American Idol tonight will be one live singer short because of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
Updated: Both Fritz Hager and Noah Thompson were able to make it to the top 5 episode after all. Noah missed the entire week of preparation but was cleared in time for the actual live performance.
Last week, both Fritz Hager and Noah Thompson contracted COVID-19, and neither singer could perform live. Luckily, both of the singers were able to make it to the top 5 night’s performances.
Here is what you need to know.
Fritz Hager and Noah Thompson make it American Idol
Last week, Noah Thompson and Fritz Hager tested positive for COVID-19. However, one of them performed from his hotel room, and the other used his rehearsal footage.
That is because Noah tested positive for COVID-19 a few days before the show aired. He was ready to sing on Sunday night live from his hotel room, which was good since he wasn’t allowed to sing at rehearsals.
The judges said it was the best performance of the season so far for him.
However, Fritz tested positive right before the Sunday episode. He was able to go through rehearsals, but unlike Noah, he didn’t have a chance to get through the worst part of the illness. He couldn’t sing because of the new symptoms and used his rehearsal as his night’s performance.
Original reporting indicated that Noah was unable to make it to perform in the top 5, but when the episode started, he was there.
He shared a photo with Leah Marlene.
Fritz ended up with COVID-19 after Noah and he was able to also make it to the top 5 performances. This means all five of the finalists were able to perform this week.
Tonight’s performances on American Idol
The top 7 all released new songs on Friday, and they were supposed to sing those original songs tonight, but they won’t.
Instead, the top 5 will sing two songs tonight. The first will be a Carrie Underwood song (and these include her covers, like her version of Randy Travis’s I Told You So).
Carrie chose her songs for them to sing, but she allowed them to change to different ones if they wanted to.
The second performance will be a song of their choice.
Two people will go home tonight, and the top 3 will be singing their original songs on the season finale.
American Idol airs on Sunday nights at 8/7c on ABC.