American Idol Eliminates Two More Contestants Ahead of Season Finale

LOS ANGELES — With just one week remaining before the season finale of “American Idol,” two contestants have been eliminated from the competition. In Sunday night’s episode, the top seven was reduced to the top five, as Mattie Pruitt and Gabby Samone received the fewest votes from fans.

Around 20 million votes were cast, and the Disney-themed episode provided the remaining contestants with two opportunities to showcase their talents: through performances of popular Disney songs and heartfelt Mother’s Day tributes. Lin-Manuel Miranda, an actor, playwright, and singer, served as the guest mentor, drawing from his experience composing for Disney to guide the performers.

Pruitt sang “Remember Me” from “Coco” and “Those Kind of Woman” by Lauren Alaina, while Samone chose “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana” and “Home” from “The Wiz.” Despite their strong performances, both women fell short in viewer votes, leading to their elimination.

The contestants advancing to the top five include Slater Nalley, Breanna Nix, John Foster, Jamal Roberts, and Thunderstorm Artis. They will compete again Monday night in another round featuring performances related to Disney characters.

The final episode of Season 23 is set to air next Sunday, May 18.