Overview
- Thirty contestants performed in Hawaii before three voting groups — contestants, family members and a panel of tastemakers — with each group awarding a Platinum Ticket.
- Jordan McCullough (peers), Brooks Rosser (family) and Kyndal Inskeep (industry panel) received Platinum Tickets and advance directly to America’s vote.
- Judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie completed the field by naming 17 more singers to advance, including Philmon Lee, Madison Moon, Braden Rumfelt, Jake Thistle, Jesse Findling, Ruby Rae, Genevieve Heyward, Lucas Leon, Hannah Harper, Chris Tungseth, Julián Kalel, Rae Boyd, Daniel Stallworth, Abayomi, Kutter Bradley, Makiyah Mustiful and Keyla Richardson.
- Ten contestants were eliminated in the round, with notable exits including Sheldon Riley and Chloe Lauren.
- The show continues from Aulani with two Top 20 episodes that open public voting, supported by ABC broadcasts, next‑day streaming on Hulu and Disney+, and promotion from an influencer panel whose combined reach is near 150 million.