American Idol narrowed down its Top 16 contestants to the Top 12 after frontrunner Wyatt Pike mysteriously dropped out of the Season 19 competition during Monday night's episode on ABC.
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At the top of American Idol's Monday night broadcast, longtime host Ryan Seacrest announced Wyatt, a 20-year-old singer and songwriter from Park City, UT, had suddenly quit the show after performing Sunday night as a member of the season's Top 16.
"Before we get to the results, I have to tell you that finalist Wyatt Pike will not be competing in the competition. He had to drop out, but we wish him the very best," Ryan, 46, said.
The Idol broadcast featured the Top 16 contestants each learning their fate in the competition before singing live for the first time this season.
Based on their pre-taped performances Sunday night, 10 of the Top 16 contestants were automatically voted into the Top 12 by America and so their live performances on Monday night were treated like a celebration.
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Wyatt -- who was believed to have an edge in the competition due to his songwriting abilities -- was one of the 10 highest votegetters and would have had an automatic spot in the Top 12 but had to leave "due to personal reasons," according to People.
The 10 singers who therefore automatically advanced into the Top 12 on Monday night included Casey Bishop, a 16-year-old high school student from Estero, FL, who proceeded to sing "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals; Deshawn Goncalves, a 20-year-old college student from Cleveland, OH, who performed "Higher Ground" by Stevie Wonder; and Cassandra Coleman, a 24-year-old coffee shop manager from Columbia, TN, who sang "Light On" by Maggie Rogers; and Caleb Kennedy, a 16-year-old high school student from Roebuck, SC, who belted out an original single titled "Nowhere."
Chance Beckham, a 24-year-old heavy machinery operator from Apple Valley, CA, who performed "What Brings Life Also Kills" by Kolton Moore & The Clever Few, was also voted right into the Top 12, along with Ava August, a 15-year-old high school student from Laguna Niguel, CA, who sang "Love of My Life" by Queen.
The other contestants who passed with flying colors were Alyssa Wray, a 19-year-old college student from Perryville, KY, who proceeded to sing "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston; Willie Spence, a 21-year-old caretaker from Douglas, GA, who sang "Diamonds" by Rihanna; Grace Kinstler, a 20-year-old college student from Lakewood, IL, who performed "Dangerous Woman" by Ariana Grande; and Hunter Metts, a 22-year-old software developer from Franklin, TN, who sang "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt.
As for the remaining five contestants, their performances served as an audition to get into the Top 12.
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Of the five singers, American Idol judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Paula Abdul -- who was filling in for Luke Bryan after he tested positive for coronavirus -- could only select two hopefuls to continue on in the competition.
The two hopefuls who eventually joined the Top 12 by receiving a Judges' Save were Madison Watkins, a 26-year-old hair model from Fayetteville, AR, who sang "Hotline Bling" by Drake, and Beane, a 23-year-old wedding singer from Brighton, MA, who performed "Grow As We Go" by Ben Platt.
Katy announced the three judges had unanimously agreed on the same two contestants and all wanted to save Madison and Beane in the competition.
The three contestants who were ultimately eliminated from Idol's nineteenth season were Colin Jamieson, a 22-year-old wedding singer from Boxford, MA, who sang "Waves" by Dean Lewis; Alanis Sophia, a 19-year-old college student from Dade City, FL, who performed "Heart Attack" by Demi Lovato; and Graham DeFranco, a 28-year-old aerial survey pilot from Rockwell, TX, who sang "Cover Me Up" by Jason Isbell.
Katy said "America wasn't wrong" in their voting, and Lionel agreed home viewers had done "a great job."
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Paula added that Monday night's performances were "stellar" and this might be the toughest Idol season yet.