American Idol Voting Kicks Off Tonight as the Top 24 Take the Stage in Hawaii!

It’s officially voting time, Idol fans! Tonight, American Idol kicks off the first round of performances from the Top 24 as the show heads to Hawaii — and your votes will help decide who stays and who goes.

How Do You Vote?
Voting is easy and there are three ways to do it:
✅ Use the official American Idol app
✅ Visit americanidol.com
✅ Vote via text

You can cast up to 10 votes per method for each contestant — so that’s 30 votes total if you use all three! Each contestant will be assigned a number during the show, which you’ll need if you’re voting via text.

When Can You Vote?
Voting opens as soon as the show starts tonight and stays open until 6 a.m. Eastern Time for both of the Top 24 episodes. Just a heads-up: you can only vote for the contestants performing that night. So if you’re hoping to vote for Drew Ryn tonight but she isn’t performing, you’ll have to wait for her night. And if you miss the window, voting will be closed for that group.

When Will Results Be Announced?
The results will be revealed next Sunday! Based on last season’s format, expect two contestants from each group to be eliminated.

Live Blogging Tonight!
I’ll be blogging live during the show, sharing song-by-song reactions and grades. If you happen to hit a database connection error while trying to load the site — don’t panic. Just give it a minute and refresh; the glitch usually sorts itself out.

And finally, thanks for your patience! My web host recently moved my blog to a pricier, more “powerful” server, which apparently means the site might drop out for a couple of minutes here and there. Go figure, right? My apologies in advance for any hiccups!

Che Chesterman, 28 — Essex, England
🎵 “Master Blaster” by Stevie Wonder
Che stepped away from his usual ballads for this upbeat Stevie Wonder classic. While his vocals were solid, the performance didn’t quite ignite the stage, and the song choice felt a little dated. The judges praised his pitch-perfect delivery, but for me, it lacked excitement.
⭐ Grade: C+ 

Penny Samar, 23 — Williamsport, Pa.
🎵 “Good Luck, Babe” by Chappell Roan
One of the night’s pleasant surprises! Penny delivered a strong, confident performance and showed off impressive stage presence — especially for someone who claimed she wasn’t sure what to do with her body. A great showcase for her voice and personality.
⭐ Grade: B

Kolbi Jordan, 26 — Tulsa, Okla.
🎵 “New Attitude” by Patti Labelle
After battling illness during Hollywood Week, Kolbi came out swinging with the night’s most powerful vocal so far. However, her performance veered into oversinging at times. If she dials it back, she’s got star potential.
⭐ Grade: B–

Baylee Littrell, 21 — Atlanta, Ga.
🎵 “Happy” by Pharrell
Baylee’s strength has always been heartfelt originals, and this cover didn’t do him any favors. Weak vocal delivery overshadowed his solid stage presence. A puzzling song choice that left me questioning his place in the Top 24.
⭐ Grade: D

Victor Solomon, 26 — Peoria, Ill.
🎵 “That’s My Kind of Night” by Luke Bryan
Victor went full cowboy for this Luke Bryan number, which helped him stand out. But the backing band overpowered his vocals until the big finish. A fun performance, but vocally not his best.
⭐ Grade: C

Gabby Samone, 22 — Baltimore, Md.
🎵 “It’s All Coming Back to Me” by Celine Dion
Tackling a Jim Steinman-penned power ballad is no small feat, and Gabby handled it well. Emotion and power were balanced, though I would’ve loved a softer, more unexpected ending. The judges were all in on this one!
⭐ Grade: B

MKY (Mikey Jimenez), 25 — East Los Angeles, Calif.
🎵 “Adorn” by Miguel
Dubbed the “Latin Elvis,” MKY looked the part but struggled with sound issues and pitchy moments early on. While his stage swagger was undeniable, the vocal didn’t fully connect until the closing note.
⭐ Grade: C–

Zaylie Windsor, 18 — Safford, Ariz.
🎵 “Heart of Glass” by Blondie
A singer-songwriter among belters, Zaylie tried to pump power into this Blondie hit, but the song’s real charm came when she softened and switched it up. She’s still one of my favorites, even if this wasn’t her best night.
⭐ Grade: C+

Breanna Nix, 25 — Denton, Texas
🎵 “Still Rolling Stones” by Lauren Daigle
The night’s first real standout! Breanna blended emotion, power, and even a little grit into a beautifully delivered performance. Her stage confidence shone bright. Easily one of the night’s most memorable.
⭐ Grade: A–

Isaiah Misailegalu, 17 — Las Vegas, Nev.
🎵 “You Can Have It All”
Performing his mom’s favorite song, Isaiah brought charm and energy to the stage. While the song wasn’t vocally demanding, his silky tone and laid-back vibe left a positive impression.
⭐ Grade: B–

Slater Nalley, 17 — Atlanta, Ga.
🎵 “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
An unusual pick for a young male artist, but Slater made it his own with a piercing, powerful vocal and a fresh arrangement. His tone and control mark him as one of the best male vocalists this season.
⭐ Grade: A–

Jamal Roberts, 26 — Meridian, Miss.
🎵 “Liar” by Jelly Roll
Closing out the night, Jamal earned his glory-spot with a moving, gritty performance that felt authentic and passionate. Not a perfect vocal, but definitely a great way to end the show.
⭐ Grade: A

💡 Reminder: Voting is open until 6 a.m. Eastern! Pick your favorites and cast your votes via the Idol app, website, or by text.