2 ‘American Idol' contestants eliminated as Top 8 revealed: Who shined on ‘Ladies' Night'?
After the Top 10 perform, host Ryan Seacrest "dims the lights" as two hopefuls are eliminated.
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Lambert will also hit the stage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her platinum-selling album Kerosene. The Grammy winner marked the milestone with a special vinyl re-release of the two-decade-old album on April 25, featuring the previously unreleased track "I Don't Love Here Anymore." Lambert earned a nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Kerosene's title track in 2007, but coincidentally lost to Carrie Underwood for "Jesus, Take the Wheel." That same year, Underwood also won Best New Artist, securing the first two of her eight career Grammys.
The "Ladies' Night" episode of American Idol airs live coast-to-coast on Sunday, May 4 (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). Follow along with our live blog below to see each performance. Plus, vote for your favorite in our poll once the entire Top 10 has performed!
SEE 'American Idol' shocker: Filo is eliminated in the Top 12 after ironically singing 'I'm Not Going'
8 p.m. — Previously, on American Idol: The Top 10 finalists were announced on April 28 after celebrating "Iconic Idol Moments." Jamal Roberts ("Heal"), John Foster ("I Told You So"), and Gabby Samone ("A Song for You") won Gold Derby's poll as your favorite performers. Ché ("Dancing on My Own") and Filo ("And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going") were eliminated.
John Foster Age: 18 Hometown: Addis, La. Performance: "Something to Talk About" by Bonnie Raitt Carrie's comments: "You are the one we have watched grow the most throughout this entire process. Every single time you step on the stage you feel more comfortable." Lionel's comments: N/A Luke's comments: "Your charisma meter is peaking off the charts right now."
Kolbi Jordan Age: 26 Hometown: Tulsa, Okla. Performance: "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac
Josh King Age: 24 Hometown: Charlotte, N.C. Performance: "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele
Dim the lights! Based on America's vote, these two artists were eliminated on Sunday, May 4:
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Launch Gallery: 'American Idol' Season 23 cast: Meet the Top 24 finalists
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Music Industry Moves: HarbourView Acquires Stake in Kelly Clarkson's Music Catalog
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You were standing on stage with fellow contestant John Foster and Ryan was about to open an envelope and read the name of the winner. What was going through your mind? I was thinking, 'Jamal, it's up to America to decide not who was better, but who do they want to represent America as an Idol.' It was during these last moments that I finally gave myself some applause. I applauded myself for getting this far, staying the course and doing all the things that were necessary and needed in this competition. I'd been able to show my heart and show my love for music and the journey. I thought win or lose, good job. And when Ryan said my name, I couldn't believe it. There were fireworks and stuff and flying out of the sky and I'm asking myself, 'Did he just call my name? He called my name!' That moment will always be special to me. I was smiling, trying to make sure I'm looking right for the camera, but in my head, I'm thinking, 'You did it. You came this far. You could be your authentic self. The world sees that and now they know Jamal Roberts.' I was going to be okay either way, but I worked hard. I came out there every show with something different, something new to the table, something appealing and I felt like I was versatile. I felt worthy of being the American Idol. But win or lose, I felt like I would have a successful career. It was a win-win situation. How has your life changed since that moment? My life has changed drastically. I went home and thought I could do the same thing I was doing before I left and I found that to be a lie. You were teaching. Right. The first day I went back to school after winning Idol, people were coming up to the school [to see me] and I thought, 'This won't work.' So I had to make that ultimate decision. As an employee, I had to leave, but I still show up and volunteer all the time because this is where my passion is and my heart is, as well as music. But America voted for me, so they expect to see something. They expect me to put in a little more work and I have the work ethic and I'm ready. What have you been doing since the finale? Right after the show, everybody wanted to hear [the coronation song] 'Heal.' I was everywhere, traveling all over the world, and then I got a chance to sing on the BET Awards with Kirk Franklin and Tamar Braxton and Muni Long. That was a wonderful experience. I got to meet a lot of people I looked up to and for all of them to embrace me, it felt amazing. And now I've just been added to the ['The Boy Is Mine'] tour with Monica and Brandy and Muni Long and Kelly Rowland. It starts in October. What is it like going out now when you walk into stores or dine in restaurants? Typically, I can't go to the store now and when I do step out, I have to have security and all the safety measures and it just gets overwhelming sometimes. We saw your daughters on . How do they feel about all of this? Lyrik is always saying, 'Daddy, I remember you got the Golden Ticket.' She still talks about that and they still talk about going to Disneyland. They talk about their experiences, the impact it had on their lives and the impact it has on their lives currently. Sometimes I have to send them with their godmother or mom when they want to go somewhere fun because going with me can be overwhelming for them. They don't realize that now because they're so young, but eventually they'll get it. In your new single, you sing the lyric, 'I'm missing you in Mississippi.' What does this song mean to you? I love Mississippi. People try to get me to move, but it's just so peaceful and just so down to earth. Emile, Daniel and Christian were writing it and I put my two cents here and there, changing things around and making it suitable for me. I wanted to paint a picture of what I miss and what I've come from and that what I do currently in Mississippi that gives me that ease and that peace of mind. And in the song, if you listen closely, you'll hear how I feel. How did the recording sessions go? My recording sessions were pretty authentic. I'm able to get in there and sing and give it some soul and give it those heartfelt moments. When you've experienced it and lived through it, it's easier to sing about. So it's easy to sing about the love I have for Mississippi and what makes my heart smile and what is my peace, because nobody knows that better than me. So the record is amazing. It paints a picture. It's not just about Mississippi. Even though I'm dedicating this to Mississippi, I know that anyone who has moved away is missing home or missing a loved one that left and you think about them all the time. My kids are in Mississippi and all my childhood memories, so when I'm singing 'missing you In Mississippi,' I'm not just talking about one particular place. I'm talking about that peace, that moment, that memory. There's a whole bunch of compassion in there. When you first heard the finished recording, what did you think? The finished recording after it was mixed and mastered? I thought, 'Man, this has got to be a hit. It's so smooth.' I went around Meridian, and I let a couple of people from my hometown hear the whole song. One friend of mine told me, 'This is a hit song, but it's so sad.' But that just goes to show what kind of picture it painted and how it grabs onto those heartstrings and that's what I really wanted. Your vocals on 'Mississippi' remind me of one of the greatest singers of the 20th century, Sam Cooke. He started out singing gospel and then turned to secular music and you seem to be following the same path. When you say gospel and secular, I plan on doing pop and hip-hop. I plan on doing it all. Gospel is where I come from. Singing gospel gave me that passion of being able to commit to a song like I do, even if it's a secular song. So I'm always going to stick with my gospel roots, but you can't reach people singing gospel all the time. Sometimes there's a song like 'Mississippi' that will open people's eyes and let them say that's okay, so I feel like I'll do both. Do you have plans to record an album? Like I told my label and producers and my manager, I don't want to put out an album right now. Why don't we just do what we're doing? Keep people wanting more and let them support me 100% and I'm loving that. Even though 'Mississippi' is just coming out, trust me, we've got more stuff cooking and it's going to be amazing. Stay tuned. Not far from where we're sitting, season 15 winner Nick Fradiani is starring as Neil Diamond inat the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. A lot of Idols have done theater and film. Would you be interested in acting? About a month ago, I was pitched about doing an Otis Redding story. We'll see how it goes, because I'm really excited about that if that comes into play. It's something that I'm very interested in. Like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding is one of the greats. Do you know his music? I'm a fan. Anybody that can grab you and take you on a journey, you understand what they're talking about. Otis was a storyteller and a powerful singer. We first talked when you and I asked you then what was the most important thing you learned on your journey. But your time on the show continued for a few more weeks. Looking back on the entire season, what would you currently say was the most important thing you learned? You've got to pace yourself and you've got to have patience. Being an artist is a labor. Are you willing to do all the work and all the labor that comes with being an artist? And I understand now that Idol builds you and teaches you what it's going to take to be on this national level. They prepare you to be the best you can be. 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