The final three contestants for “American Idol” Season 22 were revealed after the top five took the stage on “Disney Night.”
During the May 12 live performances, each of the top five artists sang two Disney songs as viewers and audience members cast their votes to reveal the final three contestants for the three-hour season finale on May 19.
Judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan also joined in the fun with their rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from the movie “Toy Story.”
At the end of Sunday’s two-hour live show, host Ryan Seacrest announced the night’s winners: Abi Carter, Will Moseley, and Jack Blocker, who will compete next week for the champion title of “American Idol.”
Two fan favorites—Emmy Russell, granddaughter of country music legend Loretta Lynn, and 15-year-old Triston Harper—were eliminated.
Performances
Ms. Carter wore a full-length sequin dress while she performed “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid and “The Chain” from Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2. She said she chose the first song because she has a sister named Ariel.
“A dream is a wish your heart makes, and your dream is coming true,” Ms. Perry told the 21-year-old from California after her first song.
Mr. Harper of Alabama sang “Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” and “Life Is a Highway” from the 2006 film “Cars.”
Mr. Kane advised the cowboy hat-wearing teen to sing “Life Is a Highway” in a higher octave, adding, “He’s going to be a star.”
“Life is a highway, and you’re gonna be on a tour bus soon,” Mr. Bryan told the youngest of the top five following his second performance of the night.
Ms. Russell, dressed in a short sequin dress, sang “The Climb” from “Hannah Montana: The Movie” while playing the piano on stage. Mr. Kane encouraged her to “break out of her shell” for Sunday night’s show.
“Her miracle is on the way,” Ms. Perry said, adding that the 25-year-old has a perfect tone for country radio.
For her second performance of the night, the Tennessee native sang “Carried Me With You” from the movie “Onward.” She’s also a songwriter and has become popular with fans for performing her original songs, including “Skinny” and “Want You,” throughout the competition.
Mr. Blocker, dressed in a western shirt and jeans, wowed the judges with his rendition of Brad Paisley’s “Nobody’s Fool” from the film “Cars.”
“You got that swag, man,” Mr. Bryan said. “I love it. Good job!”
“Your new stage name from now is Jack Swagger,” Mr. Richie said.
For his second performance, the 25-year-old from Tennessee sang “Space Oddity” by David Bowie from “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”
Mr. Moseley, 23, from Georgia, sat on a stool while he sang the “Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy” from “Toy Story 4.”
Mr. Bryan said he thought the song was a great choice for him, and Ms. Perry described his performance as “soulful.”
The competition was finished off with Mr. Moseley’s performance of “Born to Be Wild” from the “D3: The Mighty Ducks.”
“Dim the lights,” Mr. Seacrest said before announcing the three contestants who would advance to the finale.
“In no particular order,” Mr. Seacrest said, Mr. Moseley and Ms. Carter would advance to the final round.
The remaining three stood side-by-side on the stage as Mr. Seacrest announced that “Jack Blocker” would be the third and final contestant competing in next week’s three-hour season finale, which will air live on Sunday, May 19, at 8 p.m. ET.
