The American Idol journey is continuing for both Colin Stough and Zachariah Smith as the two Mississippi residents found out Monday night that they had made it into the competition’s top 12.
During the episode, in which eight contestants were eventually eliminated, Stough was the fifth artist to advance. The news from voters came after an underwhelming performance Sunday left the judges asking for more of Stough.
And more did he deliver. The 18-year-old out of Gattman memorialized the results with a country rendition of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” that brought all three judges to their feet. As soon as the final notes rang out, Luke Bryan sprinted onto the stage and gave Stough a big hug.
Fellow judge Katy Perry followed up Bryan’s celebration by pointing out the quick transformation Stough made in a span of just 24 hours: “Colin, one moment can change your life, and that was the moment.”
As for Smith, the burger-flipping rocker out of Amory took the stage with ToTo’s “Hold The Line” after finding out that he too had been selected to the top 12.
Following the performance, host Ryan Seacrest asked the 20-year-old Smith what fans could expect from him for the rest of the competition, to which he answered, “You’re going to see good old Zachariah Smith being himself. That’s what you’re going to see.”
Stough and Smith will be joined by Wé Ani, Warren Peay, Haven Madison, Tyson Venegas, Marybeth Byrd, Oliver Steele, Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle, Lucy Love, and Nutsa when American Idol returns April 30 at 8/7c.
