'American Idol' went fully into its Taylor Swift era this week, dedicating an entire round of performances to the Grammy-winning artist for the first time in the show's history. Judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood were joined by guest judge and self-proclaimed Swift superfan Nikki Glaser for the special theme night, as the seven remaining contestants each tackled a song from Swift's catalogue.
While Swift was not present, host Ryan Seacrest noted that dancers from her Eras Tour were in attendance for the occasion.
Who performed what on 'American Idol' Taylor Swift night
The seven remaining contestants each chose a Swift song alongside a second track inspired by California. The lineup was as follows: Jordan McCullough performed 'Tim McGraw', Chris Tungseth took on 'Exile', Hannah Harper sang 'Mean', Brooks Rosser chose 'Love Story', Daniel Stallworth performed 'Fearless', Keyla Richardson sang 'Lover', and Braden Rumfelt closed with 'Cardigan'. By this stage of the competition, every performance landed, even from contestants the judges might not have expected to shine on a Swift-themed night.
The standout moments from 'American Idol' Taylor Swift night
Chris Tungseth's rendition of 'Exile' drew particular praise. Bryan told him, 'You had me focused, locked in. I loved your character, the way you delivered the song. I'm sitting here like, I remember this guy at auditions. I never would've imagined we'd be watching him do a Taylor Swift song. It was one of my favourite performances you've done.' Glaser added that the performance gave her goosebumps throughout. Seacrest also noted that Tungseth had a personal connection to Swift's music, having played 'Blank Space' in the locker room before games.
Keyla Richardson's take on 'Lover' left Glaser genuinely stunned. 'I don't even recognise that song! You brought something to it that I couldn't even imagine could be brought to it. I love what you did with that song. I love watching you. You're stunning, the way you work the room, you make it look so easy. It is so easy to watch you and to listen to you. It feels so good,' she said. Underwood said Richardson had impressed her once again, while Richie called her talent 'beautiful to watch.'
Who advanced and who was eliminated from 'American Idol'
At the end of the night, five contestants advanced to the next round: Chris Tungseth, Keyla Richardson, Braden Rumfelt, Hannah Harper, and Jordan McCullough. Daniel Stallworth and Brooks Rosser were eliminated. Just before the results were announced, Bryan performed his new song 'Country and She Knows It' on stage.
What is coming up next on 'American Idol'
Next week's episode is set to be another major occasion. Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, two of the original judges from the show's earliest seasons, will return to mentor the contestants as part of 'American Idol's 20th high school reunion, featuring fan favourites from the 2006 edition. Abdul will also serve as a guest judge, and pros from 'Dancing with the Stars' will be part of the celebration.
'American Idol' airs at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
