Carrie Underwood explains her ‘American Idol’ reactions
Carrie Underwood weighs in on the “American Idol” judges’ reaction faces and jokes about her sons photographing her in PJs without makeup.
As “American Idol” barrels toward its Season 24 finale, the show has narrowed its competition down to three singers.
In the May 4 episode, original “Idol” judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson returned to give feedback to the Top 5 contestants – Jordan McCullough, Hannah Harper, Keyla Richardson, Chris Tungseth and Braden Rumfelt – for a night that was all about celebrating the show’s legacy.
Season 5 heavy hitters Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin, Paris Bennett, Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington also came back to the stage after 20 years to join forces with the 2026 class of “Idol” hopefuls, while last year’s winner, Jamal Roberts, returned to perform his new song, “Perfect For Me.”
The five alumni paired up with the Season 24 contestants for duets, one of which earned an especially fervent response from Abdul, who was “so happy to be at my old home.”
“This was a master-class. This was a Grammys duet performance,” she told Jordan and Elliott Yamin after they sang “A Song For You.”
But as the class of 2006 well knows, the competition can be brutal – and two singers learned this firsthand when they failed to receive enough votes to make it to the finale.
Here’s who stayed and who went home after “American Idol” viewers voted for the Top 3.
Who’s in the ‘American Idol’ Top 3 in 2026?
- Hannah Harper
- Keyla Richardson
- Jordan McCullough
Who was sent home on ‘American Idol?’
- Chris Tungseth
- Braden Rumfelt
