After “American Idol” left fans with an unprecedented cliffhanger at the end of the first live episode of season 24, the pressure was on for the next live show, airing one week later on April 6, 2026. With so many votes cast during last week’s two-hour Songs of Faith episode, host Ryan Seacrest announced at the end of the show that producers couldn’t confidently announce the Top 12.
After a week of anxiously waiting for results and prepping for tonight’s performances, the Top 14 learned at the top of the show which two contestants are going home based on last week’s voting. Then, at the end of the show, another two contestants will be cut after live voting — but the judges will get to save one. So, who’s going home? Ryan Seacrest said the vote was “incredibly close”…
Who Went Home as the Top 12 Were Announced?
At the top of the show, Seacrest announced that the first person in the bottom two based on last week’s vote is Julian Kalel. And the second going home is Jake Thistle. Kalel told Seacrest that they made “memories we’re never going to forget.”
Remaining in the competition for the night are four women — Kyndal Inskeep, Keyla Richardson, Hannah Harper, and Rae — and 8 men: Daniel Stallworth, Jesse Findling, Braden Rumfelt, Brooks Rosser, Philmon Lee, Lucas Leon, Jordan McCullough, and Chris Tungseth.
Who Else Was Eliminated — and Saved in the Final Moments?
At the end of the night (full recap here), Ryan Seacrest read the names of the contestants who got through, in no particular order, starting with Chris Tungseth. Next, he read Kyndal Inskeep’s name. Daniel Stallworth was named next, followed by Hannah Harper. The next person named was Jordan McCullough, who looked shocked, and then Braden Rumsfelt, who also seemed surprised. After that, it was Philmon Lee and then Keyla Richardson. Next, Brooks Rosser advanced.
That left Lucas Leon, Jesse Findling and Rae — and of them, Leon went through. Richie then got to choose who would get to go through as the winner of the Judges’ Song Contest.
“Okay, I look to my fellow judges” for help, Richie said, but they hilariously refused to help. “Pound for pound, you both did an amazing job,” but in the end he chose Rae to go through, which means Jesse is heading home.
