American Idol 2023 Top 8 Poll Results, Power Rankings and a Prediction
American Idol Season 21 moves to Sunday-night-only broadcasts for the remainder of the season, aside from a clip show airing on May 15. See the schedule for the remaining episodes.
The competition is now down to the Top 8. Sunday’s episode (May 7) will feature guest judges Ed Sheeran and Alanis Morissette filling in for Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, who are performing at King Charles’ coronation concert at Windsor Castle that evening. Alanis Morissette will mentor the remaining contestants as they perform selections from her catalog, and the singers will be paired into duets — twelve performances in total. After the coast-to-coast live broadcast, the show will eliminate three contestants.
Ed Sheeran: New Music, a Docuseries and a Busy Schedule
Ed Sheeran appears on the judges’ panel and will perform on the show. He is promoting a new album, -(Subtract), and the single “Eyes Closed,” and he also has a four-part docuseries titled The Sum of It All on Disney+. Sheeran is currently touring and recently won a high-profile copyright lawsuit. His presence on American Idol adds star power to the episode.
Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will check in live from Windsor Castle during the broadcast, but they will not be seated at the judges’ table in person for this episode.
American Idol airs live coast to coast on ABC Sunday, May 7 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
American Idol Top 8 Power Rankings
Below are the power rankings for the Top 8 heading into Sunday’s episode, based on recent performances, audience response, and momentum.
8. Oliver Steele – Oliver was saved by Katy last week after winning the Judges Song Contest. While that save kept him in the competition, some could argue another contestant deserved it. Oliver’s emotional backstory — including his father’s recent stroke and the promise that his dad would attend the show if he advanced — has resonated with viewers. He has a heartfelt connection to Disney and has publicly expressed how much it means to him. Despite the sentiment, Oliver is among the most vulnerable this week and could be eliminated, though his sendoff will likely be emotional with his father in the audience.
7. Haven Madison – Haven has shown strong songwriting instincts and stage presence for a young performer, but her voice still needs maturity. As the competition stiffens, vocal shortcomings could make this a difficult week for her.
6. Zachariah Smith – Zachariah has advanced further than many expected. While he isn’t always the strongest vocalist, his charismatic performances and smart song choices have carried him. With the field narrowing, he faces tougher competition and may be at risk this week.
5. Warren Peay – Warren is a solid contender with a loyal fan base. Though he delivers consistent performances, several other contestants have produced more attention-grabbing or unconventional moments. Warren still has a clear path to the finale if he continues to impress.
4. Colin Stough – Colin took a few shaky steps earlier in the season but has shown considerable growth recently. He’s embraced riskier song choices and more dramatic performances, and that evolution helps him stand out. Fans often rally behind underdogs, which works in his favor.
3. Wé Ani – Wé is a standout talent. Her vocal tone, control, and stage personality allow her to make nearly every song her own, whether she picks it or it’s assigned. She’s a top contender for the finale and consistently ranks high with viewers.
2. Megan Danielle – Megan arrived with visible nerves but has grown into a powerful performer who connects emotionally. Her raspy, soulful voice particularly shines on gospel-leaning material, and her steady improvements suggest she’s very likely to reach the finale.
1. Iam Tongi – Iam has been the season’s frontrunner since his audition. He consistently leads in social engagement and viewer interest, and his performances routinely earn praise from the judges and the audience. If trends hold, he’s the clear favorite to win this season.
Contestants often prepare recorded “winner’s singles” around this stage of the competition, so look for those releases as the show approaches the Top 5.
Top 5 Prediction
My prediction: Oliver Steele, Zachariah Smith, and Haven Madison will be eliminated on Sunday, leaving Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle, Wé Ani, Colin Stough, and Warren Peay to move forward. Of course, a standout performance could always change the outcome, but at this point viewer loyalties are largely set.
American Idol Top 8 Poll Results
Below are the results from the polls conducted after the May 1 episode. These reflect reader opinions on favorites, top performances, and who should have been saved.
Favorite Top 8 Contestant
Wé Ani and Iam Tongi continue to top fans’ favorites, with Megan also drawing significant support.
- Wé Ani – 36.71%
- Iam Tongi – 23.11%
- Megan Danielle – 17.67%
- Colin Stough – 8.76%
- Zachariah Smith – 4.83%
- Haven Madison – 4.23%
- Oliver Steele – 2.57%
- Warren Peay – 2.11%
Favorite Top 10 Performance
Fans selected their standout performances from the Top 10 round, with several emotional and powerhouse moments placing near the top.
- Wé Ani – “I Have Nothing” (Whitney Houston) – 31.51%
- Megan Danielle – “Go Rest High on That Mountain” (Vince Gill) – 23.88%
- Iam Tongi – “What a Wonderful World” (Louis Armstrong) – 18.42%
- Colin Stough – “It’s Been Awhile” (Staind) – 7.91%
- Tyson Venegas – “Someone You Loved” (Lewis Capaldi) – 5.32%
- Zachariah Smith – “Wanted Dead or Alive” (Bon Jovi) – 3.31%
- Oliver Steele – “High and Dry” (Radiohead) – 3.31%
- Haven Madison – “The Only Exception” (Paramore) – 2.88%
- Marybeth Byrd – “Wasted on You” (Morgan Wallen) – 2.59%
- Warren Peay – “Colder Weather” (Zac Brown Band) – 0.86%
Top 8 Reveal: Who Would You Have Saved?
Poll respondents were split on which eliminated singer they would have saved, though Tyson had a slight edge.
- Tyson Venegas – 37.20%
- Oliver Steele – 33.15%
- Marybeth Byrd – 29.65%
Top 8 Reveal: Who Was Robbed?
Nearly half of voters felt no one was robbed in the eliminations.
- Nobody was Robbed – 48.70%
- Tyson Venegas – 31.37%
- Marybeth Byrd – 19.93%
Here are additional poll results collected after the April 30 episode, focusing on Hall of Fame Night performances, mentor approval, and viewer reactions.
Top 12 HOF Night: Favorite Performance
Wé, Megan and Iam dominated voting for Hall of Fame Night, with Wé taking a clear lead.
- Wé Ani – “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” (Etta James) – 34.91%
- Megan Danielle – “Angel” (Bonnie Raitt) – 18.77%
- Iam Tongi – “Bring It On Home to Me” (Sam Cooke) – 17.12%
- Zachariah Smith – “Don’t Bring Me Down” (ELO) – 8.01%
- Tyson Venegas – “For Once in My Life” (Stevie Wonder) – 6.59%
- Colin Stough – “Midnight Rider” (Allman Brothers) – 5.82%
- Haven Madison – “Livin’ on a Prayer” (Bon Jovi) – 2.85%
- Warren Peay – “House of the Rising Sun” (The Animals) – 1.76%
- Oliver Steele – “Georgia on My Mind” (Ray Charles) – 1.65%
- Nutsa – “The Show Must Go On” (Queen) – 1.32%
- Marybeth Byrd – “Dancing Queen” (ABBA) – 0.77%
- Lucy Love – “All Night Long” (Lionel Richie) – 0.44%
Top 12/Top 10 Reveal HOF Night: Who Was Robbed?
- Nobody was Robbed – 77.91%
- Nutsa – 13.57%
- Lucy Love – 8.53%
Top 12 HOF Night: Mentor Adam Lambert — Yay or Nay?
Viewers overwhelmingly approved of Adam Lambert as a mentor for Hall of Fame Night.
- Yay! – 93.44%
- Nay – 6.56%