The three Platinum Ticket winners of season 23 on “American Idol” have now all been sent home, leaving some viewers “shocked” and others relieved.

On May 4, 2025, 17-year-old gospel singer Canaan James Hill and 26-year-old HR generalist Kolbi Jordan both went out on a limb with their song selections. But after 22 million votes were cast during the two-hour show, they were both cut from the top 10.

Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie were so impressed with Hill and Jordan’s auditions they awarded both contestants with Platinum Tickets, which allowed them to skip the first round of competition during Hollywood Week. The third recipient, Filo, was sent home on April 28, so none of the Platinum Ticket recipients remain.

Some Viewers Think Canaan James Hill & Kolbi Jordan’s Risky Song Choices Hurt Their Chances of Advancing

EntertainmentNOW/DisneyCanaan James Hill, Kolbi Jordan were eliminated from the top 10 on season 23 of “American Idol”
Both contestants took risks for the “Ladies Night” theme on May 4, choosing to step outside their comfort zones as they honored “iconic women in music.”

Hill, an aspiring preacher from Dallas, sang Underwood’s “Love Wins,” but told guest mentor Miranda Lambert that he was incredibly nervous to perform his first non-Gospel song on the show. Jordan, meanwhile, opted for Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,” acknowledging that while fans might expect her to sing something by an R&B queen like Aretha Franklin, she wanted to “shock” people, given that she’d never sung “anything like it before.”

That strategy backfired, some fans said after their eliminations. But others were stunned that their brave choices didn’t earn them more votes. On a post-show Reddit chat of “Idol” fans, one person wrote, “Kolbi got robbed seriously, she sang way better than many of them” and another wrote, “Canaan took a chance singing outside his genre and look where it got him”

Someone else in the debate countered, “Kolbi and Canaan were not robbed guys. They were stagnant and hardly taking risks most of their performances. This makes sense 👌🏾”

Another reasoned, “So many contestants get eliminated because they go outside their comfort zone, & so many go far because they go outside their comfort zone. I think the key is (as much as the judges overuse this phrase) making it your own – people can tell when it’s authentic”

In EntertainmentNOW’s “American Idol” Facebook community, a similar difference of opinion unfolded. One viewer wrote, “Just what I expected. America is voting voice quality, but also entertainment value and personality.” But another declared, “I am done watching it after tonight. Is not about vocals.”

Canaan James Hill & Kolbi Jordan’s Fans Flooded Their Social Media With Passionate Reactions

DisneyRyan Seacrest delivered the voting results on May 4, 2025, to Canaan James Hill, Kolbi Jordan, and Thunderstorm Artis.
Jordan and Hill’s diehard fans were clearly upset about their eliminations, posting on their social media feeds even before the singers could share their own reactions.

One wrote on Hill’s Instagram feed, “I’m so shocked. I voted for you, so proud of your journey this is not the end for you! 🙏🏽✨”

Another passionately wrote in all-caps to Hill, “THE JUDGES SABOTAGED YOU BY TELLING YOU TO NOT SING A GOSPEL SONG!! THEY BLOCKED YOU FROM BEING THE BLESSING THE WORLD NEEDS WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH, BUT THEY CAN NOT STOP YOUR ANOINTING!! SO SORRY THIS HAPPENED TO YOU KING! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A WINNER IN MY BOOK!!! GOD BLESS YOU 🙏🏾🙏🏾”

Fans also flooded Jordan’s pre-show posts, including one who wrote, “I am NOT happy with these results at ALL!! Hold your head up baby girl!! You’re going to do great things!!! Remember, Jennifer Hudson didn’t win American Idol but look at her now!! Be proud of yourself!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️”

Another fan wrote to Jordan, “You Were Absolutely Phenomenal Tonight !!!! You Were Robbed From Your Chance To Advance❤️ CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO SOAR RIGHT ON PAST AMERICAN IDOL INTO GREATNESS!!”

At the time of publication, neither Kolbi or Hill had addressed their fans about their eliminations. The top 8, meanwhile, will perform next on May 5, when another contestant will be sent home.