‘American Idol 22’ episode 15 recap: Who was eliminated on ‘Judge’s Song Contest Night’? [Live Blog]

Tonight on “American Idol,” the Top 8 perform one of three songs secretly selected by Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, who are each competing for most songs chosen. America votes live for the Top 6, and the judges make a save for the Top 7; plus, a special tribute to Idol alum Mandisa.

Below, follow with our live blog for “American Idol 22” Episode 14 airing Sunday, April 28 (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET).

SEE ‘American Idol’ deaths: Full list of singers we’ve lost

8:00 p.m. — Previously on “American Idol”! The Top 10 performed for a spot in the Top 8. The top vote-getters advanced as judges Luke, Katy and Lionel watched host Ryan Seacrest send Kayko and Mia Matthews home. Who will be eliminated tonight?

8:05 p.m. — Let the games begin! The judges launch their own competition with the third annual “Judge’s Song Contest.” As a reminder, Katy won last year so she’s hoping to defend her title. Each judge will submit a song for each artist to sing, and whoever has the most songs chosen wins!

8:11 p.m. — Will Moseley is up first. He’s chosen to sing “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash. It’s a fun, relaxed song that sounds easy for Will to tackle. It might have seemed a bit too safe for my liking, but I enjoy how he’s working the crowd while playing guitar. He’s showing more personality tonight than we’ve seen in a while. Great performance! Will believes Lionel chose this Cash classic and he’s right! Lionel says the crowd response to the performance said it all. He adds, “You killed it!” Katy calls it Will’s “best performance yet.” Luke says Will keeps “getting better and better” each week.

8:22 p.m. — Kaibrienne is second with “Traitor” by Olivia Rodrigo. It’s perfectly in her wheelhouse and sounds like a song she would record professionally. She received good advice from the vocal coach and she’s keeping her eyes open, connecting to the audience. This might be the best she’s sounded all season. Kaibrienne thinks Luke chose the song, but it was actually Katy! The judge calls it “amazing” and “heartfelt.” Luke calls it “a real moment.” Lionel says Kaibrienne was “speaking from the heart” and “killed it!”

8:30 p.m. — Throughout the night the contestants will pair up for fun performances of the judges’ songs. The first collab is Emmy Russell and Jack Blocker singing “Hello” by Lionel.  The judge runs up on stage to hug them before stating, “I win! Let’s go home.” He follows it up by saying Emmy and Jack make a “perfect combination.”

8:40 p.m. — Next up is McKenna Faith Breinholt singing “Everywhere I Go” by Lissie. She’d never even heard the song before it was suggested for her, but she instantly connected to it. It’s a beautiful fit for her voice, even though she’s just slightly straining to hit the high notes. McKenna thinks Lionel chose the song, but it was actually Katy! That puts Katy in the lead in this Judge’s Song Contest, and Katy says she chose it because Lissie reminds her of the artist McKenna can become. Luke commends the nuances and subtleties in her voice and says she has the ability to pull all of the air out of the room. Lionel says you can hear a pin drop when McKenna sings and that was “fantastic.”

8:52 p.m. — Next up is Jack Blocker singing “Always On My Mind” by Willie Nelson. He’s put the guitar away and simply stands at the mic to sing. He has a similar tone to Willie’s and I love the simplicity of this delivery. He’s even showing some powerful range we haven’t heard before. This is my favorite Jack Blocker moment all season! Katy is uncontrollably weeping. Jack thinks Lionel chose the song, but it was actually Katy. She notes, “I’m crying because I’m winning.” Then she adds, “Something is brewing here. I’m crying because I think you’ve finally been realized…You keep singing like that and you’re going to surprise everyone in this contest.” Luke says Jack is winning in the “growth category” and calls it “spiritual.” Lionel says he’s heard pieces of Jack he’s never heard before and “the artist that’s coming out now is the artist that’s going to have a career.”

9:00 p.m. — Triston Harper and Will Moseley have joined forces for the Luke Bryan hit “What Makes You Country.” They’re both having fun with the song and definitely bring the country to this competition. I wouldn’t say either really set themself apart from the other. The blend well. There’s more ease to Will’s voice, but Triston has a stage presence and likability factor that’s tough to compete with. A fun, even-keeled performance.

9:07 p.m. — Now it’s Abi Carter‘s time to take the stage singing “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence. I have been waiting for this moment where Abi breaks out of her shell and rocks out. She’s been giving us the same thing week after week and this rocks. Fantastic rendition! Katy is laid flat across the judges’ table in disbelief. Abi thinks Katy chose the song, but it was actually Luke! He’s finally on the board! Luke says, “I’ve created a monster!” and thinks she “took it to another level.” Lionel calls it “so professional” and “amazing.” Katy says, “You just kicked down all four walls of the box I thought you were in.” She follows that up calling it “the best performance of the night.”

9:18 p.m. — Next up is Julia Gagnon putting her own spin on “Over the Rainbow.” It’s a beautifully powerful rendition. This is a great night of performances! It seems like I keep saying every performance is the contestant’s best of the season, but it’s true. That was gorgeous. Julia thinks Katy chose the song, but it was Luke once again! Luke says there’s no song too big for Julia and this song captured everything she wants to be. Lionel can’t believe how much control Julia maintained the whole song. Katy calls it “unconventional, delicate and intimate.”

9:25 p.m. — Idol alum Colton Dixon, Melinda Doolittle and Danny Gokey return for a special tribute to their friend Mandisa, who passed away on April 18. They sing “Shackles” by Mary Mary, which Mandisa performed as a contestant in 2006. What a powerful celebration!

9:35 p.m. — Abi, Julia, Kaibrienne and McKenna hit the stage for their own tribute to Katy, singing “Wide Awake.” They look like a girl group up there and it’s kind of fun to see. It looks like they had fun singing together as well. They refer to themselves as “Katy’s Ladies.”

9:42 p.m. — Next up is Triston Harper singing “Sand in My Boots” by Morgan Wallen. I feel like he sort of mumbled through the first verse, but once he stood up off the stool and began working the stage the performance picked up. He looks a little bit stressed out tonight. Triston says he thinks Luke picked that song, but it was Lionel, who has now scored another point in the Judge’s Contest. Lionel calls Triston a “world class storyteller.” Katy says, “I believe in you.” Luke says Triston did a “great job.”

9:50 p.m. — The final performer of the night is Emmy Russell singing “Coal Miner’s Daughter” by her grandma, Loretta Lynn. It’s an emotional moment as Emmy sits at the piano to sing this classic. It was a beautiful performance. Emmy thinks Katy chose the song and she was right. Katy is in tears saying, “I chose this song not because you’re Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter, but because you can do anything now as Emmy Russell.” With that, Katy officially repeats as the winner of the Judge’s Song Contest.

10:00 p.m. — The voting has closed and it’s time for Ryan to read the results. In no particular order, the Top 6 are Julia, Emmy, Will, Jack, Triston and Abi. As the winner of the Judge’s Song Contest, she has the choice to save either Kaibrienne or McKenna. Katy chooses to save McKenna, and sadly Kaibrienne is heading home.

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