Heavy/ABC "American Idol" fans will cast their votes for the first time during season 22 on April 7, 2024, after the first half of the Top 24 perform in Hawaii.
After facing the largest contestant cut in “American Idol” history, in which the Top 56 who made it through to Hollywood Week were pared down to just 24 on the episode that aired on April 1, 2024, the remaining contestants have more huge cuts on the horizon.
Viewers will get their first chance to vote for their favorite artists during and after the April 7 and 8 episodes, as ABC airs the performances of 12 contestants each night, filmed in Hawaii in February. The results of those overnight votes will result in four contestants going home. But within 24 hours of that reveal, only 14 singers will remain in the competition.
‘American Idol’ Top 24 Will Shrink to Top 14 Over Next Week
ABCMickey and Minnie mouse with “American Idol” cast Ryan Seacrest, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa in February 2024
Over the next week, 10 “Idol” hopefuls from the Top 24 will be cut from the show. According to ABC press materials, here’s how the competition will play out over the next two weeks:
Sunday, April 7: During the two-hour show, 12 of the Top 24 contestants will be seen working with season 22 mentor — and former contestant — Tori Kelly. When they perform on the Disney Aulani stage, she’ll join celebrity judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie on the side stage to critique each performance. But for the first time this season, the judges won’t decide who advances; viewers will vote for their favorites (details below). Kelly and Hawaii native Iam Tongi, who won season 21, will also perform during the episode.
Monday, April 8: The second half of the Top 24 will work with red-hot artist Jelly Roll, who recently won the Best New Artist Award at the Grammys and performed on the “Idol” finale last season. He will also join the celebrity judges to watch and critique the singers he mentored, and perform one of his hits from the Aulani stage.
Sunday, April 14: After weeks of prerecorded competition shows, “American Idol” will begin airing live on this date, when everyone in the Top 24 finds out who will advance to the Top 20 based on viewers’ votes. As their names are called, each “safe” contestants will perform a song of their choice, hoping that fans will vote for them again.
Monday, April 15: The next night, the remaining Top 20 will learn which 10 singers America has voted through. From the bottom 10, the judges will choose four contestants to round out the Top 14.
Sunday, April 21: The Top 14 will perform live again, singing songs made famous by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Richie was inducted into the Hall of Fame in November 2022. Viewers’ votes will be counted live during the two-hour show and by the end, two more contestants will be eliminated, leaving behind a Top 12.
Here’s How to Vote for Your Favorite ‘American Idol’ Contestants
On both nights of performances — April 7 and 8 — “Idol” viewers can vote up to 30 times for their favorite contestants from the roster of 12 that performed that night. There are three ways to vote, and you can vote 10 times per method.
The first option is the “American Idol” website, where you can sign up for a free account or use your Disney account login credentials. The second option is to download the “American Idol” app, where you can use the same login credentials that you use on the website. For votes placed online or on the app, voters must be at least 16 years old and located in the U.S., Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands to vote in the app or on the website.
The third option is to vote via text message. Fans can text the number that’s been assigned to their favorite contestant to “21523.”
Here are the numbers assigned to the contestants expected to appear on April 8:
- Odell Bunton Jr: Text 13 to 21523
- Elleigh Marie: Text 14 to 21523
- Mackenzie Sol: Text 15 to 21523
- Jennifer Jeffries: Text 16 to 21523
- Emmy Russell: Text 17 to 21523
- Ajii: Text 18 to 21523
- Kennedy Reid: Text 19 to 21523
- Jack Blocker: Text 20 to 21523
- Roman Collins: Text 21 to 21523
- KBlocks: Text 22 to 21523
- Mia Matthews: Text 23 to 21523
- Triston Harper: Text 24 to 21523