On American Idol this Sunday, May 15, the Top 5 contestants will present their own original songs and also perform a song chosen for them from Carrie Underwood’s catalog. This unique episode pairs the artists’ new material—released to streaming services and digital stores this week—with the guidance and song selections of a mentor who is both a past Idol champion and a major country-pop star.
The Top 5 competing this week are strong vocalists who have built followings throughout the season: Noah Thompson, HunterGirl, Leah Marlene, Nicolina Bozzo and Fritz Hager. Each artist recorded an original single with top producers, and those tracks were scheduled to be available for listeners on Friday, May 13. These original songs give viewers a first look at the contestants’ own artistic identities as they vie for a spot in the May 22 finale.
This week’s mentoring sessions took place in Las Vegas, where Carrie Underwood is currently performing a residency. Underwood—who won American Idol’s fourth season—worked with the finalists to prepare their performances, and she also selected one of her own hits for each contestant to interpret. That pairing of original material with a classic from Underwood’s repertoire creates an interesting contrast: contestants must showcase their songwriting and individuality while also honoring a song chosen by one of the show’s most successful alumni.
The Top 5 will sing original songs, and a Carrie Underwood song that she picks for each contestant
Each finalist’s original single highlights a different side of their artistry. Fritz Hager recorded “Hearts Align,” produced by King Henry, while Noah Thompson tracked his single “One Day Tonight” with producer Jimmy Robbins. Leah Marlene will perform her self-written ballad “Flowers,” a personal and emotional piece. HunterGirl offers “Redbird,” a deeply personal song she wrote during Hollywood Week, and Nicolina Bozzo will sing her upbeat original, “Glitter.” These originals were crafted with professional producers to ensure the songs are broadcast-ready for a national audience and available to stream and download.
The presence of Carrie Underwood as mentor adds another layer of excitement. In addition to guiding vocal and performance choices, she selected a song from her own extensive hit catalog for each contestant to perform. Viewers and fans can speculate about which Underwood hits might best suit each artist’s voice and style, and part of the drama of the episode will be seeing how the finalists interpret those selections while balancing their own musical identities.
Last week’s episodes saw challenges for some contestants: both Noah Thompson and Fritz Hager tested positive for COVID-19, which prevented them from performing in a recent live show. Whether they were able to join Carrie in person in Las Vegas depended on their recovery and clearance from isolation protocols. The show has adapted throughout the season to changing circumstances, and producers have worked to accommodate health and safety requirements while keeping the competition moving forward.
American Idol airs coast to coast on ABC on Sunday, May 15 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Fans can vote during the broadcast up until the end of the final commercial break; after votes are tallied, host Ryan Seacrest will reveal which three contestants will advance to the May 22 Grand Finale. The judges panel for the season includes Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, who will continue providing critiques and guidance as the competition reaches its conclusion.
This episode promises a blend of fresh original music and carefully chosen classics—an opportunity for each artist to demonstrate growth, versatility and star potential on one of television’s biggest stages. Tune in Sunday to see the Top 5 perform, hear their new singles, and watch Carrie Underwood’s selections come to life as the field narrows for the season finale.