American Idol Season 23 Episode 9 recap: Ashanti joins as mentor for Top 24 round part 1 

With the magnificent Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii serving as the background for the performances, American Idol's charm persisted as Season 23 advanced to its crucial Top 24 phase. R&B star Ashanti served as a coach for the candidates during Sunday's show, helping them with their pivotal performances. During the episode, twelve gifted vocalists competed for America's votes while performing on a tropical stage.

This season of American Idol's artist in residence, Jelly Roll, made an important impression during the evening, providing the competitors with both sincere support and artistic expertise. Additionally present were judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie, who shared their insights and appeared very amazed by some of the performances.

This group has a lot of talent, as evidenced by the episode's diversity. The competitors truly gave it their best, showcasing everything from poignant renditions of beloved songs to surprising variations on well-known classics. There are still many surprises to be discovered in the thrilling build-up to the American Idol finale.

What happened in this episode of American Idol Season 23?

Working directly with candidates to improve their performances, Ashanti applied her years of experience in the industry to the coaching role. The Grammy-winning performer offered helpful tips on audience engagement, emotive delivery, and stage presence.

Ashanti and Jelly Roll welcomed Penny Samar's expressive facial expressions during her rehearsal for Chappell Roan's "Good Luck, Babe!," even if the judges had previously found them distracting.

Kolbi Jordan’s performance in this episode of American Idol made a big impact. Ashanti shared that she had a personal connection to the song "New Attitude" by Patti LaBelle, having once performed it with Patti herself. Kolbi’s take on it impressed the American Idol judges so much, they gave her a standing ovation and encouraged her to bring even more sass next time.

Later, Ashanti lit up the stage with a surprise performance of her own. She jumped in mid-show to sing her hits "The Way That I Love You" and "Foolish." With hula dancers and wind machines swirling, the moment felt like a true showstopper.

But the night wasn’t all about big performances. There were also quiet, emotional moments that hit home. One of the most touching came during rehearsals, when Gabby Samone prepared to sing Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” She opened up about her tough childhood, and during the conversation, both she and Jelly Roll got emotional. It was one of those rare reality TV moments that felt honest and real.

"It's a pain I understand," Jelly told her, fighting back tears.

Explaining:

"There's no reason a girl from Baltimore can't be the next American Idol."

Gabby's performance proved powerful, with Lionel commenting on her final note:

"I don't know what that note was at the end! You Gaberized it."

Jamal Roberts delivered perhaps the night's most electrifying performance, covering Jelly Roll's own song "Liar." His soulful rendition moved Jelly to tears, who later proclaimed,

"I would feel disrespectful calling it my song."

Other breakthrough performances

The evening featured several bold song selections that showcased American Idol contestants' versatility. Victor Solomon, a former Voice contestant, surprised everyone by taking on Luke Bryan's "That's My Kind of Night," adding soulful elements to the country hit. Luke himself joined Victor on stage afterward for an impromptu dance, declaring:

"I got to retire the song. This show is about surprise."

Meanwhile, CHÉ impressed with Stevie Wonder's "Master Blaster," with Carrie gushing:

"You're just so stinkin' talented."

Seventeen-year-old Slater Nalley gave a heartfelt, country-style performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” that left a big impression. Carrie Underwood praised him as someone who already carries himself like a seasoned pro, saying his voice and talent have the potential to become one of the best in the industry in the coming years.

The Hawaiian setting also brought deeply personal moments for contestants with Pacific Islander roots. Isaiah Misailegalu chose to sing “You Can Have It All” by Polynesian band Maoli—a performance that held extra meaning as he met family members from the islands for the very first time.

His smooth delivery wowed the American Idol judges. Lionel Richie said his voice had the softness and richness of silk, while Luke Bryan pointed out just how naturally the talent flows from Isaiah, making the whole performance look effortless.

In a touching surprise, Maoli's lead singer Glenn appeared backstage to congratulate Isaiah after his performance.

As this episode of American Idol concluded, the twelve performers had made their case to America, with voting now determining who would advance in the competition. With Josh Groban set to mentor the remaining twelve contestants in part two, the Hawaiian rounds promised to deliver more unforgettable Idol moments.

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You can watch American Idol Season 23 on Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with episodes also available to stream on Hulu.