'American Idol' Narrows Contestants to 24 After Dramatic Rounds

In the latest episode of 'American Idol', the Showstopper round saw judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie trim the competition from 62 to 24 contestants. Four singers—Gabby Samone, Mattie Pruitt, Canaan James Hill, and Zalie Windsor—successfully advanced to the Top 24, showcasing standout performances that impressed the judges. Notably, Hill, a 17-year-old preacher, earned praise for delivering what Richie called 'the greatest performance I have ever seen' with his rendition of Marvin Sapp's 'Never Would Have Made It.' While some contestants thrived, others faced elimination, with 18 singers cut from the competition. The remaining 40 will compete in a new head-to-head round to secure one of the final spots. The excitement continues as the show progresses towards its next stages, with performances moving to Hawaii soon.