Gabby Samone, Jamal Roberts, and Josh King join forces to pay tribute to Lionel Richie with a big performance on Idol!

During a memorable Monday night episode of American Idol, the Top 8 contestants received invaluable guidance from judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan. In a heartwarming exchange, these contestants expressed their gratitude with heartfelt tributes dedicated to the judges’ iconic careers.

The highlight of the episode was the return of the Judges’ Song Contest – a special segment where each judge anonymously selects a song for each contestant to perform. The goal is to challenge the contestants to showcase their unique vocal talents and performance styles. Once presented with the three options, each contestant chose one to perform live, adding an exciting twist to the competition.

In a series of group performances, the Top 8 contestants were divided into trios and duos, each group taking on a song from one of the judges. Gabby Samone, Jamal Roberts, and Josh King teamed up to deliver an electrifying rendition of Lionel Richie’s hit song “Dancing on the Ceiling”. The trio dazzled the stage in shimmering outfits, injecting the 1986 classic with their own flair and soul, much to the delight of Richie himself.

“I am telling you, it was amazing,” Lionel Richie expressed after the performance. “Do it again!”

The show also featured Slater Nalley, John Foster, and Thunderstorm Artis, who came together to honor Luke Bryan with a performance of his hit song “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day.” The trio embraced the country vibe, strumming acoustic guitars and exchanging verses, a performance style that impressed Bryan.

“I’ll have to take y’all hunting and fishing now,” Luke Bryan joked. “I’ll let y’all deal with the ‘lovin’’ part.” He continued, adding, “You out-sang me, quite frankly.”

The final tribute came from Breanna Nix and Mattie Pruitt, who performed Carrie Underwood’s “Something in the Water.” The emotional duet received high praise from Underwood, who called their performance “beautiful” and noted how effortlessly the duo connected on stage.

Jelly Roll, the artist-in-residence, who was present in the audience, also complimented the performance, noting the authenticity and ease between Breanna and Mattie: “It didn’t even feel like they were in the middle of the biggest night of their career,” he said. “It felt like a big sister and a little sister just singing about how they felt about life to each other in front of a bunch of people.”

This unforgettable night on American Idol showcased not only the talent of the Top 8 contestants but also their deep respect and admiration for the legendary judges who have shaped the music industry. With performances like these, the competition continues to inspire fans and music lovers everywhere.

The end of Monday’s episode sent home Josh King; the remaining seven contestants will compete in a “two-night Disney celebration” during next Sunday and Monday’s episodes.