“American Idol” has undergone another brutal round of cuts in an emotional “Ohana round” episode. Judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan faced the daunting task of trimming the field by a third, narrowing the Top 30 down to a final 20.
The episode, filmed in Kapolei, Hawaii, featured tearful performances dedicated to family members. This season, the stakes were raised with a new voting system involving contestants, their families, and a panel of industry “tastemakers” to determine the season’s first platinum tickets.
The 2026 Platinum Ticket Winners
In a game-changing twist for Season 24, the platinum tickets were not chosen by the judges but by three distinct groups of stakeholders. These three singers bypassed the next stage to head straight to the “America’s Vote” round:
- Kyndal Inskeep: Selected by the Industry Tastemakers (including Rolling Stone EIC Shirley Halperin and influencer Loren Gray) after performing her original song, “Woman of Me.”
- Brooks Rosser: Selected by the Families and Friends (The Ohana) after his rendition of “Everywhere Everything” by Noah Kahan.
- Jordan McCullough: Selected by his Fellow Contestants after singing “Grandma’s Hands” by Bill Withers.
Who Made the ‘American Idol’ Top 20?
Following the platinum ticket reveal, the judges selected the remaining 17 artists to move forward to the Disney Aulani Resort performances:
| Top 20 Finalists | ||
| Philmon Lee | Madison Moon | Braden Rumfelt |
| Jake Thistle | Jesse Findling | Ruby Rae |
| Genevieve Heyward | Lucas Leon | Hannah Harper |
| Chris Tungseth | Julián Kalel | Rae |
| Daniel Stallworth | Abayomi | Kutter Bradley |
| Makiyah | Keyla Richardson | Kyndal Inskeep (Platinum) |
| Brooks Rosser (Platinum) | Jordan McCullough (Platinum) |
Who Was Cut in the Ohana Round?
The journey ended for 10 contestants, including some surprise departures:
- Sheldon Riley (Australian Eurovision alum) and Jacquie Lee (The Voice alum) were among the high-profile cuts.
- Other eliminations: Bella Emry, Tianna Roberts, Bryant Thomas, Brianna Yancey, Kiera Howell, Brenna Brigman, Michael Garner, and Chloe Lauren.
What’s Next: Schedule & Mentors
The Top 20 round began on March 16, featuring guest mentors Brad Paisley and Keke Palmer. For the first time this season, viewers can vote to decide who moves into the Top 12.
- When to Watch: Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
- Streaming: Next day on Hulu and Disney+.
- Companion Podcast: New for 2026, a companion podcast is available on Disney+ for deeper behind-the-scenes insights.
Relevant Links for Fans
- Full Performance Recaps: TV Insider: American Idol 2026 Ohana Round
- Deep Dive into Platinum Tickets: Screen Rant: Season 24 Platinum Ticket Changes
- Episode Highlights & Video: Mjsbigblog: Kyndal’s Platinum Performance
- Official Show Information: Wikipedia: American Idol Season 24
- Streaming & Schedule: ABC Official: Watch American Idol
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