‘American Idol 22’ episode 3 recap: Auditions continue in Los Angeles, Nashville and judges’ hometowns [Live Blog]

Denton Davidson
·9 min read
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“American Idol,” the iconic series that revolutionized the television landscape by pioneering the music competition genre, has returned to airwaves for another season on ABC. Helping determine who America will ultimately vote for to become the next singing sensation are music industry forces and superstar judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. Emmy Award-winning host and producer Ryan Seacrest returns to the beloved competition series for the show’s seventh season on ABC and 22nd overall.

Tonight we continue the nationwide search across Los Angeles, Nashville, and the judges’ very own hometowns to find the next idol. The aspiring stars will sing their hearts out in hopes of earning a golden ticket to Hollywood. Will the next American Idol be among tonight’s auditions? Read our full recap of Season 22 Episode 3, airing March 3 (8:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC), below.

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8:00 p.m. — Previously on “American Idol”! Auditions continued across Los Angeles, Nashville and the judges’ hometowns. Throughout the two hour episode we saw 10 contestants earn golden tickets to Hollywood. Abi Carter, a 21-year old from Indio, California took home this season’s second Platinum Ticket, allowing her to skip the first round of Hollywood Week. Let’s continue the auditions!

8:05 p.m. — First up tonight is Max Dasher, an 18-year-old warehouse worker from Black Mountain North Carolina. He’s singing the country ballad “Rock Salt and Nails” by Utah Phillips. Katy gives the youngster a standing ovation, stating, “You have that sparkle.” Luke gives him a lesson in how to strut in the room with confidence, before saying, “You just did your audition exactly the way I would have. If we can get you to breathe and calm down, you’ve got a little bit of magic to you.” Lionel says his mantra should be, “I’m 18, but I look like James Dean.” He’s heading to Hollywood!

8:10 p.m. — Next up, Max’s sister Laela Dasher hopes to secure her own golden ticket. With Max backing her on guitar, the 20-year-old college student sings “Angel from Montgomery” by John Prine. “It’s in the blood,” says Lionel. Katy wants more “volume” and she’s a little torn. Next, the siblings sing “Rivers and Roads” by The Head and the Heart as a duo. They sound great, but Katy gives Laela a “No.” Lionel and Luke overrule her, sending Laela to Hollywood along with her brother.

8:25 p.m. — Scarlett Lee is a 26-year-old from London. She’s looked up to Katy her whole life and is a bit overwhelmed to perform in front of her. Scarlett sings “Clown” by Emeli Sande for her audition, immediately surprising the judges with her full tone and power. By the bridge Katy is in tears. “Oh…my…goodness!” Lionel exclaims when Scarlett’s finished. “It was so well-executed.” Luke loves Scarlett’s personality. Katy likes Scarlett’s fun, funky vibe, but says her voice cuts through all that. The judges send Scarlett to Hollywood with a resounding “YES!”

8:30 p.m. — Donahue Diaries is a 23-year-old music teacher from Winder, Georgia with a quirky personality. It’s hard to tell if he’s going to actually have talent or if he’s in on some sort of joke. His personality is a bit over the top, but when he sits down at the piano and starts playing “I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick, it’s clear he has musicality. Sadly, his voice doesn’t live up to his piano skills. It’s a “NO” for Donahue.

8:35 p.m. — After a slew of less-than-impressive auditions, Nick Connors walks into the room hoping to make the judges more optimistic about this season’s future. The 22-year-old wedding singer from Pasadena, Texas performs “Easy On Me” by Adele for his audition, and the judges clearly like him, but Katy yells, “I can’t hear you!” hoping for more projection. Following the performance, Luke tells Nick, “I think you might be leaning on falsetto a little much.” Katy asks him to sing the chorus again with more volume. The judges see potential in Nick but warn him, “This is a competition.” They send him to Hollywood and tell Nick to be prepared to fight.

8:45 p.m. — Jennifer Jeffries is a 17-year-old high school senior from Starkville, Mississippi. She’s the youngest of nine children who sent in a tape for “Idol Across America” and got a call from producers. She never expected anyone to watch it or to have the opportunity to sing for the judges. As she strums the guitar and sings her self-penned “Change My Ways,” it becomes immediately clear this teenager has a sound all her own. Such a cool, smokey tone. Instantly identifiable. Luke calls her “amazingly unique.” Katy says it’s “so Mississippi and “so raw.” Lionel is in love with her uniqueness. They send the teenager to Hollywood.

9:00 p.m. — Closing out this first hour is Kimi, a 25-year-old Brooklyn resident who immigrated from Kosovo. He grew up watching “American Idol,” and was told his mother had a beautiful voice but he never heard it. After the war in Kosovo, she was diagnosed with PTSD and MS. He became her caretaker and sang to her in an effort to bring her joy. Since moving to New York, he has not seen his family in six years. Kimi is singing “Heal” by Tom Odell. Following his performance he apologizes, thinking he didn’t do well. Luke says he has a “cool, nice voice” but it’s too technical. They ask him to sing again with a little more volume and annunciation. He sings “Love in the Dark” by Adele with much more gusto. This time the judges are sold and send this dreamer to Hollywood, calling his mom to give her the good news.

9:10 p.m. — This next hour begins with Aniston Pate, a 20-year-old tractor driver from Dalhart, Texas. She’s singing “Humminbird,” a song she wrote about her mother. They love her songwriting skills, but give her a few tweaks to make to the lyrics. Lionel calls her “honest, solid and natural.” Katy thinks Aniston is on her way to being a great songwriter in Nashville, but threw away opportunities for holding out notes. Still, it’s a YES for Aniston and she’s heading to Hollywood.

9:25 p.m. — Following a creepy laugh segment from Avery Guinn, a 21-year-old haunted house actor from Russellville, Alabama, he sings them a traditional hymn called “The Wayfaring Stranger.” He’s a talented musician who can play the accordion and piano (maybe even more), but his voice isn’t up to par for this competition. Following a montage of other Season 22 rejects we get to Madai Chakell, a 22-year-old actress and content creator from Springfield, Massachusetts. She sings Katy’s own “I Kissed a Girl,” filled with over-the-top antics that are very distracting from her formidable voice. Katy asks her to sing “Happy Birthday” with no frills. They like her voice, but Luke questions if Madai knows who she is as an artist and says, “No.” Lionel and Katy say, “Yes.” Madai is going to Hollywood!

9:40 p.m. — CJ Rislove is a 22-year-old nomad who lives in his bus called “Jazz Wagon.” While traveling the country in his home on wheels, he tells the judges he writes at least a verse and a chorus each day, and has penned plenty of songs. Katy asks him to sing what he wrote yesterday, which comes as a surprise to CJ, but he’s game. He sits down at the piano and performs his latest tune, “The Astronaut and the Rockstar.” He isn’t the best singer we’ve seen this season, but he might be the coolest. I love this guy. Katy compares him to Elton John and Billy Joel, but he needs “a little bacon” to get there. Lionel love CJ’s songwriting. They’re sending CJ to Hollywood!

9:50 p.m. — Kyra Watts has auditioned for “American Idol” five times, but this the first time she’s performed in front of the judges. The 23-year-old stay-at-home mom from Berea, Kentucky is singing “Up to the Mountain” by Patti Grifin. She’s waited a long time for this and Kyra takes the opportunity to sing her heart out. The judges give her a standing ovation. Katy says Kyra has a huge voice that just needs some shaping. Kyra lacks confidence and Katy hopes this show gives her what she needs. Kyra will begin her journey for confidence in Hollywood!

10:00 p.m. — The last audition of the night is Will Moseley, a 23-year-old musician from Hazlehurst, Georgia. Will began playing music after his college football career ended, finding that rush he missed from being on the playing field. He sings his original song “Gone for Good,” much to the delight of the judges. They cut his performance short to say, “YES,” before Lionel runs off to catch a flight. Katy and Luke stick around to officially send Will off to Hollywood. That’s a wrap for this third episode of auditions!

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