It’s down to the wire for the last five contestants of “American Idol” season 23, all vying on May 12, 2025, for a spot in the top 3. Making it through would guarantee them a place in the finale and a trip back to their hometowns for parades, concerts and time with family.

During the two-hour live show, airing coast-to-coast at 8 p.m. Eastern time, the remaining five contestants have less than two hours to secure enough votes from viewers to move on in the competition. They’ll each sing two Disney songs they’ve worked on with guest mentor Lin-Manuel Miranda and learn their fates from host Ryan Seacrest by the end of the show.

Here’s how to vote tonight! Below, you’ll find our live reporting on every little detail of the night’s competition and the voting results (scroll down for updates!).

TOP 3 ANNOUNCEMENT

Ryan Seacrest walked out on stage with the results, as the top 5 stood onstage waiting to hear their fates. Seacrest said, in no particular order, that after 19 million votes those going through to the top 3 are: JOHN FOSTER, JAMAL ROBERTS and BREANNA NIX.

That means Thunderstorm Artis and Slater Nalley are going home. The finale will air on May 19, 2025.

‘American Idol’ Top 5: First Songs & Judges’ Feedback

Seacrest and the judges — Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan — appeared in a cute dream sequence, working behind the scenes at Disneyland to kick off the second Disney Night. When the judges finally appeared onstage, Underwood appeared dressed as Rapunzel (she was Alice in Wonderland the night before) and Jelly Roll greeted the crowd, sitting alongside the remaining contestants.

Each of the top 5 has prepared two Disney songs to perform during the two-hour live broadcast. Keep checking back for our live updates on their performances and the judges’ feedback…

SLATER NALLEY

While mentoring Nalley, Miranda joked that the 17-year-old sounds like he could be composer Randy Newman when he heard Nalley start singing his song choice, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Slater decided to dress up in a tux and perform for the first time on the show without his guitar. Underwood told Nalley it was a fun way to kick off the show and that she was impressed how at ease Nalley looked without his guitar. Bryan loved the “classic microphone, classic look” and though he’s heard the song performed many times, it was one of his favorite renditions. Thinking back to his audition, Richie said, “Son, you’ve come a long way!” At the end as he talked to Seacrest, Nalley said he felt terrible after messing up on one of his songs the previous night, but said he’s here tonight “to redeem myself!”

JOHN FOSTER

The 18-year-old loved visiting Disneyland with his family and said walking through the French Quarter reminded him of being back home in Louisiana. Foster sang “The Bear Necessities” from “The Jungle Book.” The song started out slower than usual, but then he smiled and kicked it up a notch, picking up the tempo of the playful song. The crowd and judges clearly enjoyed it, with Bryan telling him he’s figured out a look and sound that people love. Richie said Foster’s “likability” is off the charts, and Underwood said that his song “was just a good time,” and that she enjoyed hearing a song from her childhood redone that way.

THUNDERSTORM ARTIS

The dad of two decided to perform the classic “Cinderella” tune “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” a lullaby that he said he has often sung to his three-year-old. Miranda helped him deliver it in a quiet, gentle way and encouraged Artis to remove the mic from the stand in order to move a bit and share a different side of his artistry. Both of his little boys were seen sleeping in the audience, so the song clearly worked on them! The crowd cheered like crazy for Artis’ lullaby. Richie said that he “knocked it out of the park” and Underwood said “that song fit you perfectly,” telling Artis that he is “all heart” so a song like that is “so sweet and believable.” Bryan agreed, telling Artis that a moment like that makes it “hard to critique” when everyone gives “so much” to their performances like he did.

BREANNA NIX

The 25-year-old mom of four-year-old Emerson said she felt like she was living a dream while at Disneyland with her family, calling it “the best thing in the whole wide world.” With her mom in tow, the two women shared tears over how far Nix has come in her life. The show then switched gears, showing Nix onstage as she launched into “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love),” backed up by a full horn section and backup singers she sweetly thanked at the end. When Underwood asked how she was feeling, Nix joked, “A lot of words!” Laughing, Underwood said people at home don’t realize how much is going on for contestants are going through, and she told Nix to just try to have fun with her next song. Bryan said she did a great job while Richie said she definitely “delivered” and has learned how to perform under pressure. Nix admitted “songs like this scare me to death” but that she wants to keep growing, so she gave it a shot.

JAMAL ROBERTS

Before performing his first tune on the May 12 show, Roberts was seen on at Disneyland with his young daughters, mom and sister. He got to take his little girls to dress up like princesses and said that he loved “seeing the smiles on my kids’ faces.” He also said that if his God-given gift of singing could change his life, he doesn’t want to stop what he’s started with “American Idol.” The show then moved back in-studio for Roberts’ live performance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” from “Remember the Titans.” Roberts got the crowd involved, clapping their hands above their heads and got Bryan and Richie leaped to their feet at the end. Smiling as the crowd went wild, Bryan kept yelling, “Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out!” Bryan said he was emotional seeing Roberts at Disneyland with his family, and that after watching his original audition, he is blown away by how far he’s come. Richie told him, “I don’t know if I can emotionally take another performance” because he’s so impressed by Roberts, saying he “Jamalarized” the song, with an ability to make any tune “soulful.” Underwood said that while he an incredible voice, she did think he did miss an opportunity to move all around the stage with such an upbeat song.

The contestants got to take a break while season 22 winner Iam Tongi performed his song from the new “Lilo & Stich” movie, backed by a Polynesian children’s choir. Jelly Roll and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson were dancing along on the sidelines, too!

Second Round of Disney Songs on May 12

SLATER NALLEY

The teen loved Radiator Springs at Disneyland, devoted to his favorite movie, “Cars.” When his family walked into the “Steamboat Willie” theater, they were playing home videos from his childhood, which brought his mom to tears. Nalley called it a “crazy, special moment.” Back in the “American Idol” studio, he then launched into “Born To Be Wild” from the “Mighty Ducks: D3” movie. Dressed more casually and ready to rock, flames flared behind him and Nalley played an electric guitar as he moved around the stage. The crowd and judges loved it, with Underwood rocking out at the table. Richie told Nalley, “I can’t even get control on the crowd! There you go again, making a mess out of all of this — crowd’s out of control, you’re out of control!” Underwood said she loved his song choice, as did Bryan, who said, “I loved it, man! I loved it!” When Seacrest asked him how he feels being so close to the finale, and he said, “I’ve worked my tail off and I’m not gonna quit.”

THUNDERSTORM ARTIS

Producers showed more footage of Artis with his family at Disneyland. His sister, Spirit, told him how proud she is of him — and said, “I know that dad is proud.” Their musician father died several years ago, and Artis said it means everything to have his family backing him up and that he’s “filled with so much gratitude.” Switching gears, Artis was then back at the studio, performing his next song choice live — “Go Find Yourself” from the “Cars” movie. It was another gentle, soothing choice from the dad of two, who sat on a stool at center stage, playing his acoustic guitar. His rendition got another standing ovation from Bryan and Richie, and the crowd cheered loudly. Underwood said, “Please forgive me, I could not give you a standing O,” but explained that her costume is keeping her from standing up. She said that Artis represents “all that is good in the world when you sing.” Bryan said he agreed, telling Artis that all the time he spent with his dad learning to be an artist was worthwhile and so special. Richie said that Artis certainly soaked up from his dad how to be a “vibe master,” because when he steps onstage, he gets people to really listen to what he’s saying or singing.

JOHN FOSTER

The teen worked with Miranda on “Rainbow Connection” from “The Muppet Movie” because he loves Willie Nelson’s version, but Miranda said he sounded like he was copying Nelson’s rendition rather than bringing himself to the song. Miranda helped him use the lyrics to tell a story, and to connect with how his own dreams are coming through. Foster performed the song with his acoustic guitar, sitting on a stool at center stage. Bryan said, “Listen, everybody’s gunning for one another and everybody’s doing great.” He said that the song was “authentically you” and that he was glad he didn’t copy anyone. Richie said he’s “totally in love with the timber of your voice” and noting he’s a true “stylist” because his voice is so recognizable. Underwood said she recalled that she had a “diamond in the rough” before her and that she had to convince her fellow judges of his future stardom — and she said that “if you’re not careful, you could win this whole thing.”

BREANNA NIX

Nix chose to sing “You’ll Be in My Heart” from “Tarzan” because it’s her husband’s favorite Disney song. She said that her husband, Austin, is her “rock” and that she felt like a princess on their wedding five years ago. While working with Miranda, Austin and their son visited, and the Broadway star encouraged her to use the energy she feels around him and how they’ve proved their love is lasting. Back in the studio, walked from the back of the stage to the front to deliver her powerful rendition as she looked straight as her husband in the audience, who was teary-eyed throughout. Richie said, “I have to tell you, when you lock in on a note, it ain’t going nowhere — it’s so strong and then you can take it down to a whisper.” He said it’s been “wonderful” to watch her confidence soar. Underwood said she loved that she had such a “sweet moment” with her family and yet brought everyone into it. She also said that Nix has been “so solid” throughout the whole competition. Bryan said that her music seems like her “safe space,” but lost his train of thought. Her husband said that they started this “American Idol” journey “on a lark” and said he’s so proud of Nix for making it so far in the competition.

JAMAL ROBERTS

Miranda said that he could tell Roberts’ song choice — “Beauty & the Beast” — was having a hard time connecting with the song. Roberts admitted it would probably be “one of the biggest challenges of the season for me.” Miranda urged him to find the meaning in the words for him, and that if he could do that, he’d knock it out of the park. The crowd and judges seemed blown away by what he did with the song, as the audience just continued to cheer so loudly that Underwood couldn’t speak. Bryan said, “Let’s win this baby, let’s win this!” Richie told him that no one but him could turn “Beauty in the Beast” into an R&B song.