Sunday night’s American Idol episode wasn’t your typical pop showdown. The three-hour Easter “Songs of Faith” special turned the competition into something closer to a worship service.
Contestants were asked to choose songs that reflected their personal beliefs, struggles or sense of calling. Some chose worship anthems. Others leaned into gospel or reflective pop. But the throughline was unmistakable: faith was front and center.
Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll opened the night with “Hard-Fought Hallelujah,” setting a spiritual tone from the jump. Gospel icon CeCe Winans took the stage later alongside former Idol contestant Roman Collins for a stirring performance of “Come Jesus Come.”
While a few singers went the mainstream route—like Olivier Bergeron’s version of Rihanna’s “Stay” and Zaylie Windsor’s cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Silver Springs”—most contestants leaned into spiritual territory. Canaan James Hill brought the judges to their feet with Le’Andria Johnson’s “Better Days.” Sixteen-year-old Mattie Pruitt tackled Lauren Daigle’s “Rescue.” Thunderstorm Artis gave Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love” a rock-driven edge. And Kolbi Jordan closed the night with a quiet, unaccompanied take on “Amazing Grace.”
Even the judges got in on it. Lionel Richie performed his song “Eternity.” Luke Bryan debuted a personal ballad called “Jesus ‘Bout My Kids.” And Carrie Underwood returned to the Idol stage with a powerhouse rendition of “How Great Thou Art.”
According to Bryan, the theme wasn’t planned from the start. It emerged organically after a wave of gospel and worship songs started showing up this season. He credits Underwood for noticing the shift.
“A couple of episodes ago she asked, ‘Historically have people done so much gospel?’” Bryan told Billboard. “And I said, ‘You may be having a little something to do with that.’”
Underwood added, “It wasn’t just gospel. They usually say something before they sing about why they want to be the next American Idol, and so many of them said, ‘Because God put me here.’”
The full episode is streaming now on Hulu.
