I feel like I can’t remember a time when American Idol wasn’t on TV. Like logically, I know that there was a time before Idol. But also, American Idol is so deeply ingrained in the culture. In fact, it’s so ingrained, I sometimes forget it’s there. Still, I think a little American Idol revisit is well overdue.
In the year of our lord 2025, we’re in the heat of the competition of American Idol season 23. With the upcoming American Idol finale on May 18 and only a few weeks of the season left, things are getting serious. During the May 5 “Judge’s Songs” show, the remaining eight contestants paid tribute to judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. That also meant that since most contestants chose songs by Luke and Lionel, those two judges got to save someone from elimination. So when Mattie Pruitt and Josh King wound up in the bottom two, Luke and Lionel chose between them.
Ultimately, they decided to save Mattie. In his last performance, Josh stumbled over the lyrics of Michael Bublé’s “Home,” which might have been the final sour note that sent him home.
After that key Top 7 moment, the pool got whittled down to the Top 5, all thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mentorship during Disney Night. But competition is fierce when it gets down to the end, and ultimately Thunderstorm Artis and Slater Nalley did not make the cut.
Here’s a rundown of the remaining top 3 contestants on American Idol in 2025 who are still in the running for the top prize.
American Idol 2025 Top 3 Contestants
John Foster
John from Addis, Louisiana, was only 18 when he auditioned for Idol and has become a fan-favorite thanks to his country ballads. According to his website, he describes his style as “Neo-Traditional, influenced by musicians like George Strait, Merle Haggard, Keith Whitley, and Willie Nelson.” Not only does he have a passion for music, but he’s also a strong student. He graduated high school as valedictorian of his class in 2024.
Breanna Nix
Breanna Nix is a 25-year-old mom from Denton, Texas. She blew Carrie Underwood away with her rendition of “Jesus Take The Wheel” during her audition, which seems like a kinda big deal. She’s also been open about her big weight loss journey before auditioning for Idol, and calls her growing fanbase NixNation.
Jamal Roberts
Jamal is a 27-year-old P.E. teacher and father of two from Meridian, Mississippi, who knows “how to tell a story” with his voice, according to Lionel Richie. He recently revealed that he auditioned for Idol twice before. Well, looks like third time’s the charm!
