American Idol has confirmed the celebrity mentors who worked with the Top 26 contestants during the recent semi-final rounds. According to spoilers, the mentors for the American Idol 2023 Top 26 round were Allen Stone and Noah Cyrus.
Allen Stone is familiar to Idol viewers, having previously appeared on the show as a duet partner in earlier seasons. He also competed as a contestant on the one-season American Song Contest in 2022. Noah Cyrus, daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus and sister of Miley Cyrus, joined the show as the mentor for the second group.
The semi-finalists were divided between the two mentors, who helped prepare the contestants for performances in front of judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan. The performances were filmed outdoors at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii, on a stage set up for a live audience. Those tapings took place on Sunday, February 12 and Monday, February 13.
American Idol announced the celebrity mentors on its Instagram account.
The American Idol Top 20 Returns
According to reports, six contestants will be eliminated from the Top 26—likely following a nationwide vote—leaving the Top 20 to advance and perform in the next round. Last season followed a similar format, trimming the field to twenty performers to continue the competition.
For those tracking all contestants and song choices, multiple fan sites and episode guides offer full contestant lists, performance breakdowns, and social media links to the singers. These resources are useful for following individual contestants’ journeys through the season.
Allen Stone served as mentor for Group 1. For his mentor performance, he sang “Is This Love” by Bob Marley and the Wailers. The contestants assigned to his group and their song selections were:
Group 1
Elise Kristine – “Holding Out for a Hero” (Bonnie Tyler)
Emma Bussee – “Lay Me Down” (Sam Smith)
Haven Madison – “The Middle” (Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey)
Kaeyra – “Don’t Let Go (Love)” (En Vogue)
Lucy Love – “What’s Love Got to Do with It” (Tina Turner)
Mariah Faith – “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton)
Matt Wilson – “Speechless” (Dan + Shay)
Nailyah Serenity – “Lovin’ You” (Minnie Riperton)
Oliver Steele – “Better Together” (Jack Johnson)
Pjae – “Golden” (Jill Scott)
Warren Peay – “Set Fire to the Rain” (Adele)
William Guy Tongi – “Don’t Let Go” (cover noted as SpawnBreezie)
Zachariah Smith – “Lucille” (Little Richard)
Noah Cyrus mentored Group 2. At the time of the spoilers, it was unclear whether she performed during the mentor segment. The contestants in her group and their song choices were:
Group 2
Colin Stough – TBD
Dawson Wayne – “Copycat” (Billie Eilish)
Elijah McCormick – “Good Vibes” (Chris Janson)
Hannah Nicolaisen – TBD
Nutsa Buzaladze – “Paris (Ooh La La)” (Grace Potter & The Nocturnals)
Malik Heard – “Ain’t It Fun” (Paramore)
Marybeth Byrd – “Heart Like a Truck” (Lainey Wilson)
Megan Danielle – “The Chain” (Fleetwood Mac)
Michael Williams – “Tuesdays” (Jake Scott)
Olivia Soli – “Emotions” (Mariah Carey)
Paige Anne – “Wrecking Ball” (Miley Cyrus)
Tyson Venegas – “It Will Rain” (Bruno Mars)
Wé McDonald – “Edge of Seventeen” (Stevie Nicks)
These mentor sessions are a key part of the Idol format, giving contestants professional guidance and a chance to refine arrangements, stage presence, and vocal approach ahead of the judges’ evaluations. Mentors often help shape song choices and offer strategies tailored to each performer’s strengths.
Fans interested in following the season closely should watch for official social posts from the show and the contestants themselves. Those updates often include behind-the-scenes clips, rehearsal snippets, and announcements about voting windows and broadcast schedules.
American Idol season 21 premieres on ABC on Sunday, February 19 at 8:00 PM ET.