American Idol: Song by song grades for the Top 5

American Idol

American Idol: Song by song grades for the Top 5

May 12, 2025 By Mark Franklin 0

The American Idol Top 5 of Jamal Roberts, Slater Nalley, Breanna Nix, Thunderstorm Artis and John Foster pose with the judges. (ABC Photo)

Tonight, American Idol fans select the three finalists for Season 23.

But first, each member of the Top 5 will perform a pair of Disney songs.

As usual, make sure to get your votes in via the American Idol app, the website and via text before the first commercial break.

I’ll be posting song by song grades for tonight’s performances, but not until after the show ends.

Who’s likely to make the cut? My hunch: Jamal Roberts, John Foster, Breanna Nix.

Why?

Slater Nalley is a very talented vocalist. But at his young age, he’s not quite as skilled in dynamics as his Idol counterparts. He tends to start a song at 10 with those powerful vocals of his rather than building to 10.

The Idol judges seldom offer helpful feedback, but Lionel Richie tried to nudge Slater in the right direction after his Disney performance Sunday night. It didn’t take. Slater did the very same thing in the Mother’s Day round.

In fact, I thought he had the weakest night of the seven singers on Sunday. And was a little surprised to see Gabby Samone head home instead of him.

Then there’s Thunderstorm Artis, who doesn’t have a growth curve on a show where fans love to see contestants improve. That’s not a knock on Thunderstorm. He’s a joy to watch perform. It’s a joy to listen to him perform.

But he arrived on Idol as a pro, a 29-year-old who makes his living through music and has already released lots of music. So he’s performed like a pro, from his blind audition through Sunday’s show.

There’s also a faction of American Idol fans who feel as though he doesn’t belong after making the finals on The Voice a few years back. Fans who think that should have made him ineligible for Idol.

I’m pretty sure Thunderstorm doesn’t make the eligibility rules. Technically, lots of former Idol standouts would be eligible to return if they wanted to. But it is noteworthy that Wé Ani, another former Voice finalist, was eliminated on the Top 5 show two years ago.