Ep 18. 11 Finalists Perform

11 Finalists Perform is the eighteenth episode of the thirteenth season of American Idol. This episode features the eleven remaining contestants performing for a chance to move on to the next round of the competition.

The episode begins with an introduction of the contestants, followed by a brief montage of some of their previous performances. The judges, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr., greet the audience and the contestants. They explain that tonight's theme is "Back to the Start," which means that each contestant will revisit the song they first auditioned with and perform it again.

The first performer is Alex Preston, who starts off the night with a rendition of "Volcano" by Damien Rice. The judges are impressed with his performance, with Harry saying that he has never heard that song before but now wants to download it. Keith points out how Alex made adjustments to the song that made it more unique. Jennifer praises his voice and advises him to keep challenging himself.

Next up is Majesty Rose, who sings "Tightrope" by Janelle Monae. Jennifer compliments her style and stage presence, saying that she has a unique and defined approach. Keith agrees and adds that Majesty has a talent for making every song her own. Harry advises her to be careful with her pitch and intonation.

Sam Woolf takes the stage next, performing "Babylon" by David Gray. Keith compliments his guitar playing and says he wants to hear more of it in his performances. Harry agrees and also praises his vocal control. Jennifer advises him to connect more with the audience.

Jessica Meuse follows with her rendition of "Blue Eyed Lie" by Jessica Meuse. She receives praise from the judges for her original songwriting skills and emotional delivery. Keith advises her to continue to be true to herself while Jennifer emphasizes the importance of performing with emotion.

Dexter Roberts performs "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd next. The judges note his honed stage presence and ability to perform classic music. However, they also critique his pitch and say that his vocal power needs work.

Caleb Johnson takes the stage, performing "Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin. The judges praise him for his energy and commitment to the song. Jennifer says he has a "natural gift" and Keith says he has a powerful connection to classic rock.

MK Nobilette performs "Perfect" by Pink next. The judges praise her emotional delivery and some of the adjustments she made to the original song. Jennifer advises her to continue to connect emotionally with her song choices.

Malaya Watson takes the stage to perform "Ain't No Way" by Aretha Franklin. The judges praise her energy and vocal range. Harry advises her to focus more on the lyrics and not just her vocal acrobatics, while Jennifer advises her to work on her breathing technique.

Jena Irene performs "Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall next. The judges praise her boldness and stage presence. Keith advises her to continue to connect with her song choices while Harry emphasizes the importance of pacing her performance.

Ben Briley performs "Soulshine" by The Allman Brothers Band next. The judges praise his guitar playing and unique vocal tone. Keith advises him to continue to hone his style and deliver his performances with more conviction.

Finally, CJ Harris takes the stage to perform "Gravity" by John Mayer. The judges praise his emotional delivery and say that he gave an authentic performance. Harry advises him to work on his pitch and breathing while Jennifer emphasizes that he needs to connect with his song choices more.

The episode ends with the judges critiquing the performances as a whole and advising the contestants on how to improve. The voting lines are opened, and the contestants and audience wait in anticipation for the results of the next round.