Worship Rocks ‘American Idol’ In Bold Easter Celebration
In celebration of Easter, American Idol is dedicating an entire episode to faith-based music, showcasing a night of worship featuring some of the biggest names in Christian music. The April 20 broadcast will span three hours and spotlight all 20 contestants as they perform gospel and worship songs in front of a live primetime audience.
The special, titled “Songs of Faith,” will include guest appearances by Grammy-winning gospel artist CeCe Winans, worship leader Brandon Lake, former American Idol contestant Roman Collins, and gospel group The Brown Four. Also appearing is Jelly Roll, who will join Lake in performing their recent duet, “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” The show’s judges — Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood — are also slated to perform during the episode.
As the competition heats up, the episode marks a crucial turning point, with the Top 20 contestants vying for viewer votes following their inspirational performances. The results will help determine who continues on in the pursuit of this season’s title. This year, faith has played a prominent role, with several contestants, including Baylee Littrell and Canaan Hill, incorporating worship into their performances.
On a recent episode, contestants Breanna Nix and Rylie O’Neill performed Brandon Lake’s hit song “Gratitude,” which topped the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart for 28 weeks. Their rendition moved Underwood, who spoke emotionally about the courage it takes to stay true to one’s faith in the entertainment industry. She praised the young artists for their boldness and sincerity.
Faith has long been a theme for several of the show’s alumni, with past contestants like Colton Dixon, Danny Gokey, Lauren Daigle, and the late Mandisa openly sharing their beliefs. Carrie Underwood, one of the show’s most successful winners, has remained vocal about her Christianity. Colton Dixon once shared that watching American Idol was a cherished tradition in his church-going household, adding that faith is a deeply personal journey that often becomes real in unique and individual ways.