‘AMERICAN IDOL’: KATY PERRY, LIONEL RICHIE AND LUKE BRYAN NAME THEIR FAVORITE TOP 7 PERFORMANCES

American Idol airs Sundays on ABC

The theme was Disney and Mother’s Day on “American Idol” this week. The Top 7 performed from their homes hoping to get a spot in this season’s finale on Sunday, May 17. The Top 5 will be revealed next week after America’s vote. Advancing to the Top 7 finalists include the following:

Arthur Gunn – Wichita, KS
Dillon James – Bakersfield, CA
Francisco Martin – Daly City, CA
Jonny West – Studio City, CA
Julia Gargano – Staten Island, NY
Just Sam – West Hollywood, CA
Louis Knight – Narberth, PA

Judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, host Ryan Seacrest, in-house mentor Bobby Bones, and the Top 7 contestants all joined in from 12 different locations across the country. The judges also gave their feedback about the performances.In order to keep the performances as fair as possible, all of the contestants were given the same equipment – lighting, microphones, cameras, etc – and production took the audio from the second take (after the first rehearsal), but the camera passes were from all three of the performances captured while the “American Idol” band lead by Kris Pooley provided the music.

As far as standouts, the judges seemed to all agree on Julia Gargano and Jonny West.

“I think all the Mother’s day performances had me quite emotional,” Katy Perry told TVMusic Network by phone after the show. “It’s a pretty shocking episode because they tell you basically tell you that there are three new people that aren’t gonna get [into the Top 7.  Then everyone’s singing and you’re like, Oh, okay. I liked the emotion of Julia, and I’m such a big Johnny West fan. Arthur Gunn did a really great job, especially with his setup and sound. A really great performance. Johnny West’s version of “Amazing Grace” was so good with his new written lyric was so impressive.”

“I felt like Julia Gargano’s second song was very strong,” said Luke Bryan. “I feel like the past two weeks she has done things to really put herself in a category of potentially being either the winner or the runner up and it’s because every year we kind of have that sneaky, sneaky person that just puts it all together. I also think what’s interesting about Julia is her personality. You see her personality. When she’s not performing and singing, she’s, she’s really lovely. She’s really connectable. You know, she threw a little parade for her mom and she’s just a fun, she’s a fun soul. She, is one people gravitate to. I think when you look at her and her mother’s relationship, I think she won the night. I think that it’s just interesting how the horses in the race change every week. Johnny and Julia are just are off to the races.  I mean it’s talent, the talent you get lost in what’s going on too…. then once you start like just hearing Katie bring up Johnny and “Amazing Grace”, it makes me feel bad that I said Julia won the night because it’s just really split. You know, you’re splitting hairs at this point. These kids are so talented. It’s a great group.”  

 

Lionel Richie adds: “Listen, let me tell you something. It’s very difficult not to sit here and just have tears in the eyes when it’s Mother’s Day and the kid gives a note to the mom and the mom is crying and the kid is crying because it’s really gratitude. That was a whole session in gratitude, but you saw the one that kind of touched them the most and my heart went out to her was Sam, because you know she’s away from home. She is like a bird out in the middle of the world somewhere, you know? And the only family she really has is Luke, Katy, Bobby, Ryan, and myself. So it’s kind of tough to see these kids grow up right in front of you. You could see how thankful they are that their families, their first wave of fanhood loves them so much.  I think what’s happening most of the time is that they don’t really realize how special their families are until this moment when they realize, Holy mackerel, I made it and they’ve been supporting me all these years. It’s just through all the good times and bad times. I just think each one of them had a special story for that particular episode.””American Idol” crowns a winner when the season finale airs Sunday, May 17 n ABC.