Nutsa and Lucy Love were saved by the judges on Monday’s episode of American Idol on ABC, advancing to the show’s Top 12 along with 10 other singers.
“We love Nutsa!” Luke Bryan, 46, and Katy Perry, 38, both screamed together when they announced that Nutsa was moving on.
Nutsa, having previously been singled out by Katy for her use of glitter, was horrified and put her hands in front of her face and fell to her knees in surprise. She then stood up and hugged the other contestants.
The 25-year-old singer from Tbilisi, Georgia wore a silver sequined strapless dress as she was the last performer during the two-hour episode.
Host Ryan Seacrest, 48, told her she was not immediately voted into the Top 12 by the public and had to sing to win one of the judges two saves to move on.
Top 12: Nutsa became the final member of the Top 12 on Sunday’s episode of American Idol after being saved by the judges
Nutsa put her heart into performing And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going by Dreamgirls and all the judges gave her a standing ovation.
“Well done,” Luke said. “I can’t imagine the pressure you were under and you just knocked that out of the park. And your journey to get here, so inspiring.’
Ryan asked Katy if she was stressed about having to make this decision after all the performances.
“Yeah, I haven’t had a drink in nine weeks and I think I’ll start again tonight,” Katy joked.
“Let’s look at the results first,” Ryan said.
Lionel Richie, 73, broke the news to Lucy, 28, a mother from Holly Grove, Arkansas, that she had been bailed out by the judges.
Lucy didn’t hesitate after hearing from Ryan that she had to win over the judges to stay in the competition. She sang the Imagine Dragons hit Radioactive and the crowd cheered as she chanted her name. Lionel kept saying “I don’t know” when she finished.
“Listen, listen, listen, if I have to bet on someone, I’ll bet on you!
” said Lionel. “Incredible.”
Ahead: Lucy, 28, a mom from Holly Grove, Arkansas, was also voted in the Top 12 by the judges
Stressful situation: ‘Yeah, I haven’t had a drink for nine weeks and I think I’ll start again tonight,’ said Katy Perry after host Ryan Seacrest asked if she was stressed
Standing ovation: Lionel Richie, Katy and Luke Bryan stood and applauded during the two-hour episode on ABC
The Host: Ryan Seacrest revealed the results of viewer voting during the episode
Ryan asked the judges how they would decide.
“This is not what we read in the fine print,” Katy said. ‘I love all these people. They can all sing better than us.’
Lionel also told all the contestants that they were already winners because they made the top 20 and performed at the live Hollywood shows.
Wé Ani, 24, started the show and was told she was the first member of the top 12. Wearing a bright yellow top with feathered cuffs, she took the stage after Ryan gave her the good news and sang This Is Me by The Greatest Showman. The judges gave her a standing ovation.
Michael Williams, 21, of Mason, Ohio, went next. Ryan told him he didn’t make the top 12.
“You sing to survive,” Ryan said.
Michael played JVKE’s Golden Hour.
“I think the people who didn’t vote for you didn’t vote for you because they were jealous of you,” Katy said when he finished.
Hannah Nicholaisen, 24, a recruiter from Houston, learned from Ryan that she also had to sing to survive and he wished her luck. Hannah, dressed in a gold dress, then sang Lorde’s hit song Royals.
First up: Wé Ani, 24, started the show and was told she was the first member of the top 12
Warren Peay, 24, an appliance repairman from Bamberg, South Carolina, heard he landed in the top 12 and went on to play It’s Not My Time by 3 Doors Down.
“Congratulations,” Ryan said when he finished.
“Go to the Victory Zone.”
Mariah Faith, 22, a hairstylist from Conway, South Carolina, took the stage next. Ryan told her that the audience didn’t vote for her, so she had to sing except for the judges. Mariah sang the Steeldrivers’ song If It Hadn’t Been for Love with her grandparents cheering her on.
“A good way to show up after receiving heartbreaking news,” Luke said. “But you did great.”
Haven Madison, a 17-year-old high school student from Clarksville, Tennessee, heard she was in the top 12 and sang her original number 15 in front of the live audience. The audience and her family applauded her.
Nailyah Serenity, 23, a retail consultant from Charlotte, North Carolina, went next. Ryan told her that the audience didn’t vote for her and had to sing to win over the judges. She sang Alive by Sia.
“Wow, you bring the soul to this show,” Katy said.
Ryan announced that this week’s top 12 would go on a lucky trip to the Stagecoach music festival in Indio, California, and see Luke perform.
Good try: Michael Williams, 21, of Mason, Ohio, was told by Ryan that he failed to make the top 12 and had to sing to survive
“We’ve got a place for you, Katy, if you want to join us,” Luke said.
“To sing with you or just sit with you?” said Katy. ‘Okay.’
“I didn’t expect her to call me out,” Luke said.
“Let’s have some beers,” Katy said.
“What’s in store now is for Katy to come take over my show and take the moment,” Luke said.
Paige Anne, 16, a high school student from Idaho Falls, Idaho, wore a purple jumpsuit and took the stage. Ryan told her after the nationwide vote that she would have to sing for a judge’s choice. Paige sang the song I Am Here by Pink.
“That’s the way to come back,” Lionel said.
Ryan called Matt Wilson, 21, a teacher’s assistant from Buffalo, New York, to the center stage and revealed that he would also have to sing for the judges. Matt performed Giveon’s song For Tonight.
Talented teen: Paige Anne, 16, a high school student from Idaho Falls, Idaho, sang to survive
“Well, you know I love you and I’m sorry you were in this place and had to sing for your life,” Luke said. ‘Good job.’
Tyson Venegas, a 17-year-old high school student from Vancouver, British Columbia, went next and Ryan told him he was voted for. Tyson then sang Elton John’s hit Don’t Let The Sun Go Down O Me.
Colin Stough, an 18-year-old from Armory, Mississippi, came out and Ryan told him that the public voted him in the Top 12. He put on his guitar and played an acoustic version of Dancing On My Own. Luke smiled as he sang.
When the song was over, Luke jumped up and down and then ran onto the stage and hugged him.
“Colin one moment can change your life and that was one moment,” Katy said, pointing at him.
Marybeth Byrd, a 22-year-old radio host from Armorel, Arkansas, was called to the center stage. Ryan told her she was voted into the top 12. She sang Jason Isbell’s hit Cover Me Up. The audience applauded her when she finished.
Ryan called Kaeyra, 21, a singer from Algonquin, Illinois, to the stage and told her she wasn’t in the top 12 and had to sing to survive. She sang the Motown classic song If I Were Your Woman. Kaeyra held her focus as a fly buzzed around her as she sang.
“I saw it,” Katy said. ‘She Mohammed went boom boom and kept singing. She was so focused and I mean what I said last night, A-plus tonight.”
Oliver Steele, 25, a musician from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, found himself making progress in the competition. He took the stage and sang Shania Twain’s hit You’re Still The One. The judges stood up for him when he finished.
Next round: Marybeth Byrd, a 22-year-old radio host from Armorel, Arkansas, was voted in the top 12 by viewers
Olivia Soli, 23, a Los Angeles college student, then learned she had to sing for the judges to win a spot in the top 12. Dressed in a purple sequin mini dress and matching gloves, Olivia sang the song God Is A by Ariana Grande Woman. Olivia’s parents cheered her on.
Iam Tongi, an 18-year-old high school student from Kahuku, Hawaii, then learned that he was in the top 12. Iam sang a cover of Lionel’s hit Stuck On You. Lionel sang and danced with the other judges during the performance. When he finished, Lionel ran onto the stage to hug him.
Ryan then grabbed a broom and pretended to try to hit the fly that was buzzing around.
“No more distractions from the show,” Ryan said.
Zachariah Smith, 20, a grill chef from Armory, Mississippi, wearing a sequin jacket, came onstage and Ryan told him he made the top 12. Zachariah then sang Toto’s song Hold The Line. Katy looked stunned when he finished.
“Man, I had so much fun with that song,” Zachariah said. “I love Toto.”
Megan Danielle, 21, of Douglasville, Georgia, and Nutsa were told there was only one top 12 spot left. Ryan then told Megan that she would take the final spot in the top 12 as determined by viewer votes.
Megan then sang Lauren Daigle’s song Thank God I Do and the judges gave her a standing ovation.
Michael, Mariah, Hannah, Nailyah, Paige, Matt, Kaeyra and Olivia did not advance and were eliminated.
American Idol returns this Sunday on ABC with the Top 12.
Last Spot: Megan Danielle took the last spot in the top 12 determined by viewer votes, leaving the judges to save Lucy and Nutsa