndal Inskeep, who received the Platinum Ticket from the industry experts during the Ohana round, was open with producers about how she’s “struggled with depression and anxiety my whole entire life,” leading her to choose Noah Kahan’s song “Call Your Mom.” She couldn’t decide whether to play her acoustic guitar or not, but Paisley and Palmer encouraged her to go it alone.
She did, standing barefoot at the mic, and all four judges gave her a standing ovation. Palmer told Kyndal, 29, she was relieved she ditched the guitar so they could see her “embody the vibe of the whole song.” Underwood said, “The second you start singing, it is impossible to turn away,” adding, “I’m not sure I breathed while you were singing.” Adorably, her mom hugged her backstage and declared, “You are a frickin’ star, yes you are!”
HOW TO VOTE FOR KYNDAL: You can vote for Kyndal up to 50 times. First, you can vote up to 10 times for any one contestant online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote. Second, you can text a contestant’s unique number (Kyndal is number 5) to 21523 up to 10 separate times. Third, you can type in Kyndal’s first name up to 10 times on each social media platform (here for Instagram, here for Facebook, and here for TikTok). All votes must be cast by 6 a.m. Eastern time on March 17.
Kutter Bradley Honors ‘American Idol’ Star Chris Daughtry
Kutter Bradley, 22, told producers he’d never taken such a long flight — from Alabama to Hawaii — and couldn’t quite believe he was there, insisting he’ll “remember this for the rest of my life.” Meanwhile, he told Palmer and Paisley that he’d been a fan of 2006 “American Idol” finalist Chris Daughtry since he was little, calling him “one of my biggest inspirations.”
To that end, he decided to perform Daughtry’s “It’s Not Over,” but without his guitar, which Paisley noticed looked a bit uncomfortable — until he had Kutter hold a microphone in his hand. Once he was onstage performing, Underwood sang along with every word. The judges agreed the song choice was perfectly in his “lane,” though Bryan reminded him to breathe because he ran out of air a couple of times.
HOW TO VOTE FOR KUTTER: You can vote for Kutter up to 50 times. First, you can vote up to 10 times for any one contestant online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote. Second, you can text a contestant’s unique number (Kutter is number 6) to 21523 up to 10 separate times. Third, you can type in Kutter’s first name up to 10 times on each social media platform (here for Instagram, here for Facebook, and here for TikTok). All votes must be cast by 6 a.m. Eastern time on March 17.
Jesse Findling Feels ‘Found’ as Crowd Chants His Name
Nineteen-year-old Jesse Findling said it felt “surreal” to make the Top 20 and admitted to Palmer and Paisley that he’d “never really stood in front of a mic and performed in front of a whole crowd” and that the pressure of knowing viewers would be voting added to his anxiety about his song, The Fray’s “You Found Me.”
Jesse has been open about growing up with a stutter, which disappears when he sings, and said it caused him to be pretty introverted as a kid. He told producers, “I think it’s ironic that I’m singing about being lost and insecure in a moment where I feel, like, found and the best I ever have.” Surely making him feel even better, despite a slightly shaky beginning, was the standing ovation he received from the judges and the crowd chanting his name at the end of his performance.
HOW TO VOTE FOR JESSE: You can vote for Jesse up to 50 times. First, you can vote up to 10 times for any one contestant online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote. Second, you can text a contestant’s unique number (Jesse is number 7) to 21523 up to 10 separate times. Third, you can type in Jesse’s first name up to 10 times on each social media platform (here for Instagram, here for Facebook, and here for TikTok). All votes must be cast by 6 a.m. Eastern time on March 17.
Hannah Harper Gives Carrie Underwood ‘Full Body Chills’ During Her ‘American Idol’ Performance
Stay-at-home mom Hannah Harper, 25, brought her husband and three kids to Hawaii with her for fun in the sun. During her mentorship session, she told Palmer and Paisley that her challenge was growing more comfortable in her body while performing, feeling like her guitar had become a bit of a crutch. When her kids showed up midway through, her mentors saw her relax into her song and encouraged her to look for or think about her family during her performance.
Singing “Ain’t No Grave” by Bethel Music and Molly Skaggs, Harper looked a bit nervous but owned her bold song choice. Richie told her that “sometime in the middle of that performance, you went from singing to preaching.” Palmer agreed, calling her song “very moving” and Underwood said she had full-body chills.
HOW TO VOTE FOR HANNAH: You can vote for Hannah up to 50 times. First, you can vote up to 10 times for any one contestant online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote. Second, you can text a contestant’s unique number (Hannah is number 8) to 21523 up to 10 separate times. Third, you can type in Hannah’s first name up to 10 times on each social media platform (here for Instagram, here for Facebook, and here for TikTok). All votes must be cast by 6 a.m. Eastern time on March 17.
Braden Rumfelt Shocks ‘American Idol’ Mentors With His Voice
Braden Rumfelt said his girlfriend picked his song — Rihanna’s “Love On The Brain” — and it “blew away” Palmer and Paisley, who said he never expected that voice to come out of the 22-year-old. Braden said he was worried about how to carry himself onstage, and had even looked up moves online, but the mentors laughed, saying his voice would be enough.
The judges were equally wowed by Braden as he belted out his song, with Underwood telling him he soared “from the first note” and that she loves his “aw shucks” attitude. Bryan said all they need to work on is more “swagger” and “confidence” to build on the talent he already has.
HOW TO VOTE FOR BRADEN: You can vote for Braden up to 50 times. First, you can vote up to 10 times for any one contestant online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote. Second, you can text a contestant’s unique number (Braden is number 9) to 21523 up to 10 separate times. Third, you can type in Braden’s first name up to 10 times on each social media platform (here for Instagram, here for Facebook, and here for TikTok). All votes must be cast by 6 a.m. Eastern time on March 17.
Brooks Rosser Puts ‘American Idol’ Judges Under His Magic Spell
From the moment Brooks Rosser, 22, began singing Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own,” for Paisley and Palmer, the looks on their faces resembled those of everyone else on the show who had heard him so far, stunned by how unique his sound is. Paisley called him “angelic” and Palmer was bowled over by his “unbelievable tone.” They did, however, detect one high note that Paisley said “could derail him.”
Brooks sounded pretty nervous at the start of his performance, but got stronger as he went, prompting Richie to raise his hands to the sky midway through. Palmer told him, “You do have one of the most magical voices I’ve ever heard,” and then put out her “call out to America” to ensure he stays in the competition. Underwood told the crowd that she is “so excited” for Brooks, noting that he’s never sung before an audience before, and Bryan said he has huge visions for his future.
HOW TO VOTE FOR BROOKS: You can vote for Brooks up to 50 times. First, you can vote up to 10 times for any one contestant online at AmericanIdol.com/Vote. Second, you can text a contestant’s unique number (Brooks is number 10) to 21523 up to 10 separate times. Third, you can type in Brooks’ first name up to 10 times on each social media platform (here for Instagram, here for Facebook, and here for TikTok). All votes must be cast by 6 a.m. Eastern time on March 17.
