American Idol 2025: Top 20 Episode Airs on Easter Sunday with a “Songs of Faith” Theme
American Idol will present a special three-hour episode titled “Songs of Faith” on Easter Sunday, April 20. The broadcast will highlight performances from Christian and gospel artists alongside the Top 20 contestants as they compete for America’s votes. Confirmed performers slated for the night include Season 22 alumnus Roman Collins as well as acclaimed gospel and faith-based artists CeCe Winans, Jelly Roll, Brandon Lake and The Brown Four. People magazine first reported the special episode details.
In addition to guest artists, the show’s judges — Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan — are each set to perform during the Easter special. The episode centers on faith-inspired music, giving contestants an opportunity to select songs rooted in spiritual themes, gospel traditions or broadly uplifting messages. While contestants on American Idol have long included religious and gospel material in their sets, this marks the first time the program has devoted an entire broadcast to a clearly religious or faith-oriented song theme.
The “Songs of Faith” episode will be the Top 20 round, which means these performances will determine which contestants move forward in the competition based on America’s votes. Viewers can expect a mix of solo performances and group moments, framed by guest appearances and judge performances, all tailored to the episode’s spiritual focus.
Showcase Round, Jelly Roll as Artist in Residence, and the Head-to-Head Format
Leading up to the Easter special, American Idol’s schedule includes the showcase round and the newly introduced “Head to Head” stage. On Sunday, April 6, the remaining contestants will perform in the showcase round, singing with a full band for the first time as the judges make additional cuts. Beginning Monday, April 7, the show will introduce the Head to Head round, a format designed to increase competitive matchups and viewer engagement.
Country-turned-cross-genre star Jelly Roll will join the series for the remainder of the season as American Idol’s first Artist in Residence. Although the title is new, the role resembles past mentor positions: he will offer guidance and perspective to contestants, similar to previous mentors who supported singers through critical rounds of the competition.
After the showcase and Head to Head rounds, the Top 24 will travel to Hawaii for a two-night voting round filmed at the Disney Aulani Resort. Those episodes — airing Sunday, April 13 and Monday, April 14 — will send the singers out to perform for the first time where audience voting will determine who advances. Mentors scheduled to support contestants in Hawaii include Ashanti and Josh Groban, each guiding performances on separate nights. Portions of those rounds were filmed earlier in the season at the resort.
As the competition progresses, viewers should expect additional eliminations that reduce the field to the Top 20 and beyond. Spoilers for contestant song choices and outcomes may appear online after tapings, so fans who wish to avoid spoilers should be mindful around the scheduled filming dates.
Top 20 Easter Special Taping, Live Shows, and Audience Tickets
According to audience seating outlets, the Top 20 episode will be taped on Wednesday, April 16. Historically, the Top 20 round involves preparations from more contestants than ultimately perform; typically, 24 prepare and four are cut prior to the televised performance. The show’s live performance schedule is expected to resume the following week, with live shows beginning Monday, April 17.
For fans in the Los Angeles area who want to attend a taping, American Idol will be filming at Red Studios in Los Angeles starting with the Easter Sunday Top 20 special. Tickets for studio audiences are generally distributed through official on-camera audience services, and availability can vary by episode and date. Attending a taping offers viewers a firsthand look at rehearsals, judge and guest moments, and the energy that goes into producing a themed episode like “Songs of Faith.”
Overall, American Idol’s Easter special brings faith-based music to the forefront of the contest, combining high-profile guest artists, judge performances and the stakes of America’s vote. Whether contestants choose explicitly Christian songs, broadly spiritual material, or uplifting gospel-tinged arrangements, the episode aims to celebrate the role of faith and spirituality in contemporary music while advancing the season’s competition.