Overview
- American Idol, which returned Monday with the ’90s Judges’ Song Contest, resolved the stalled count from last week and moved the competition forward.
- Ryan Seacrest announced at the top of the episode that Julián Kalel and Jake Thistle were eliminated based on the earlier vote.
- After fresh live voting during the show, Jesse Findling was cut and the season’s Top 11 was set by the end of the night.
- The Top 11 are Philmon Lee, Braden Rumfelt, Lucas Leon, Hannah Harper, Chris Tungseth, Rae, Daniel Stallworth, Keyla Richardson, Jordan McCullough, Brooks Rosser and Kyndal Inskeep.
- Producers attributed the prior delay to an unprecedented flood of ballots, voting now runs through americanidol.com or by text after the app was discontinued, and media reports note concern about a male‑heavy field.