Moss Point native Daniel Stallworth is the latest Mississippian to advance to the top 20 of the hit TV singing competition “American Idol.”
During Monday’s “Ohana round” episode in Hawaii, judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie led the charge on cutting the contestant pool by a third.
After advancing into the top 30 a week ago, Stallworth took the stage with “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. While only a snippet of the performance was aired, it was enough to impress the judges. At the end of the episode, Stallworth was selected to move forward into the top 20.
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The first round of platinum tickets for season 24 was also doled out to three contestants: Kyndal Inskeep, Brooks Rosser, and Jordan McCullough. The trio was selected in a popular vote amongst fellow contestants, their families, and a panel of industry experts. Each will get to bypass the next two weeks of top 20 performances and go straight to “America’s vote.”
Who’s in the ‘American Idol’ top 20?
- Abayomi
- Kutter Bradley
- Jesse Finding
- Hannah Harper
- Genevieve Heyward
- Kyndal Inskeep
- Julián Kalel
- Philmon Lee
- Lucas Leon
- Makiyah
- Jordan McCullough
- Madison Moon
- Rae
- Ruby Rae
- Keyla Richardson
- Brooks Rosser
- Braden Rumfelt
- Daniel Stallworth
- Jake Thistle
- Chris Tungseth
Mississippi momentum
Daniel Stallworth continues Mississippi’s recent success on “American Idol.” Last year, Meridian elementary teacher Jamal Roberts won season 23. Coincidentally, Stallworth also teaches elementary school.
In season 22, Starkville teenager Jennifer Jeffries advances to the top 24, and in season 21, Monroe County natives Colin Stough and Zachariah Smith were both top 5 on the show.
When’s the next episode of ‘American Idol’?
“American Idol” airs on Mondays at 8/7c on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.