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It was too good to last and it didn’t: The Top 10 of “American Idol” included two singers from Alabama, but Sunday night’s episode whittled that down to a Top 8 that included only one of them.
Tristan Harper of McIntosh and Mia Matthews of Centre, along with the rest of the field, got some coaching from superstar Shania Twain. Here’s how things played out, and who’s left to represent the state.
Mia Matthews
Mia Matthews performs as she competes to make it into the Top 8 on “American Idol.” (Eric McCandless/Disney/ABC)Eric McCandless/Disney/ABC
What Shania Twain said: As the multiple Grammy winner listened to Matthews singing one of Twain’s hits, Twain pushed her to make it her own and use her higher range. “I could hear that she could get there,” she said. “Why would you shy away from that?” she asked Matthews. “It’s easy for you.”
What she sang: “No One Needs to Know,” a bouncy, upbeat No. 1 country hit for Twain in 1996. Matthews seemed to have spent some time working on the advice she got in the previous episode, when celebrity judge Katy Perry encouraged her to move more. She ditched the guitar and got down to it: Both in terms of body motion and movement around the stage, this was her most dynamic performance so far, by a long shot.
What Luke Bryan said: “We’ve gotten rid of the guitar, we’ve got you moving around the stage, dancing. … And now I just think it’s about you getting comfortable being a bunch of different characters within country.”
Mia Matthews meets country superstar Shania Twain during preparations for an “American Idol” performance. (Eric McCandless/Disney/ABC)Eric McCandless/Disney/ABC
What Katy Perry said: Most of her commentary was for Bryan. She scolded him for mentioning that Matthews had flubbed a lyric or two. To Matthews, she said, “You looked great, you sounded great, you moved around the stage like you were trying to impress someone. So I hope he comes to the next few shows.”
What Lionel Richie said: “I caught you thinking on that song,” he said. “But it’s okay. What you’re doing now is growing, you understand, and there are going to be some awkward moments. And by the way, just remember one thing: The crowd did not come to rehearsal, so people like Luke don’t have to tell you you messed up!”
Triston Harper
Triston Harper of McIntosh, Ala., gets some coaching from country superstar Shania Twain during preparations for an “American Idol” performance. (Eric McCandless/Disney/ABC)Eric McCandless/Disney/ABC
What Shania Twain said: “I know it’s country, but you have a lot of soul. Your voice is amazing.” Twain said she related to Harper’s tough childhood, when he and his mother struggled with homelessness. “Triston and I have a connection of displacement,” she said. “In my case, we lived in battered women’s shelters. I can understand growing up with the hardships.” She said she saw in him a kindred spirit who’d started out playing for a few bucks that might make a difference and who was now learning to perform for the joy of it.
What he sang: “She’s Country,” a song that became a hit for Jason Aldean in 2009. Harper got much the same advice as Matthews in the previous round, and he too seemed to have taken it to heart: He was more animated and moved around much more on the stage.
What Katy Perry said: “That was a big, big star performance and you incorporated the notes from last week, thank you for being a student of this game.”
“American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest, left, looks on as celebrity host Luke Bryan compares his moves to those of Triston Harper, right. (Eric McCandless/Disney/ABC)Eric McCandless/Disney/ABC
What Luke Bryan said: “You trying to out-gyrate me? Hey. Heavy lies the crown, when you start that. Once you start it, it’s hard to make it go away.”
What Lionel Richie said: “Did I just see the Triston strut? … Be careful now. Be careful. That was good.”
The vote
After the final commercial break, it was time for host Ryan Seacrest to reveal the results of the night’s live voting. Almost 21 million votes had come in, he said.
As usual, the results were presented in “no particular order.” But Harper was the first to learn he was advancing to the next round. For Mia Matthews and her fans, the suspense built until seven names had been called and she was left standing with Kayko and Emmy Russell. It was Russell who was the last called to move on to the next round.
What comes next
In the episode airing Monday, April 29, each singer will perform “one of three songs secretly selected by Luke, Katy and Lionel, who are each competing for most songs chosen.” The vote will move six singers forward, and judges will make one save to round out the Top 7. “American Idol” airs at 7 p.m. Central time Sundays and Mondays on ABC. New episodes become available for streaming on Hulu the day after they air.
