American Idol Season 24 Hollywood Week Part 1 Highlights: Music City Takeover Kicks Off with Brutal Cuts, Standout Performances, and a Bizarre Cliffhanger (Feb 23, 2026 Episode)
American Idol Season 24 took a dramatic turn on February 23, 2026, as Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover launched in Nashville — ditching the traditional Los Angeles setting for a fresh, high-stakes vibe in Music City.
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Join NowFrom 127 Golden Ticket holders who survived auditions, judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan (with host Ryan Seacrest guiding the chaos) faced their toughest job yet: the biggest cut in Idol history, narrowing the field toward the Top 30 who will advance to the new Ohana Round in Hawaii.
This single-round format (solo performances with a live band) delivered intense drama, emotional highs, shocking eliminations, and a mind-boggling cliffhanger ending. Here’s a full recap of the Hollywood Week Part 1 highlights, standout moments, who advanced to the Golden Room (temporary safety zone), who went home, and what’s next.
Why Nashville? The Music City Takeover Twist
For the first time, Hollywood Week relocated to Nashville, emphasizing the show’s country roots while keeping the “Hollywood” name. Contestants performed under massive pressure — one song to prove they belong. Judges called it nearly impossible due to the unprecedented talent depth, leading to heartbreaking decisions.
Key Highlights from Performances & Judge Moments
- Braden Rumfelt stole the spotlight with a powerful Sam Smith cover, earning a standing ovation and high praise from Luke Bryan: “He may win!” The 22-year-old from North Carolina showed commanding presence and vocal control.
- Hannah Harper delivered a heartfelt Lee Ann Womack cover, recovering from a lyric flub to showcase resilience and fan-favorite energy.
- Keyla Richardson moved everyone with an emotional performance; Carrie Underwood even gave up her judge’s chair for her young son in a sweet, supportive moment.
- Other standouts included Bryant Thomas (strong growth), Makiyah Mustiful (front-runner vibes from auditions carrying over), Madison Moon (high-acclaim delivery), and Philmon Lee (consistent contender).
- The episode featured blocks of performances, judge deliberations, and immediate cuts — building tension as groups learned their fates.
Shocking Eliminations: Fan Favorites Sent Home
The talent level made cuts brutal. Several audition darlings didn’t make it through:
- Khloe Grace (15, Jacksonville, FL) — The young hopeful sang “Stay” by Sugarland but judges felt it was too big for her despite her maturity. A massive shock after her emotional original audition.
- Brett Carlisle — Carrie Underwood’s rock pick fumbled lyrics on Whitesnake’s “Still of the Night”; solid but not enough.
- Noah Orion — Another Underwood rock find; judges (especially Richie) saw him as more novelty than contender after ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.”
- Livy — Performance on Bruno Mars’ “Versace on the Floor” critiqued for being too sexual.
- Carmen Lorell Martin — Family hype (niece of RHOSLC star) didn’t translate; piano effort fell short.
- Others like Vika in early group eliminations.
These exits sparked buzz about the depth of talent and tough choices, especially Carrie’s loss of rock representation.
Who Advanced to the Golden Room (Safe for Now)?
Survivors entered the Golden Room — still in the running but awaiting final Top 30 decisions in Part 2. Confirmed advances include:
| Contestant | Standout Notes / Why They Shone |
|---|---|
| Bryant Thomas | Impressive reveal and consistency |
| Keyla Richardson | Emotional depth; family moment with son |
| Makiyah Mustiful | Show-stopper strength; Carrie front-runner call |
| Jordan McCullough | Energetic “Higher Ground” |
| Madison Moon | High acclaim; one to watch |
| Roelle | Potential despite concerns |
| Trace Casanova | Fun, energetic vibe |
| Hannah Harper | Strong recovery from flub |
| Philmon Lee | Consistent contender |
| Lucas Leon | Soulful roots from auditions |
| Kiera Howell | Impressive delivery |
| Abayomi | Highlighted performance |
| Michael Garner | Young standout who pushed through |
About 13 were explicitly shown safe in recaps, with more implied.
The Bizarre Cliffhanger Ending
The episode closed on a wild note: Judges called forward Jake Thistle, Braden Rumfelt, and Brianna Yancey (Yancey barely featured performing). Lionel started, “You should be very proud… but for now, your journey…” — and it cut off! Their fates (plus others like Chris Tungseth and Chloe Lauren) hang until Part 2 on March 2, 2026.
What’s Next?
- March 2: Hollywood Week Part 2 — Full Top 30 reveal from Golden Room survivors.
- Ohana Round (Hawaii): Top 30 perform for industry tastemakers, peers/family, and social media voting to narrow to Top 20.
- Voting (phone, text, social) ramps up in live shows.
Hollywood Week Part 1 set a high bar with raw emotion, powerhouse vocals, and ruthless competition. The Nashville shift added fresh energy, but the cuts proved heartbreaking. Who will survive to the Ohana Round? Tune in March 2 on ABC (8 p.m. ET/PT) or stream next-day on Hulu. Share your favorite highlights or shocking cuts in the comments — Season 24 is heating up!
