Read our recap of tonights episode below!
Image: Supplied
It’s time Australia. Tonight we find out which three contestants have scored a place in the grand final of Australian Idol. With the votes already in, each contestants will take to the stage tonight for what may be their final performance on the Idol stage. Host Ricki-Lee announces a record breaking number of votes, with over a million votes cast to determine who will make it through. But first, the top six take to the stage together to perform David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s hit collaboration, I’m Good (Blue).
Image: Supplied
First to take to the stage is Royston Sagigi-Baira, who is singing Foreigner’s I Wanna Know What Love Is. He was a bit shaky at first, having said earlier in the show he was nervous to find out the outcome of the voting, but he was right at home as he hit those higher notes. Anya Hyninnen then takes on James Brown’s It’s A Man’s World, and delivered what might be her best performance since entering the top twelve. We were reminded of her powerhouse vocals, and just why she made it into the top twelve. Only one of them is making through to the grand final, and Ricki-Lee announces that singer is Sagigi-Baira, making them the first contestant to proceed to the top three. That means Hyninnen’s Idol journey has come to an end.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Up next, Phoebe Stewart and Ben Sheehy are going head to head. If you’ve read any of these recaps, you know I’m a big fan of rock god Ben Sheehy, so would love to see him make the grand final. He’s singing Joe Crocker’s My Baby Wrote Me A Letter, and his vocals are once again out of this world. He is so different to anyone in the competition, and anyone at the forefront of the Australian music industry. Shark calls him weird in an endearing way, saying she herself isn’t the best vocalist but she has ‘other weird things,’ which prompts Connick Jr. to poke her iconic bun. Connick Jr. offers him an idea for his album, saying it should be full of recordings of his “last notes.” He adds, “I’d call that son of a gun Ben’s High Notes.” Stewart will be performing Freya Ridings’ Lose Without You. It’s another flawless performance from Stewart, and the judges loved every second. She says Idol has been the best experience she’s ever had and has learnt so much throughout the competition. Host Scott Tweedie announces only of them is safe, and that person is Stewart. Whilst I’m over the moon for her and agree she deserves her spot in the grand final, I am sad that it’s the end of the road for Sheehy on Idol.
Image: Supplied
It’s time for two Australian idols to take to the stage, with Shark and singer-songwriter Sam Fisher here to perform their new collaboration, High On You. Trainor is swaying along in her seat, and it’s a great display for contestants to see the career and success they can have post-Idol. Shark and Fisher presented such a beautifully intimate performance, with both artists vocals perfectly complimenting each others distinct tones. But it’s back to the competition at hand, and with one spot left in the top three it’s down to Josh Hannan and Amali Dimond. Hannan is first to perform, singing Elvis Presley’s beloved song Can’t Help Falling In Love. I keep saying it tonight, but again he’s delivered a performance that only Hannan can. It was moving and the emotion of his voice shone through. Sandilands reveals his father was a big Elvis fan and had a statue of the icon in his home growing up, and I love these fun stories Sandilands shares that kind of relate to what’s happening but also is so bizarre. “I’m burning up,” says Shark, and Trainor is beside herself that it’s Josh vs Amali.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Dimond is presenting her first ballad in the competition, performing Demi Lovato’s Warrior. Her signature strong and booming vocals take centre stage and put on what may just be her best performance on the Idol stage. This is a very hard one, it would be great to see both contestants make the grand final. Sandilands says to Dimond he received two texts today, with the second being from Calvin Harris’ manager requesting links to hear Dimond sing. That’s pretty wild. As we know, there's only one spot left in the grand final, and Australia has voted Hannan into the top three. He starts to tear up and get emotional, but it does mean that Dimond's Idol journey has come to an end. "You've got the world at your feet," says Sandilands, and the rest of the panel offer words of advice and support, and reassure her that this is only the beginning.
Well Australia, we're less than a week away from finding out who will take home the title of Australian Idol. Will it be Royston Sagigi-Baira, Phoebe Stewart, or Josh Hannan. Voting has officially opened, and will close at approx. 7pm AEDT on March 26. Tune in to also see judge Harry Connick Jr. perform, and former Australian Idol runner-up Jessica Mauboy take to the stage.
Image: Supplied
Watch the Australian Idol grand final on Channel 7 Sunday night at 7:00pm AEDT. Stream it on 7 Plus.