‘American Idol’ reveals the top 5 singers

Lottie Elizabeth Johnson
·5 min read
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Iam Tongi performs on “American Idol.” On Sunday night, “Idol” revealed that Tongi has made the top five.
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“American Idol” has officially cut the competition down to five singers.

On Sunday night, the show eliminated three contestants and revealed the top five singers this season. Here’s a look at who remains in the competition.

Who are the top 5 singers on ‘American Idol’ 2023?

Iam Tongi

Iam Tongi’s “American Idol” audition is the most viewed of the season — by a landslide. Posted just over two months ago, it already has 15 million views on YouTube. For his audition, 18-year-old Tongi, who is from Hawaii, performed “Monsters” by James Blunt and dedicated the performance to his father, who died a couple of months before the audition.

With emotion, Tongi told the “Idol” judges that his father was the reason he got into music. He carried his emotion into his performance, and had judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan crying with his rendition of the song.

I’m not your son, you’re not my father

We’re just two grown men saying goodbye

No need to forgive, no need to forget

I know your mistakes and you know mine

And while you’re sleeping, I’ll try to make you proud

So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes?

Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn to chase the monsters away

Tongi choked up as he reached his last note — but he had already convinced the judges that he would be a strong contender in the “Idol” competition.

“You hit a nerve, and that’s what great storytellers do,” Katy Perry said. “That’s what great artists do, and your voice is just so magnificent.”

“I cannot handle your heart breaking about your dad,” Bryan added. “Just seeing you missing your dad just sucks. Gosh, man, you just got a great voice. ... You just did everything perfect, and I love you.”

“You take this into the world and you’re going to fracture some souls,” Richie said.

After the audition, Tongi spoke with producers about how he and his dad bonded over music, and how his dad had long wanted him to audition for “American Idol.”

“People thought I cry because I miss him, but it’s ’cause I hear him singing — I can hear his harmony,” Tongi said. “I know he’s with me. Through my music he’ll always be with me.”

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Megan Danielle

Megan Danielle, a 20-year-old singer from Georgia, got the surprise of a lifetime when she auditioned for “Idol” with Lauren Daigle’s “You Say”: Daigle, who previously competed on “Idol,” ended up joining her audition and singing along.

During her audition, Danielle, who works at a Southern restaurant with her mom, told the “Idol” judges that she had a band when she was 18 and would frequently perform in bars. But one day, she said, her grandfather pulled her aside and asked her how she could use her talent to serve God, and the singer decided to make a switch to performing Christian music.

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With Daigle at her side, Danielle received feedback from the judges, who praised her authenticity. Bryan, specifically, said Danielle had “a real honest rawness.”

Danielle previously competed on “The Voice,” getting eliminated during the semifinals on Season 18.

Colin Stough

From a small town in Mississippi, 18-year-old Colin Stough made it to the “Idol” judges for one main reason: His mom signed him up to audition for the show.

Stough — who hopes to put the small town of Gattman, Mississippi, on the map — wowed all of the judges with his rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.” His mom, who was standing outside of the room during the performance, then came in and told the judges a little more about her son. She said Stough asked for his first guitar when he was in the fifth grade — and now their house is overflowing with guitars.

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All of the judges thanked Stough’s mother for signing her son up.

“Colin is exactly what we hope and dream for at ‘American Idol,’” Bryan said. “Somebody that’s just raw, real, humble.”

Wé Ani

We Ani’s high speaking voice gives off the impression that she could make a living doing voiceovers for Disney. Which is why all of the “Idol” judges were shocked when the singer from Harlem, New York, began to sing Demi Lovato’s “Anyone” in a rich, deep voice.

“Way to throw the curve ball,” Perry said before all of the judges pushed the singer through to the next round without any hesitation.

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Previously, Ani competed on Season 11 of “The Voice,” where she joined Team Alicia Keys’ team following chair turns from all four coaches during her blind audition. She placed third on the show that season.

Zachariah Smith

Zachariah Smith — who is from the same area of Mississippi as fellow “Idol” contestant Stough — performed an energetic rendition of John Mellencamp’s “Hurts so Good” for his audition. The 19-year-old singer couldn’t stop smiling during his performance, and won all of the judges over with his stage presence.

“You have a rasp, you have a growl, and then on top of it you’re having so much fun,” Richie said.

Who got eliminated on ‘American Idol’ 2023?

Singers Haven Madison, Oliver Steele and Warren Peay were eliminated Sunday night. “American Idol” resumes May 14 with a Disney-themed night.