American Idol: Lionel Richie reveals that Platinum ticket winner Jay Copeland gets save from judges

Lionel Richie announced that Platinum ticket winner Jay Copeland was saved by the judges during the final seconds of Monday’s episode of American Idol on ABC.

‘I just can’t believe you took so long to get to the core of what I wanted from you,’ Lionel, 72, said to the 23-year-old singer from Salisbury, Maryland. ‘And then you gave it to me, Jay. You are coming all the way.’

The early frontrunner performed Believer by Imagine Dragons for the judges to win one of their four saves after receiving a Platinum ticket during auditions that allowed him to skip a round during Hollywood Week.

‘Jay that performance is why we gave you the Platinum ticket,’ Luke Bryan, 45, said when he finished. ‘That was a tremendous performance, tremendous song choice for you, and I know where my heart is right now.’

The live, two-hour show featured 20 performances, the elimination of six contestants and the judges picking four, including Jay, to remain. By the end, there were only 14 remaining contestants.

Show host Ryan Seacrest, 47, called each contestant to the stage to let them know if they were either voted directly into the top 10 by the audience or if they had to compete for one of the four saves from the judges.

Ava Maybee, the 20-year-old daughter of Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, was the first to learn she made it into the top 10. After Ryan informed her, a shocked Ava took the stage and performed Lizzo’s song ‘Cuz I Love You.

‘This is the most insane experience of my life, ever,’ Ava said to Ryan when she finished the song. ‘I feel so honored, so grateful to be here with everyone.’

Ryan next called Long Island’s Christian Guardino, 21, to the stage. Ryan hugged him and told him he was in the top 10.

‘Oh Jesus!’ Christian said when he heard the news. ‘I’m okay. I’m alright.’

After regaining his composure, Christian stepped up the microphone and performed Radiohead’s Creep. Ryan asked him when he was finished why he chose that song.

‘Honestly, I really relate to that song,’ Christian said. ‘It means a lot to me. I feel every word of that song. When I hear ”I don’t belong here” it makes me think ”oh hell yeah, I belong here”.’

Cameron Whitcomb, 18, from Canada, learned that America did not vote him straight into the top 10. Instead, Cameron, like the other contestants who were not voted immediately through, had to compete for one of the judges’ picks to stay in the competition. He sang If It Hadn’t Been For Love by The SteelDrivers.

‘That was really your best vocal you have ever done,’ Katy Perry, 37, told him when he finished. ‘You should better be a little disappointed. I mean because you have got so much energy.’

‘I want to be here really bad,’ Cameron said.

Allegra Miles, 19, from West Palm Beach, Florida, told Ryan she was nervous when he called her to the stage to learn her fate. He told her she did not make it into the top 10. Allegra then took the stage and performed her song Tainted.

‘Sometimes when you are singing other folks’ songs, you can’t translate because you are trying to interpret,’ Lionel said. ‘You wrote this song and it showed. The passion, the delivery. You are in control of that.’

Lady K, 25, from Alabama, learned her fate next. Ryan told her after her standing ovation performance the previous night that she made it officially into the top 10. Lady K then performed Bust Your Windows by Jazmine Sullivan. 

Platinum ticket winner HunterGirl, 23, from Winchester, Tennessee, told Ryan she was ‘nervous as heck’ when she took the stage. Ryan revealed that she was in the top 10. She then performed Miranda Lambert’s song Vice. 

Katyrah Love, 23, from Baltimore, went next. Ryan told her she would not be going straight into the top 10. Katyrah then sang the Chaka Khan song Through The Fire hoping to secure one of the judges’ picks.

‘Great performance, way to sing for your life,’ Luke said. ‘That was amazing. Great job. And you look amazing tonight.’ 

Cadence Baker, 19, from Alabama was next to learn her fate. Ryan told her she didn’t make the audience’s top ten but that she still had a chance to win over the judges. Cadence performed Whitney Houston’s I’m Your Baby Tonight.

‘You look good and you sound good,’ Katy said when she finished. ‘ You have grown so much. Remember Gabby Barrett didn’t win American Idol but she won live and you might, too.’

Dan Marshall, 24, from Chesapeake, Virginia, took the stage next. Ryan told him that he was in the top 10. Luke then sang Lionel Richie’s song Stuck On You.

‘He knocked it out of the park,’ Lionel said. ‘Great job.’

Leah Marlene, 21, from Normal, Illinois, also learned she was in the top 10 after the nationwide vote. She then performed her own song ‘Wisher to The Well.’

‘You are good at those original songs,’ Ryan said.

‘Why thank you, Ryan,’ Leah said. ‘I don’t even know what to think right now. Like I said earlier, so grateful. Kind of out of breath. At a loss for words.’

Nicolina Bozzo, 18, from Toronto, Canada, then learned from Ryan that she was also in the top 10. She then performed She Used To Be Mine by Sara Bareilles.

‘You make it look so easy,’ Ryan said when she finished. ‘Congratulations.’

Sage McNeely, from Burbank, California, was not as fortunate and had to sing for a save. Sage performed Allen Stone’s’ Brown Eyed Lover for her survival.

‘That is the way you come out after bad news,’ Lionel said. ‘You absolutely took charge. It’s like ”who said no.” Your attitude was so positive, so direct, you owned the stage, you put your foot forward, and you knocked us out.’

Noah Thompson, 20 a construction worker Louisa, Kentucky, took the stage next. Ryan announced that it was Noah’s birthday.

‘It’s my 20th birthday,’ Noah said. ‘I wasn’t going to tell nobody.’

Ryan told him that after the vote that he was in the top 10.

‘Happy Birthday,’ Ryan said.

Noah then sang Cover Me Up by Jason Isbell while playing the guitar. When he finished, Ryan asked him what emotions he was feeling.

‘I’m at a loss for words,’ Noah said. ‘Just grateful.’

Jacob Moran, 28, a registered nurse from Michigan, told Ryan he was nervous but excited. Ryan told him he was not voted to the top 10. Jacob then performed Katy’s song Rise.

‘I’ve retired that song now,’ Katy said when he finished. ‘There are few notes that I’ve never heard in that song. Wow. Listen, you are in control of your future. I think you know that now. I think you have the fire, it’s at your feet. You own it. You are amazing and you’re so talented.’

‘I think you are taking shape and you will rise,’ Katy said.

Elli Rowe, 19, from Nashville, took the stage next. Ryan told her she did not make the top 10 and would have to sing for her survival. Elli then performed All I Want by Kodaline while playing the guitar.

‘You have grown so much during this entire session of this class,’ Lionel said. ‘I’m just going to tell you that’s the best performance I’ve seen.’ 

Emyrson Flora, a 16-year-old high school student from Cleveland, was called to the stage next. Ryan told her she was in the top 10.

‘You did it,’ Ryan said.

Emyrson performed Love In the Dark by Adele. Ryan asked what it meant for her to be in the top 10.

‘It means so much,’ Emyrson said. ‘This has been my dream for so long. I’m really, really grateful.’

Mike Parker, 27, a carpenter from Warrenton, Virginia, went next. Ryan told him he did not get voted into the top 10 and had to sing for a save. Mike then performed Bed On Fire by Teddy Swims.

‘I’m just a huge fan of what you are doing,’ Luke said. ‘Great song choice. I’m quite frankly very shocked you are not in our top 10.’

Fritz Hager, 21, a former security guard from Tyler, Texa,s received the last spot in the evening’s top 10. Fritz then took the stage and performed Golden by Harry Styles while he played the guitar. 

Tristen Gressett, 17, a high school student from Pell City, Alabama, performed Lenny Kravitz’s hit Are You Going to Go My Way to win one of the saves from the judges.

‘Listen, Tristen, you are a rock star no matter what happens tonight,’ Katy said. ‘This is your path and I think you know that now. I just want more every single time.’

The judges decided ultimately to save Allegra, Jay, Mike, and Tristen.

American Idol will return next Sunday on ABC.