Honestly, everyone says every season of Idol is the "best one yet," but the American Idol top 24 2025 actually had something to prove. For the first time in years, the air felt different. Maybe it was the ghost of Katy Perry finally leaving the building, or more likely, it was the sheer pressure of performing for a literal legend like Carrie Underwood.
The shift was real. You could see it in their eyes at the Disney Aulani Resort.
The Carrie Underwood Effect
Having Carrie back—not as a performer, but as a permanent judge—changed the stakes for the top 24. Most of these kids grew up watching her win. When she cries, they cry. When she gives technical advice about "belting from the diaphragm," they actually listen because, well, she’s done it.
She isn't just a celebrity judge; she’s the blueprint.
During the Hawaii rounds, the vibe wasn't just "be a star." It was "survive the cut." We saw people like Jamal Roberts and John Foster pushing themselves in ways that felt more like a professional concert than a reality show audition. It was less about the gimmicks and more about the raw, unfiltered vocal ability that Carrie demands.
Who Actually Made the Cut?
The road to the American Idol top 24 2025 was a bloodbath. Remember the "Idol Arena"? That was brutal. Seeing favorites like Sonny Tennet go home while his best friend Ché moved on was the kind of heartbreak that makes for great TV but sucks for the artists.
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The final 24 was a wild mix. You had:
- The Powerhouses: Gabby Samone and Amanda Barise. These two could probably sing the phone book and get a standing ovation.
- The Stylists: Slater Nalley with that raspy, soulful tone, and Filo, who brought a theatricality we haven't seen in a while.
- The "Voice" Vets: Having Thunderstorm Artis and Victor Solomon in the mix felt almost like cheating. These guys are seasoned pros. Watching Thunderstorm take on "Is This Love?" on the beach in Hawaii was basically a masterclass.
It wasn't just about singing, though. It was about who could handle the heat. Literally. Performing on a beach at a Disney resort sounds like a dream until you’re sweating through your stage makeup and trying to hit a high C while the wind is whipping your hair into your mouth.
The Performances That Defined the Season
If you missed the Hawaii episodes, you missed the moment Jamal Roberts became the frontrunner. Singing "Tennessee Whiskey" is usually a death sentence on these shows because it's so overdone. But Jamal? He made it feel new.
Then there was Breanna Nix.
She brought her little son, Emerson, on the road with her. Watching her sing "Jesus Take the Wheel" right in front of Carrie Underwood took a level of courage I simply do not possess. Carrie was in tears. The audience was in tears. It was one of those "Idol moments" that actually felt earned, not manufactured.
The Wild Cards and the Heartbreak
The transition from the top 24 to the top 20 is always the hardest. This year, the "Wild Card" round felt particularly heavy. We saw artists like Zaylie Windsor and Isaiah Misailegalu fighting for their lives.
Some people think the judges are too nice. "They never say anything bad!" people scream at their TVs. But in 2025, the critiques got sharper. Lionel Richie started calling out pitch issues. Luke Bryan wasn't just the "fun uncle" anymore; he was looking for star power.
Why the Top 24 Matters
The American Idol top 24 2025 is the gatekeeper. It’s where the "talented amateurs" get separated from the "future Grammy winners."
By the time the show moved from Hawaii back to the big stage in Los Angeles, the wheat had been thoroughly winnowed from the chaff. We saw the rise of John Foster, the country kid from Louisiana who eventually became the runner-up. We saw the consistency of Mattie Pruitt.
But mostly, we saw a show that finally figured out how to balance nostalgia with new talent.
What You Should Do Next
If you're still catching up on the season or planning to audition for the next one, here’s the reality:
- Watch the Aulani Tapes: Seriously. If you want to see how to handle a live band and a live audience for the first time, study those top 24 performances. Pay attention to how the winners moved on stage.
- Follow the Artists: Most of the top 24 are already dropping original music on Spotify and TikTok. Jamal Roberts and John Foster aren't waiting for a label to tell them what to do.
- Check Audition Dates: If you think you've got what it takes, auditions for the 2026 season (Season 24) are usually announced right after the finale. Keep your eye on the official ABC site.
The 2025 season proved that even after two decades, this format isn't dead. It just needed a little bit of that "Jukebox Carrie" energy to wake it up.