It’s another exciting night of American Idol on ABC tonight with an all-new Monday, April 9, 2023, season 6 episode 8 called “Showstopper/Final Judgment Part #1” and we have your weekly American Idol recap below. On tonight’s American Idol season 6 episode 8 as per the ABC synopsis, “Performing with a band for the first time, Idol hopefuls sing their hearts out in their last chance to make it to America’s vote. In the Final Judgment, two pairs of contestants face off with the judges sealing their fate for the next round.”
Tune in tonight at 8 PM EST! Celeb Dirty Laundry is your go-to place for all the up-to-date American Idol recaps, news, videos, spoilers, and more, right here!
Tonight’s American Idol recap begins now – Refresh Page often to get the most current updates!
In tonight’s American Idol episode, The judges still had plenty of questions about the contestants. Only most of those questions get answered by “Showstoppers”. The Showstoppers Round forces the contestants into working with the band. It tested them on timing as well as presentation. This was the final round before the live shows! They either proved they had star power at this stage or they were eliminated. Kaeyra was up first. She’s been working as a lounge singer. She was ready for her big break and the only little tidbit the judges had to say before her performance was “don’t be forgettable”.
Kaerya might have gotten to used to being ignored as a lounge singer. She doesn’t stand a chance in the competition if she lets that continue on “American Idol”. Kaerya chose the song “River”. She also played guitar along with the band. She sounded amazing. She had a great look. She really honed her skills as a performer and the first coveted spot in the Top 24 went to her. Kaerya was quickly joined by Warren P. Warren has such a unique voice. It was husky and smooth at the same time. It has a lot of range. And he showed that in Showstoppers because he came out without his trusty guitar.
Warren chose the song “Whipping Post”. He knows how to play it on guitar, but he wanted to prove that he could come out behind a musical instrument and still command a stage. Which he did. He was great with his performance. He lit up the whole room. He had the judges following him all throughout the performance. They loved it so much that they gave him the second spot in the Top 24 with no regrets. They didn’t even have a word of warning for him like did with Kaerya. They simply asked him if he wishes to give up being an electrician. And he told them he was all in.
Nutsa was called in next. She had a rough Duet Round. Her partner kinda threw her under the bus. The partner claimed that Nutsa went to sleep because she didn’t want to practice and that was a lie. There was literal footage of Nusta rehearing at 3 AM in the morning. Nutsa could have defended herself onstage and she actually didn’t because she was so frozen in shock. She even accepted Katy’s criticism without defending herself. So, she did address that when she was called by the judges after Showstoppers.
Nusta had performed “Rollin on the River”. It was her best performance to date. She whipped her hair around, she danced on stage, and she gave a full on concert. Her voice was on point. Nutsa felt she had done her best and that’s probably why she gained enough confidence to apologize for not speaking up for herself earlier. She said she was frozen in shock because she was in so much pain that she was on the brink of tears. Only Nusta defended herself this time. She and Katy hugged it out. And after a confusing moment in which it sounded like they were eliminating her, they admitted they were talking crap.
It was a fake out. The judges really did put Nutsa in the Top 24. She just needs to keep speaking up for herself and, with that, it was onto the next one. The next person to be called was Adin. Adin was a music teacher. He performed “Viva La Vida”. He showed off great piano skills. He could become a phenomenal Singer/Songwriter. It was his vocals that left a lot to be desired. Adin’s vocals weren’t on par with the song. It wasn’t even on par with the other contestants that were making into the next round and so Adin was sadly eliminated.
Lionel also offered Adin a job as a Songwriter because he does believe there was a career there for him. Next up was Michael. He chose “Angels Like You”. It was another poor pick because it wasn’t the best song for him. He kept getting lost in the background. The song also showed off his weaknesses and that’s not something you want to show the judges during such an important round. Only Michael still made it into the next round because the judges remembered his audition. They remembered that amazing falsetto he has. And that’s what saved him.
Everything was done at the judges’ discretion. They held back Adin because his vocals were weak and they moved forward Michael because he has a history of great performances. The judges next called up PJ as well as Malik. They called them in together because they felt they only had room for one sultry voices. They were also both R&B and they were good friends. PJ performed “I Want You”. Malik performed “Can We Talk”. They each did a little something that was good and a little bit off. And so the judges decided to mess with them by asking them to perform in a Sing Off.
They were directly competing against each other. They had to choose between two songs that the judges gave them and they have to both perform it to determine who would be moving on to the next round. It was completely unfair. It trampled on their friendship. The judges could have easily asked both young men to sing again on their own. They didn’t have to be told there was only room for one of them. But it was the judges. They love their mind games. It’s why they messed with Nutsa to the point of her being in tears because she thought she was getting eliminated.
PJ and Malike did perform in the Sing Off. They each performed the song “Everything I Wanted” solo. They also had to perform in front of each other and so again with the mind games. The judges were hoping to break one only they quickly realized both men rose to the challenge. They both sounded great with the song. They got to show off their skill. They also chose to continue to be there for each other and that’s why good things came their way. The judges decided to change their decision to eliminate one of them.
The judges put both men into the Top 24. They even told the guys that they had to eliminate another person to make room for the both of them and so they were that good. Next up was We Ani. We Ani sounds like she’s twelve when she’s talking and she sounded much different when she was singing. She has such a rich deep singing voice. It was in a class all on its own. She also made a great song selection in the Showstopper Round. She chose the song “Aint No Way”. We Ani sounded so amazing that the judges didn’t beat around the bush. They told her upfront that she was going into the Top 24 and now she gets to keep sharing her gift.
Zachariah went next. He performed “Don’t Stop Me Now”. It was clear to everyone how much he enjoyed performing that song. He even had the judges on their feet all throughout the song. He let it all go on the stage. He gave it his best and he was rewarded for it. The judges put him through to the Top 24. There was just no doubt about him making it far in the competition and the judges did joke that his Showstopper performance felt like him winning the competition. Everyone just loves him. He made it through and sadly that couldn’t be said for Kaylin.
Kaylin performed “Kiss From Rose”. It was a beautiful song. It was just a little bit out of her range because she struggled to pull in the audience. Kaylin was still a good singer and so the judges turned her down by saying she simply wasn’t ready to compete with the more experienced group. After Kaylin was eliminated, her duet partner was called up. Tyson had to watch as most of his friends get eliminated from the competition and he didn’t really have much faith in himself. He knew his performance hadn’t been great.
Tyson performed “Cuz I Love You”. Everyone could see that he was forgetting the words. He stopped short on several high notes and it was probably one of his worst performances. Tyson had let his nerves get the best of him. He admitted that. He was still just a kid and it didn’t help that he put a lot of pressure on himself because he won the Platinum Ticket. He thought everything had to perfect to justify him getting that ticket. Only the judges still saw potential in him. The judges decided to put Tyson through to the next round because they knew what he could do. And they were looking forward to seeing it again.
Haven was called up. She was another baby-face. She showed great potential as a Singer/Songwriter. Her Showstopper performance was a bit of a letdown because everyone knew she was better than that, but the judges still felt Haven has potential and she was another one that made it through to the next round thanks to said potential. She also knows now that “Bird Set Free” wasn’t for her. Next up was Fire. Fire was a fighter. She earned her validation from the judges during her audition. And she faced upset within the competition.
Her duet partner quit on her. No advance warning or anything. Fire had to persevere through that and she gave a good Showstopper performance. She performed “Mercy”. She noticeable gained confidence on the stage. She has a singing future. It was simply not with this competition because she didn’t show off her best and the judges were forced to eliminate her. They were sad to eliminate her only they still had to do it and maybe she’ll come back next year. Lucy Love went on next. She was another mom.
It’s been tough on Lucy Love being separated from her kids. She stays positive with these post it notes that she writes her affirmations on. It reminds her to keep fighting and who she’s fighting for. She wants to give her children a better life. She wants to make a career out of performing and she almost lost that opportunity because of stage nerves. Lucy Love performed “Flying Without Wings”. She took a minute before she started because she had forgotten the lyrics. It was only for a second and she quickly bounced back to give a stellar performance.
Lucy Love proved she has a career in this competition. Which was why the judges put her in the Top 24. Paige was called next. Paige was unable to make it to the stage for her Showstopper performance. She actually had to perform over video with the judges. She performed “California Dreamin”. It sounded good, but the judges were back at it with calling up two people at once and they called up Paige and Megan. Megan performed “Always Remember Us This Way”. She had a great raspy voice only they didn’t get a feel for her identity. And so they had to perform in another Sing Off.
THE END!