# American Idol season 16

The sixteenth season of American Idol premiered on March 11, 2018, on the ABC television network. It was the show's first season to air on ABC, and after 15 years, Ryan Seacrest continued his role as host, while Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie joined the show as judges. Maddie Poppe won this season on May 21, 2018, while Caleb Lee Hutchinson was the runner-up, and Gabby Barrett finished in third place.

## Background

In early 2017, Variety reported that FremantleMedia was in talks to revive the show for either NBC or Fox. A dispute between Fremantle and Core Media Group derailed these plans. In May 2017, it was announced that ABC was making a bid to revive the program. Later, ABC announced that it had acquired the rights to the series and that American Idol would return for the 2017–18 television season. On November 6, 2017, it was announced that the revival would premiere on March 11, 2018.
On July 20, 2017, it was announced on Live with Kelly and Ryan that Ryan Seacrest would return as host for the revival season. On May 16, 2017, Katy Perry was the first judge to be announced by ABC. On September 23, Luke Bryan was announced for a second judge, and on September 29, Lionel Richie was announced as the final. On February 21, 2018, it was announced that iHeartRadio radio personality Bobby Bones would serve as the mentor for the top 24 this season.
On April 23, 2018, ABC announced that the April 29, May 6, and May 13 live shows of the season would air across all mainland U.S. time zones, a first for American Idol.

## Regional auditions

In June 2017, it was announced that American Idol would begin two bus tours in 19 cities, and this was later increased to 22, for auditions beginning on August 17, 2017. Those who passed their first audition went in front of the producers, where they would be selected to appear before the judges in different cities. Instead of focusing on a city in each episode as had been the case in previous seasons, each episode this season showed a compilation of auditions from different cities.
American Idol (season 16) – regional auditions :
| City | Filming date(s) | Filming venue |
| New York City, New York | October 3–4, 2017 | Madison Square Garden |
| New Orleans, Louisiana | October 14, 2017 | Mardi Gras World |
| Nashville, Tennessee | October 19–20, 2017 | Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum |
| Savannah, Georgia | October 28–29, 2017 | Kehoe Iron Works |
| Los Angeles, California | November 16–17, 2017 | Hollywood and Highland Center |
During the live broadcast of the 2017 American Music Awards, three contestants who did not advance after their auditions in front of the judges were given one more chance to convince the audience to vote for them. The contestants were Britany Holmes, Maris, and Dominique Smith. The winner of the golden ticket to Hollywood was then revealed the following night on an episode of Dancing with the Stars. Lionel Richie appeared in the show and announced that the vote was in favor of Britney Holmes, a 28-year-old vocal coach from Texas, who advanced to Hollywood as the first semifinalist of the season.

## Hollywood week

Hollywood Week aired over two episodes on March 26 and April 1. It featured three rounds: lines of ten, a group round, and a solo round. In the first round, each contestant sang individually, and after ten had sung, they gathered in a line. Those who impressed the judges and the producers were advanced to the next round, where the contestants performed together in groups of four or five. The contestants who passed the group rounds performed their final solos before advancing to the Showcase round.

## Showcase round

The Showcase round aired on April 2, which featured the top 50 performing for the judges and a live audience at Exchange LA, a nightclub in Los Angeles. The following day, the judges narrowed the number of contestants down from 50 to 24. The top 24 contestants then moved on to perform solos and celebrity duets.
The following is a list of the contestants who reached the top 24 and the song they performed at the Showcase. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Showcase round (April 2) :
| Contestant | Song |
| Layla Spring | "Proud Mary" |
| Michael J. Woodard | "You Oughta Know" |
| Gabby Barrett | "Church Bells" |
| Michelle Sussett | "24K Magic" |
| Dominique | "Landslide" |
| Trevor McBane | "Wake Me Up" |
| Maddie Poppe | "Me and Bobby McGee" |
| Ron Bultongez | "All I Want" |
| Alyssa Raghu | "Every Breath You Take" |
| Catie Turner | "Bad Romance" |
| Jurnee | "Never Enough" |
| Shannon O'Hara | "Unconditionally" |
| Kay Kay | "Brokenhearted" |
| Amelia Hammer Harris | "Paint It Black" |
| Brandon Diaz | "Let's Get It On" |
| Adam Sanders (as Ada Vox) | "Creep" |
| Jonny Brenns | "Lay Me Down" |
| Mara Justine | "Something's Got a Hold on Me" |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | "I Was Wrong" |
| Garrett Jacobs | "Knock on Wood" |
| Cade Foehner | "No Good" |
| Effie Passero | "The Dance" |
| Marcio Donaldson | "If You Really Love Me" |
| Dennis Lorenzo | "A Song for You" |

## Top 24

The top 24 contestants were split into two groups of twelve. Prerecorded performances of the first group aired on April 8 and 9, and the second group on April 15 and 16. On the first episode, each contestant performed one solo; and on the second episode, each contestant performed one duet with a celebrity singer. The judges then eliminated five contestants from each group on the second episode.
The artists who performed duets with the top 24 were Banners, Aloe Blacc, Bishop Briggs, Cam, Colbie Caillat, Luis Fonsi, Andy Grammer, Lea Michele, Patrick Monahan, Rachel Platten, Bebe Rexha, Sugarland, and Allen Stone.
Color key:

### Group 1

Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Group 1 (April 8) :
| Contestant | Song |
| Dominique | "Ain't Nobody" |
| Layla Spring | "A Broken Wing" |
| Catie Turner | "Call Me" |
| Dennis Lorenzo | "Rude" |
| Michelle Sussett | "If I Were a Boy" |
| Michael J. Woodard | "Golden Slumbers" |
| Trevor McBane | "Way Down We Go" |
| Jonny Brenns | "Georgia" |
| Kay Kay | "Love on the Brain" |
| Brandon Diaz | "Hello" |
| Gabby Barrett | "My Church" |
| Cade Foehner | "All Along the Watchtower" |
Group 1 (April 9) :
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Catie Turner | "Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah)" (with Andy Grammer) | Advanced |
| Cade Foehner | "Never Tear Us Apart" (with Bishop Briggs) | Advanced |
| Layla Spring | "Stuck Like Glue" (with Sugarland) | Eliminated |
| Dominique | "Wake Me Up" (with Aloe Blacc) | Eliminated |
| Brandon Diaz | "Despacito" (with Luis Fonsi) | Eliminated |
| Kay Kay | "Drive By" (with Patrick Monahan) | Eliminated |
| Trevor McBane | "River" (with Bishop Briggs) | Eliminated |
| Michelle Sussett | "I Can't Make You Love Me" (with Luis Fonsi) | Advanced |
| Jonny Brenns | "Back Home" (with Andy Grammer) | Advanced |
| Dennis Lorenzo | "Unaware" (with Allen Stone) | Advanced |
| Michael J. Woodard | "Angel in Blue Jeans" (with Patrick Monahan) | Advanced |
| Gabby Barrett | "Stay" (with Sugarland) | Advanced |

### Group 2

Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Group 2 (April 15) :
| Contestant | Song |
| Amelia Hammer Harris | "Believer" |
| Garrett Jacobs | "Treat You Better" |
| Maddie Poppe | "Brand New Key" |
| Ada Vox | "Feeling Good" |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | "Die a Happy Man" |
| Effie Passero | "Barracuda" |
| Alyssa Raghu | "Stay" |
| Marcio Donaldson | "Inseparable" |
| Mara Justine | "Run to You" |
| Jurnee | "Flashlight" |
| Shannon O'Hara | "All I Ask" |
| Ron Bultongez | "Dancing On My Own" |
Group 2 (April 16) :
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | "Meant to Be" (with Bebe Rexha) | Advanced |
| Ada Vox | "Defying Gravity" (with Lea Michele) | Advanced |
| Maddie Poppe | "Bubbly" (with Colbie Caillat) | Advanced |
| Ron Bultongez | "Someone to You" (with Banners) | Eliminated |
| Amelia Hammer Harris | "Me, Myself & I" (with Bebe Rexha) | Eliminated |
| Shannon O'Hara | "Burning House" (with Cam) | Eliminated |
| Alyssa Raghu | "Yellow" (with Banners) | Eliminated |
| Marcio Donaldson | "What's Going On" (with Allen Stone) | Advanced |
| Jurnee | "Run to You" (with Lea Michele) | Advanced |
| Garrett Jacobs | "Lucky" (with Colbie Caillat) | Advanced |
| Mara Justine | "Fight Song" (with Rachel Platten) | Advanced |
| Effie Passero | "Diane" (with Cam) | Eliminated |

## Top 14

The Top 14 performances aired on Sunday, April 22, followed by the live results show on Monday, April 23.
Color key:
Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Top 14 (April 22) :
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | "Midnight Train to Memphis" | Advanced |
| Michelle Sussett | "Friends" | Wild Card |
| Marcio Donaldson | "It's a Miracle" | Wild Card |
| Mara Justine | "This Is Me" | Wild Card |
| Garrett Jacobs | "Raging Fire" | Wild Card |
| Ada Vox | "The Show Must Go On" | Wild Card |
| Catie Turner | "Take Me to Church" | Advanced |
| Cade Foehner | "Black Magic Woman" | Advanced |
| Dennis Lorenzo | "In My Blood" | Wild Card |
| Maddie Poppe | "Homeward Bound" | Advanced |
| Jurnee | "Bang Bang" | Wild Card |
| Jonny Brenns | "This Is Gospel" | Wild Card |
| Michael J. Woodard | "Titanium" | Advanced |
| Gabby Barrett | "The Climb" | Advanced |
Top 14 (April 23) :
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Maddie Poppe | "Walk Like an Egyptian" | Immune |
| Michelle Sussett | "I'm a Dreamer" | Advanced |
| Marcio Donaldson | "Jealous" | Eliminated |
| Cade Foehner | "Bright Lights" | Immune |
| Garrett Jacobs | "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" | Eliminated |
| Gabby Barrett | "Little Red Wagon" | Immune |
| Dennis Lorenzo | "This Woman's Work" | Advanced |
| Jonny Brenns | "Demons" | Eliminated |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)" | Immune |
| Mara Justine | "Love on the Brain" | Eliminated |
| Jurnee | "Never Enough" | Advanced |
| Michael J. Woodard | "Believe in Yourself" | Immune |
| Catie Turner | "Havana" | Immune |
| Ada Vox | "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" | Advanced |

## Top 10 contestants

* Maddie Poppe (born December 5, 1997) was from Clarksville, Iowa. She auditioned in New York City by performing "Rainbow Connection." In Hollywood, she sang "Dreams" by Brandi Carlile as her first solo and performed her original song "Don't Ever Let Your Children Grow Up" as her final solo. She advanced to the top 24 after performing "Me and Bobby McGee" in the Showcase round. During the course of the season, she played the ukulele, guitar and keyboard.
* Caleb Lee Hutchinson (born March 2, 1999) was from Dallas, Georgia. He auditioned in Atlanta by performing "If It Hadn't Been for Love." In Hollywood, he performed Keith Whitley's "Don't Close Your Eyes" as his first solo. He made it to the Showcase round by singing Josh Turner's "Your Man" as his second solo. After performing "I Was Wrong" by Chris Stapleton, Hutchinson advanced to the top 24 semifinals.
* Gabby Barrett (born March 5, 2000) was from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She auditioned in Nashville, intending to perform one song, but the judges encouraged her to sing a church song instead. She sang "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" and advanced to Hollywood. She sang Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way" as her final solo and advanced to the Showcase round, where she then sang "Church Bells" by Carrie Underwood and advanced to the top 24.
* Cade Foehner (born July 24, 1996) was from Shelbyville, Texas. He earned a golden ticket from the judges after singing The Black Crowes' "She Talks to Angels" at his audition in New Orleans. In Hollywood, he performed "The Thrill Is Gone" by B.B. King as his first solo and "Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man as the final solo. He sang Kaleo's "No Good" to advance in the semifinals in the Showcase round.
* Michael J. Woodard (born October 6, 1997) was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For his audition, he sang "Make It Rain." He then progressed to the Showcase round after performing "Maybe This Time." He also sang Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" to advance in the top 24.
* Catie Turner (born February 14, 2000) was from Langhorne, Pennsylvania. She had auditioned for American Idol's fifteenth season, but was rejected by the producers. She auditioned in New York City and sang her original song "21st Century Machine." She also sang the Beatles' "Come Together" and another original song during the solo rounds of Hollywood Week. She sang "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga in the Showcase round to earn a spot in the top 24.
* Jurnee (born May 11, 1999) was from Denver, Colorado. She had also auditioned for the fifteenth season, but did not make it through. She auditioned in Savannah with "Rise Up" by Andra Day. She also sang Demi Lovato's "You Don't Do It for Me Anymore" as her first solo and Ariana Grande's "One Last Time" to advance to the Showcase round. She made it to the semifinals after singing "Never Enough."
* Dennis Lorenzo (born April 4, 1991) was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For his audition, he sang "Unaware." He sang two songs in Hollywood: "Thinking Out Loud" as his first solo and "Home" by Daughtry as his final solo. He advanced during the Showcase round by performing "A Song for You" and moved on to the semifinals.
* Michelle Sussett (born August 2, 1995) was from Miami, Florida, but was born in Venezuela. After she passed her audition in Los Angeles, she sang "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross in Hollywood. She also sang "24K Magic" by Bruno Mars and made it to the top 24.
* Ada Vox (born May 17, 1993), whose birth name was Adam Sanders, was a drag queen from San Antonio, Texas. He had auditioned in the twelfth season, but was cut before the semifinals. As Ada, she sang "The House of the Rising Sun" at her audition in Savannah. After advancing through Hollywood, she sang "Creep" by Radiohead and made it to the semifinals.

## Top 10

Color key:

### Top 10 – Disney (April 29)

Idina Menzel served as a guest mentor this week. Each contestant performed one song from a Disney movie. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Song | Disney film | Result |
| Maddie Poppe | "The Bare Necessities" | The Jungle Book | Safe |
| Jurnee | "How Far I'll Go" | Moana | Safe |
| Cade Foehner | "Kiss the Girl" | The Little Mermaid | Safe |
| Ada Vox | "Circle of Life" | The Lion King | Eliminated |
| Michelle Sussett | "Remember Me" | Coco | Eliminated |
| Gabby Barrett | "Colors of the Wind" | Pocahontas | Safe |
| Michael J. Woodard | "Beauty and the Beast" | Beauty and the Beast | Safe |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | "You've Got a Friend in Me" | Toy Story | Safe |
| Catie Turner | "Once Upon a Dream" | Sleeping Beauty | Safe |
| Dennis Lorenzo | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" | The Lion King | Eliminated |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Top 10 with Katy Perry | "When You Wish Upon a Star" (from Pinocchio) |

### Top 7 – Prince & contestants' birth year (May 6)

Nick Jonas served as a guest mentor this week. Each contestant performed two songs: one song from the Prince discography and one song from the year of their birth. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Order | Song | Result |
| Jurnee | 1 | "Kiss" | Eliminated |
| Jurnee | 11 | "Back at One" | Eliminated |
| Gabby Barrett | 2 | "I Hope You Dance" | Safe |
| Gabby Barrett | 10 | "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" | Safe |
| Michael J. Woodard | 3 | "I Would Die 4 U" | Safe |
| Michael J. Woodard | 8 | "My Heart Will Go On" | Safe |
| Cade Foehner | 4 | "Who Will Save Your Soul" | Safe |
| Cade Foehner | 9 | "Jungle Love" | Safe |
| Catie Turner | 5 | "Oops!... I Did It Again" | Eliminated |
| Catie Turner | 12 | "Manic Monday" | Eliminated |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | 6 | "Amazed" | Safe |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | 14 | "When Doves Cry" | Safe |
| Maddie Poppe | 7 | "Nothing Compares 2 U" | Safe |
| Maddie Poppe | 13 | "If It Makes You Happy" | Safe |

### Top 5 – Carrie Underwood & Mother's Day (May 13)

Carrie Underwood served as a guest mentor this week. Each contestant performed two songs: one song from her discography and one song dedicated to their mothers in honor of Mother's Day. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Order | Song | Result |
| Michael J. Woodard | 1 | "Flat on the Floor" | Eliminated |
| Michael J. Woodard | 8 | "Still I Rise" | Eliminated |
| Gabby Barrett | 2 | "Last Name" | Safe |
| Gabby Barrett | 6 | "I Have Nothing" | Safe |
| Cade Foehner | 3 | "Undo It" | Eliminated |
| Cade Foehner | 7 | "Simple Man" | Eliminated |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | 4 | "So Small" | Safe |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | 9 | "Stars in Alabama" | Safe |
| Maddie Poppe | 5 | "I Told You So" | Safe |
| Maddie Poppe | 10 | "God Only Knows" | Safe |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Top 5 with Carrie Underwood | "See You Again" |
| Carrie Underwood | "Cry Pretty" |

### Top 3 – Finale (May 21)

Bobby Bones served as a guest mentor this week. Each contestant performed three songs: their winner's song, a reprise of their favorite performance from the season, and a song dedicated to their hometowns. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Order | Song | Result |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | 1 | "Johnny Cash Heart" | Runner-up |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | 4 | "Don't Close Your Eyes" | Runner-up |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | 7 | "Folsom Prison Blues" | Runner-up |
| Gabby Barrett | 2 | "Rivers Deep" | Third place |
| Gabby Barrett | 5 | "Little Red Wagon" | Third place |
| Gabby Barrett | 8 | "Don't Stop Believin'" | Third place |
| Maddie Poppe | 3 | "Going Going Gone" | Winner |
| Maddie Poppe | 6 | "Don't Ever Let Your Children Grow Up" | Winner |
| Maddie Poppe | 9 | "Landslide" | Winner |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Harper Grace | "Yard Sale" |
| Jonny Brenns | "Blue Jeans" |
| Michelle Sussett | "I'm a Dreamer" |
| Catie Turner | "21st Century Machine" |
| Top 10 with Lionel Richie | "All Night Long (All Night)" |
| Nick Jonas & DJ Mustard | "Anywhere" |
| Jurnee with Nick Jonas | "Jealous" |
| Luke Bryan | "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset" |
| Gabby Barrett with Luke Bryan | "Most People Are Good" |
| Cade Foehner & Dennis Lorenzo with Gary Clark Jr. | "Bright Lights" |
| Maddie Poppe with Kermit the Frog | "Rainbow Connection" |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson with Darius Rucker | "Wagon Wheel" |
| Maddie Poppe, Caleb Lee Hutchinson & Gabby Barrett with Bebe Rexha | "Meant to Be" |
| Layla Spring & Dyxie Spring with LeAnn Rimes | "Blue" |
| Catie Turner with Katy Perry | "Part of Me" |
| Michael J. Woodard with Yolanda Adams | "What the World Needs Now Is Love" |
| Maddie Poppe & Caleb Lee Hutchinson | "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful World" |
| Ada Vox with Patti LaBelle | "Lady Marmalade" |
| Maddie Poppe | "Going Going Gone" |

## Elimination chart

Color key:
American Idol (season 16) - Eliminations :
| Contestant | Pl. | Top 24 | Top 24 | Top 14 | Wild Card | Top 10 | Top 7 | Top 5 | Finale |
| Contestant | Pl. | 4/9 | 4/16 | 4/22 | 4/23 | 4/29 | 5/6 | 5/13 | 5/21 |
| Maddie Poppe | 1 | N/A | Safe | Safe | Immune | Safe | Safe | Safe | Winner |
| Caleb Lee Hutchinson | 2 | N/A | Safe | Safe | Immune | Safe | Safe | Safe | Runner-up |
| Gabby Barrett | 3 | Safe | N/A | Safe | Immune | Safe | Safe | Safe | Third place |
| Cade Foehner | 4 | Safe | N/A | Safe | Immune | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | |
| Michael J. Woodard | 4 | Safe | N/A | Safe | Immune | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | |
| Catie Turner | 6 | Safe | N/A | Safe | Immune | Safe | Eliminated | | |
| Jurnee | 6 | N/A | Safe | Wild Card | Saved | Safe | Eliminated | | |
| Dennis Lorenzo | 8 | Safe | N/A | Wild Card | Saved | Eliminated | | | |
| Michelle Sussett | 8 | Safe | N/A | Wild Card | Saved | Eliminated | | | |
| Ada Vox | 8 | N/A | Safe | Wild Card | Saved | Eliminated | | | |
| Jonny Brenns | | Safe | N/A | Wild Card | Eliminated | | | | |
| Marcio Donaldson | | N/A | Safe | Wild Card | Eliminated | | | | |
| Garrett Jacobs | | N/A | Safe | Wild Card | Eliminated | | | | |
| Mara Justine | | N/A | Safe | Wild Card | Eliminated | | | | |
| Ron Bultongez | | N/A | Eliminated | | | | | | |
| Amelia Hammer Harris | | N/A | Eliminated | | | | | | |
| Shannon O'Hara | | N/A | Eliminated | | | | | | |
| Effie Passero | | N/A | Eliminated | | | | | | |
| Alyssa Raghu | | N/A | Eliminated | | | | | | |
| Kay Kay Alexis | | Eliminated | | | | | | | |
| Brandon Diaz | | Eliminated | | | | | | | |
| Trevor McBane | | Eliminated | | | | | | | |
| Dominique Posey | | Eliminated | | | | | | | |
| Layla Spring | | Eliminated | | | | | | | |

## Reception
### Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of American Idol season 16 :
| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot (ET) | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Auditions, Part 1" | March 11, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 2.3/8 | 10.48 | 0.4 | 1.35 | 2.7 | 11.84 |
| 2 | "Auditions, Part 2" | March 12, 2018 | Monday 8:00 p.m. | 1.8/7 | 8.41 | 0.4 | 1.36 | 2.2 | 9.77 |
| 3 | "Auditions, Part 3" | March 18, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.8/6 | 7.81 | 0.4 | 1.38 | 2.2 | 9.19 |
| 4 | "Auditions, Part 4" | March 19, 2018 | Monday 8:00 p.m. | 1.6/6 | 7.68 | 0.5 | 1.94 | 2.1 | 9.59 |
| 5 | "Auditions, Part 5" | March 25, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.7/6 | 7.51 | 0.5 | — | 2.2 | — |
| 6 | "Hollywood Week, Part 1" | March 26, 2018 | Monday 8:00 p.m. | 1.7/6 | 7.80 | 0.3 | 1.33 | 2.0 | 9.14 |
| 7 | "Hollywood Week, Part 2" | April 1, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.6/6 | 7.48 | 0.5 | 1.42 | 2.1 | 8.90 |
| 8 | "Showcase Round & Final Judgment" | April 2, 2018 | Monday 8:00 p.m. | 1.4/5 | 7.16 | 0.4 | 1.53 | 1.8 | 8.69 |
| 9 | "Top 24 Solos, Part 1" | April 8, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.5/6 | 7.23 | 0.4 | 1.32 | 1.8 | 8.55 |
| 10 | "Top 24 Celebrity Duets, Part 1" | April 9, 2018 | Monday 8:00 p.m. | 1.6/6 | 7.72 | 0.3 | 1.39 | 1.9 | 9.11 |
| 11 | "Top 24 Solos, Part 2" | April 15, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.3/5 | 6.35 | 0.4 | 1.28 | 1.7 | 7.63 |
| 12 | "Top 24 Celebrity Duets, Part 2" | April 16, 2018 | Monday 8:00 p.m. | 1.4/5 | 6.97 | 0.2 | 1.15 | 1.6 | 8.12 |
| 13 | "Top 14 Perform" | April 22, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.5/6 | 7.46 | 0.3 | 1.24 | 1.8 | 8.71 |
| 14 | "Top 10 Reveal" | April 23, 2018 | Monday 8:00 p.m. | 1.4/5 | 7.61 | 0.2 | 1.14 | 1.6 | 8.77 |
| 15 | "Top 10 Perform: Disney Night" | April 29, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.9/7 | 8.77 | 0.5 | 1.18 | 2.4 | 9.95 |
| 16 | "Top 7 Perform" | May 6, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.8/7 | 8.65 | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | "Top 5 Perform" | May 13, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.7/7 | 8.53 | 0.3 | 1.23 | 2.0 | 9.76 |
| 18 | "Performance Finals" | May 20, 2018 | Sunday 8:00 p.m. | 1.3/5 | 7.47 | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | "Grand Finale" | May 21, 2018 | Monday 9:00 p.m. | 1.6/6 | 8.63 | 0.3 | 1.27 | 1.9 | 9.95 |

### Critical response

On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the premiere episode holds an approval rating of 70% based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 6.51/10. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the season a score of 60 out of 100 based on eight reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

## Concert tour

The top 7 finalists performed for the summer tour along with eighth season Kris Allen.