‘American Idol’ Live Blog: Who Will Make the Top 12 After the First Live Shows?

We’ve officially reached the Live Shows on Season 24 of American Idol. On the Monday, March 30, episode, the Top 14 contestants sang songs of faith during the first live performances of the season.

The night began with Ryan Seacrest revealing which 14 artists from the Top 20 would be moving on in the competition. The Top 20 performed in Hawaii over the past two episodes, and viewers voted for their favorites. The singers moving on to the Top 14 were: Jordan McCullough, Chris Tungseth, Rae, Daniel Stallworth, Brooks, Philmon Lee, Braden Rumfelt, Keyla Richardson, Lucas Leon, Jake Thistle, Hannah Harper, Kyndal Inskeep, Julián Kalel, and Jesse Findling.

So, the artists eliminated ahead of the Live Shows were: Ruby Rae, Madison Moon, Makiyah, Abayomi, Kutter Bradley, and Genevieve Heyward. Viewers will get to vote throughout the episode, with only 12 more moving on.

Scroll down for a live recap of the performances and check back at the end of the night to find out who was eliminated.

Keyla Richardson

Keyla was the first artist to take the stage for songs of faith night and she sang “Jireh” for her live performance.

“Here’s the situation. You have that star look, that star sound, and more importantly, that star strut,” Lionel Richie said. “You were walking that walk, singing that song. I just love your stage presence. Your presentation was so wonderful. Loved it.”

Carrie Underwood said it was the right “way to kick off the show,” adding, “You put us right there in the mind frame of being grateful. Just amazing. For the record, I feel like you just look so gorgeous and sophisticated and just lovely.” Finally, Luke Bryan praised Keyla for how she “commanded the stage” and said she’s “making it her moment.”

Jesse Findling

Jesse chose Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road” to perform for songs of faith night. “That was great, Jesse,” Underwood said. “I was holding my breath for lots of people, but I bet you feel better now that that’s over. That song is such a beautiful, singable song. When people say you made it your own, you really did make that your own. I loved the arrangement. I love what you did with it. You made that song suit your voice and did it really fantastically.”

Bryan raved over how “controlled” Jesse’s voice is, but urged him to “keep pushing and digging more and more” since “we’re getting into the serious part of the competition.” Lastly, Richie said “ditto” to his first two judges, adding, “There’s purity about your voice and sincerity about your voice that just comes right through. Just remember, it’s down to 14. Give it to us.”

Lucas Leon

Next up, Lucas took the stage with a rendition of “Gratitude” and had Underwood singing along. “That was my favorite performance I’ve seen you do thus far,” Bryan confirmed. “It just felt like everything came together, your voice really works in this room. You look like you got your whole thing together and you’re ready to be a star.”

Richie told Lucas to “grow” from here and use this as the “big step” to reach the next level of his performances. Underwood applauded Lucas for being “very genuine” in singing the song and said she “felt a little holy spirit in the room.” However, she also noted that she “felt a little nerves” from the teenager, and urged him to just “keep doing what you’re doing.”

Daniel Stallworth

Next up was music teacher Daniel with a rendition of “Brighter Days,” and he totally brought the house down with his powerful vocals.

“What I love is you have the ability to tell a story and move the crowd,” Richie gushed. “What you did there was a great, great performance.”

Underwood noted that Daniel is “so serious all the time,” but pointed out how he comes alive when the music kicks in. “I feel like we’re watching you kind of get into a more comfortable, fun space,” the country singer added. Bryan pushed Daniel to “grow, grow, grow” as the show continues, and praised him for “trying new things” with his last two performances.

Philmon Lee

For his songs of faith performance, Philmon Lee sang “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. “I think this was your moment,” Underwood confirmed. “I love the song. I love that you chose this song.”

Bryan agreed with Underwood. “I’m like, where has this guy been!? You’ve been here, but now you are really, really here,” he gushed, while Richie told Philmon he’s “stepping up” in the competition. “Think about your style. That was it, right there. Give me more of that,” he added.

Rae

Rae took the stage with a rendition of “Up to the Mountain” by Patty Griffin. “That was just totally pro. You are a pro,” Bryan raved. “From every moment. You worked the room, you milked the song. I don’t know what you and Philmon drank today, but can I have some?”

Richie told Rae she was “amazing” and that she “shut everything down” with her “perfect performance.” Finally, Underwood applauded Rae’s “dynamics” and said it was the “perfect song” choice for her.

Jake Thistle

When Jake took the stage live, he sang “Have a Little Faith in Me.” Richie noted that Jake “got fired up” as the performance went on, but warned him, “Make sure you knock them out.”

Underwood added, “I feel like we have so many different kind of performers. Your space is just so professional. I felt like I was at your show. It just flows out of you like nothing. It makes me jealous.” Bryan agreed, calling Jake a “seasoned entertainer” and gushed that he “made it [his] moment.”

Braden Rumfelt

Braden, who Bryan previously predicted could win the season, hit the stage to perform “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”

“You are here because you have an incredible voice, hands down,” Underwood promised. “You showed it off. I felt like as the song progressed we just felt that building and you going for more stuff. You’re here because you should be. You deserve to be. It was great.”

Bryan admitted that he felt like the moment was “overwhelming” Braden a little bit. “You gotta get wrapped up in this thing,” he advised. “I feel like you may have gotten a little nervous in the moment, but we love your voice.” Richie agreed, adding, “Don’t let it freak you out. You got the tools. All you need to do now is step into the light.”

Julián Kalel

Julián’s Top 14 performance was a rendition of “Fix You” by Coldplay. “Really well done. I still feel like you have so much star potential and star quality and that gave me all of those vibes,” Bryan promised. “Great song choice. Loved it.”

Richie said that performance was “clearly” in Julián’s lane, but urged him to “build on it” since the competition is so stiff. “Carve out your part that’s memorable to listeners out there,” he explained.

Underwood “seconded” Richie, adding, “I feel like you are on your way to really establishing your own sound. You have a really great way of taking someone else’s song and putting yourself in them. You’re not trying to sound like the other artists, which is really refreshing.”

Kyndal Inskeep

Kyndal sang “Nothing But the Blood” for her Top 14 performance. “I have to tell you, the most enjoyable part is watching you just almost try not to implode. You are so contained,” Richie noted. “You were holding yourself and I’m saying, ‘Let it go!’ It is a testament to what you’re doing. If you get through, bring me more of that.”

Underwood praised Kyndal’s artistry and said, “I don’t know for the life of me know how you are not super duper famous already. That’s how the Lord works. You’re here for this time, right now. That was incredible. You are such an artist. You are so professional. I’m just in awe watching you. It’s amazing.”

Finally, Bryan concluded, “I always had you as someone who’s kind of timid. You’re not timid after that performance. I was really happy to see the song flow through your body and your soul and your voice. You just let it all happen. Just keep doing that.”

Jordan McCullough

Next up, Jordan performed “I Can Only Imagine.” The judges were on their feet and could barely get a word in amid the applause. “Thank you. That’s all I have to say. Thank you,” Underwood said.

“Every time we see that you have the ability to bring it up another notch, I’m like, when is this guy going to run out of notches?” Bryan wondered. “And you don’t. It’s a craft. It’s an art that you have. And that was another notch up the ladder.”

Like Underwood, Richie kept it short: “May the congregation say amen? AMEN!”

Brooks

Brooks performed a “timeless John Lennon classic” for the Top 14. He sang “Imagine” and once again blew everyone away with his unique voice.

“I just love your voice. I love the way it sounds. I want to listen. I want you to write a million songs and go record them so I can buy all of them,” Bryan raved. Richie agreed that Brooks’ voice is “amazing,” adding, “The uniqueness to that voice is unbelievable.”

Underwood admitted that Brooks “keeps us guessing” and said that everyone is always “excited and curious to see what you’re going to do.” She concluded, “The notes that you pick and the phrasing that you do is authentically Brooks.”

Hannah Harper

The most viral singer of the season, Hannah, sang “At the Cross (Love Ran Red).” Her husband and kids were in the crowd cheering her on for the performance.

“That was with such purity that it was fantastic,” Richie began. “Let me tell you something, right now it’s going to boil down to uniqueness of style because the talent is across the board. That was so spectacular in terms of your delivery, your voice. Just understand, going forward, give it more of everything you have. I loved that performance.”

Underwood told Hannah that she’s been one of her “absolute favorites” since the beginning. “I loved your version of that. I could feel your heart in it and I was right there with you,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, Bryan called the performance “perfection” and said it “roped [him] in” from the first note.

Chris Tungseth

For the final performance of the night, Chris sang Cody Johnson’s “By Your Grace.” Underwood said Chris was “blowing her mind” with his “special and unique” voice.

Bryan added, “Your audition, we heard things that just showed so much promise and you’ve been giving them to us the whole time, but just little snippets of them. That song was you from top to bottom and that’s what we want from you.”

This story is developing. Keep refreshing for live updates from the show.

American Idol, Season 24, Mondays, 8/7c, ABC