Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan & More on ‘American Idol’ Season 24

On the night of the series finale of American Idol on Fox in 2016, show creator Simon Fuller confidently told Billboard that despite the network’s cancellation, this was not the end — that the popular talent competition would return, perhaps on streaming, perhaps on another broadcast network. But he didn’t say how long that would take.

Idol only had one gap year before moving to the Disney-owned ABC network, where it is now in its ninth year, for an overall total of 24 seasons. In a synergistic move after the reboot by ABC, the producers added a new level to the competition: Following Hollywood Week, the show would travel to Hawaii to produce a couple of episodes based at Aulani, the Disney resort on Oahu.

For the third consecutive year, Billboard journeyed to the Aloha State to report on the week’s activities, which this year included production of three episodes, the first of which will air on Monday (March 9).

After a late-night resort check in on Sunday, work began on Monday with a 30-minute sitdown with host Ryan Seacrest and judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood. The biggest challenge: What do you ask people you have been interviewing for more than 20 years (Seacrest and Underwood) or nine years (Richie and Bryan)?

Here’s how the half-hour interview unfolded at a table on the open-air ‘AMA ‘AMA Patio at Aulani:

What about season 24 has impressed you the most so far?

Ryan Seacrest: Who wants to go first and remind us?

Carrie Underwood: There is a huge diversity of uniqueness — like, we have interesting voices. It’s not, “You remind me of this person” or “You sound like this person,” like, “I want to pigeonhole you in this lane.” There are some people that really stand out — and a lot of inexperience, but in a really great way, raw and just starting out.

Seacrest: They don’t know how good they are yet. They haven’t even discovered themselves yet. They don’t know that they’ve got what they’ve got, which is a beautiful thing in a way to see for the first time, to watch it grow and evolve. Teachers, college students, people that you would see in these jobs and not think necessarily that they would have the voice and the lyrics for some of their original songs to be on American Idol, but it just fits. It just works.

Lionel Richie: As far as I’m concerned, this is just a turning point. This is when we as judges think, “Oh my god,” because it’s been a sea of talent — and there’s always this moment where we know, “This is the show.” We can see it now. And that rawness Carrie was speaking about, it’s not as raw as it used to be. They’re realizing their moments, and you’re either going to step into the light, or the light’s going to fade. There’s a moment for me when we sit up on that stage and we look at the kids and we realize, “Okay, that’s a style all by itself,” as opposed to singing. This is not a voice show. This is a style show as far as I’m concerned. We’re looking for who’s going to cut through. I’m kind of excited to see what we’ve put together.

Luke Bryan: What I’m really proud about is the ability to reload with talent, and we’re able to reload year after year. And I’m home watching the college football national championship game, and bam, there’s [season 23 winner] Jamal Roberts doing the national anthem, and I texted [executive producer] Megan Michaels and said, “Look at our boy.” You know, a year ago, Jamal didn’t know that he would be a Grammy-nominated artist or singing the anthem in front of 20 million people at the college football national championship.

And to be a part of that, and to know that somebody in this season could potentially grow to that, that’s what’s so special about this show. I went back and watched some of the highlights of this first episode and to watch us still get emotional and get touched by these people’s stories and to watch how year after year the people behind the scenes really put the show together so nicely too.

Seacrest: The way they edit it is beautiful.

Bryan: There are some edited moments that, when I just watched them, I was getting emotional. We’re in the trenches with this thing, and we’re still getting touched. You know the people at home are really feeling those emotions too, and that’s the beauty of this show. I mean, we’re on our phones and we see all the craziness in the world. I’m glad we put something out there that families can take a break from all that and really see a different side of humanity.

Richie: I love when my friends call me and go, “Do we have to cry again?” But that’s what it’s all about, touching hearts.

I don’t know if you read the news this morning, but a man in Honolulu finally perfected a time machine.

Seacrest: This is a Fred Bronson question. I know my Fred Bronson.

I’ve asked him to come over and send each of you back into the past. You can change one thing and he promises it won’t affect the timeline. What is the one thing during your entire time on Idol that you would change?

Underwood: I’m very angry with myself because when I was on the show, I wasn’t taking any pictures. I’m thinking, “Why? Why didn’t you do that? Why didn’t you save these things?” We had a girl come in that had a pair of jeans that I wore on the show, and she told me, “My grandpa bought these at a charity auction and I wore them on the show,” and I asked, “Can I buy them back from you?” Why did I let them go? Why didn’t I keep more things and just document things a little better?

Seacrest: I have the judge’s desk from your season if you want. It’s in my basement.

Bryan: The first thing that popped in my mind is: I would have cherished more moments with Willie Spence [the season 19 runner-up who passed away on Oct. 11, 2022]. That’s a biggie to me – losing him and knowing how much he touched me in that room, in that space, watching him perform week in and week out. It was truly breathtaking. He was from Douglas, Georgia, which is an hour from my hometown. That loss really affected me. From time to time, I’ll see a clip of him singing and it just breaks my heart for him and his family, and I just can only imagine what his career might have been.

Seacrest: You don’t think those things are ever going to happen.

Bryan: It’s like when you go back to your high school reunion and you realize some of your classmates aren’t here. Then you realize that considering the years you’ve been on the show, the sad reality is we are going to lose people.

Seacrest: When you’ve got that kind of history and the legacy in this show and touched so many different lives and people, it’s never something that you ever think about when you start this, but it is inevitably part of life. To just shift gears in a lighter way, I must have approached this show as if no human beings were watching it, when you look at what I decided to wear and how I looked for the first season. It was a new show. Who knew if anybody was going to tune in? And so sheer shirts and spiked blonde hair and oversized baggy suits and a terrified look on my face. I’d try and change that. I’d try to assume maybe somebody was watching it in the beginning.

And you never thought you’d still be doing this 24 years later?

Seacrest: No. We were trying to get a pickup for season two. I remember saying, “Call me if they want to do this again, because I would love to do this again.”

Richie: Well, there is one moment that changed me forever. I’m a control nut. I’ve got to be able to have control of everything. I know the angle, what that looks like. I can see it and I’ve got it together. That piece of hair is in place. I walk out on the stage and they put a whoopie cushion on my seat.

Seacrest: Who’s they?

Richie: Katy [Perry] and Luke, and I’m sitting down and I’m being ever so polished and I sit down and “Bbbbbb!” That’s the first thing.

Bryan: We put Lionel through a lot.

You would go back in time and remove the whoopie cushion?

Richie: Remove the whoopie cushion.

Seacrest: And take control.

Richie: And right after, I come back from the break. I sit down, ever so polished, and the seat goes over backwards. Remember that? And Luke looks at me and says, “It’s in the show.” But that was the moment where I just lost control of everything. From that point on, it was, “OK, I’m on it.”

Well, I have bad news. The time machine broke down and the guy’s not coming over. He’s stuck in 1941. So let’s move on. I want you to choose one person sitting at this table – me excepted — and tell me what you like the most about them.

Bryan: Well, I’ll start with Lionel. I have to do Lionel, because when you look at his career and the years – this is like telling a family member that you love them – but to watch Lionel, his spirit, to watch just how he is still in this business and wakes up with the same attitude that is so infectious and you know, when I have my days where I want to pout, I’m thinking, “Lionel Richie is having the best day of his life.” To get to have nine years with him and just watch how he inspires in so many ways, it’s been pretty amazing.

Underwood: Nobody else is Ryan Seacrest. [turning to Ryan] I don’t want to say you’re underappreciated, because everybody appreciates you, but you are the piece to the puzzle of this show that if you weren’t here, it would not be the same. You are so good at your job, and dealing with the contestants and their families, and you don’t realize because it seems so easy for you — you don’t realize how good you are at it, until you watch somebody else attempt it and they are not Ryan.

Seacrest: I see Carrie out in the wild in the world. She’s beloved. She’s kind. She’s super-talented. I feel a connection to her because I got to see her go through this process and watch her become the global superstar she is, but I love your sense of humor. You are so funny with us. It’s in the show. It’s outside of the show. It’s quick. It’s sarcastic. It’s dry and I don’t know that everyone gets to see that side of you always, but it makes me laugh. And when we see it in the show, it’s great. When we see it in our lives, it’s great, and we appreciate you for all the things people know you for, but for us, thank you for the levity and the fun that you bring.

Richie: Okay, I’m going to pick all three, because it’s going to happen like this. Since I’m the oldest person in the whole group, to get here at this point in my career — and I’ve been through every imaginable horror story you can think of, and some are gone and some are still here. But to have a sense of humor this far down in these years – I’ve known Ryan forever and Luke is my brand new old friend from college. I know we went to school together, and Carrie comes in with that spirit. I knew we were going to get along when she said, “I’ve done some canning.” She never spoke one time about singing. She said, “I’ve brought some stuff in and I’ve canned it for you.” And then the next thing, I’m sitting next to her while we’re doing the show. She knows every lyric to every frickin’ song that ever came out. And it’s the sense of humor.

Yes, we’re all very good at what we do. Yes, we have all these titles and stuff. But [they’re all] just great human beings to be around on a daily basis. I love these folks. Honestly, what I’ve experienced with Luke, wasn’t he in the Commodores? I swear he was in the Commodores. The first time we met, this guy was sweating to death. From that moment on, I realized he is seriously in the moment of being scared to death talking to me.

Bryan: The first time I met Lionel – I’m not a sweater. I don’t even have to wear deodorant. I walk in the room. I meet Lionel and I have literal sweat rings. I was freaking out in every way.

Richie: But see, I’m me every day, but you have to understand, I just know me as me.

Seacrest: You’re still impressed with you in the mirror every day.

Richie: [Laughing.] Every morning, I get up and go, “I am Lionel Richie.” But the best part is this enjoyment we are having right here.

Well, thanks to Luke, we have our headline: Luke Bryan Doesn’t Use Deodorant.

Bryan: I do in Hawaii. I put some on today.

—

Immediately following the group interview, everyone moves to another section of the patio for a mingling party at 3:00 p.m. local time. It’s supposed to be a viewing of the season’s first episode, airing live on the East Coast at that moment, as ABC has arranged for a feed from its affiliate in Orlando. But the episode fades into the background as the show’s talent and producers meet the press and a group of social influencers who will become part of the first Hawaiian episode, to be recorded on Tuesday.

No interviews are scheduled for Tuesday, but there is an hours-long viewing of the recording of the first episode to originate from the 50th state, which is a new “Ohana” round.

“The Ohana Round is the ultimate focus group,” executive producer/showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick tells Billboard. “You have three groups of people. You have the Idols. You have the families and then we’ve curated a select group of influencers and music experts and industry experts to come in from their POV. So I wanted to see who would be the favorite in each of these groups.”

The 30 hopefuls who survived Hollywood Week performed for members of those three groups, who then voted on their favorites. At the end of the round, 10 singers were eliminated, leaving 20 to work with celebrity mentors Keke Palmer and Brad Paisley the following day.

And so on Wednesday, the next set of interviews take place with mentors Palmer and Paisley. They join a long list of celebrity mentors who have coached the hopeful singers in Hawaii in the past – including Josh Groban, Ashanti, Jelly Roll and Tori Kelly.

Billboard takes an elevator ride with Palmer, on the way to her dressing room in one of the Aulani wings. She sits in the make-up chair and carries on a conversation while foundation and eyeliner are applied.

What is your personal connection to American Idol?

Palmer: I grew up watching it – since I was a kid. I remember many of the fan favorites, especially the first five to 10 seasons. I remember watching Fantasia win. I remember watching Carrie Underwood. I remember watching Kelly Clarkson. I remember my favorite, Bo Bice. Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, Adam Lambert and Ruben Studdard. I really loved watching it because it was one of the best things you could watch as a kid with your family. We all got together, sat together and watched and just loved the show.

Between season two and three of Idol, they had American Juniors. They came to Schaumburg, Illinois. I’m from Illinois and I auditioned and I got my Golden Ticket and I went to California. Yes, I did. My mom always said that it was during that competition that she saw that I had what it took because they put us through a lot. They put us in dancing and voice lessons. It’s a very rigorous competition. People watch the show and see a portion of it. But what the people at Idol go through in order to get on the stage and how they have to be prepped, it’s like a sport. So my mother said when she watched me during that competition, she felt I was able to withstand what it would take to be good or be in this industry.

How far did you get on American Juniors?

I went to California, and then after we went home and they brought the people back, they didn’t bring me back.

How wrong was that?

That was so wrong. And that’s why they got only one season.

When they asked you to mentor this season, what was your first thought?

It was an immediate yes. It was an honor. I grew up watching the show. It’s a staple. When you think of American television, you think about American Idol. As a fan of pop culture and culture in general, I loved American Idol and know what it did to the music industry, what it did for television and what it meant to be able to live your dreams. One of the things we love about it is the narrative, peoples’ stories. When you think about Fantasia and by the time we get to, “This goes out to all my baby mamas,” it’s like, “Girl, we know. We were there.” Now we see a lot of meta-story telling, but American Idol was the first to do that.

What was your reaction to mentoring the hopefuls?

It reminded me again that the show has been going on for 24 years, because we live in such a big world, and a lot of times we have so many artists that we know and that we love, famous entertainers — but when you watch this show, you realize that there’s so many great singers that you won’t meet, and that you maybe never got a chance to meet and that you maybe never will meet. And so there’s something very special about finding these people that live in this small town that have the most angelic voices. I mean, I cried twice watching a contestant.

What was it about them that made you cry?

Rhythm and music, even without language, hearing someone’s tone is very spiritual to me — and when you see somebody truly surrendering to that, it’s very special. I’ve seen a lot of great voices, but there were a couple of people I saw that they were out of their bodies when they performed. That they were truly just leaning into their gift, and it’s really magical to see that.

Let’s talk about your music. You’ve done everything from acting to hosting a game show to performing on stage, What part does making music currently play in your life?

Like any artist, we continue to grow with our craft and I think lately for me with music, there’s been a big shift in terms of not feeling bound by any genre. I think the more we learn about ourselves, the more truthful we become in what we have to say and what we’re doing and what we’re creating. The growth I’ve had internally as a person has made my music that much more accurate in terms of representing me.

All I ever want to do is be truthful to myself, to my perspective, to where I am in my life, to my family, and getting deeper in expressing things that you know sometimes you can only express in music, especially the kind of person I am. I’m the type of person who wants to keep things happy and keep things smooth and never have an uncomfortable vibe. Music allows you to express emotion that you don’t get to express elsewhere and I enjoy doing that.

Are you now a solo act or part of a girl group?

Yes, [the group is] DivaGurl. I love creating worlds, and I’ve done it a lot with comedy with Turnt Up with the Taylors and with my character, Lady Miss Jacqueline. with Amazon. I asked, “Why don’t we do something with music?” and I created almost my version of This Is Spinal Tap, rest in peace, Rob Reiner. You know, where we get the opportunity to explore in the mockumentary style this girl group that also does all these nods to the girl groups of every era. You know, whether it’s nodding to TLC or Destiny’s Child or even the Pussycat Dolls.

And the Supremes?

The Supremes. We even said “stop in the name of love” in one of the pieces that we put out. It’s me binding all my different flavors of what I love in terms of pop culture, in terms of music and in comedy and putting it into DivaGurl, so we’ve had a lot of fun with that.

When you perform on Idol in Hawaii, is it you or DivaGurl?

This was me. This was one of my old songs. It was an old song that I revamped. I was going back and listening to some of my old music. You find yourself in your dropbox and you’re like, “What was this?” and “What was that?” This song resurfaced, “I’ll Be Tight.” And as I heard it, I thought, “Let’s try to reproduce this,” and that’s what I did. The world never heard it. It was just one that I did that I never put out and so I brought it back, reproduced it and I’m excited to perform it.

—

As Palmer continued her make-up session, Billboard moved on to the resort’s conference center, where Paisley was waiting to be interviewed.

You flew in from Nashville. You’re here in Hawaii for just one day and then you fly back?

Paisley: I’m going to California. I have to play there this weekend. That’s not bad.

What made you want to be a mentor?

The show did all their [season 24] auditions in the Brad and Kim Paisley Ballroom at Belmont [University, in Nashville] and they asked if I would come and play a prank. The prank was really on Carrie, before Lionel got involved and had to bear the brunt of it too.

It already aired and it is very funny.

So told them, “That sounds great,” and then somehow mentoring came up. I’ll also be back at some point toward the end of the season. I’ve gotten to know a lot of these [production] people and I’ve worked on other shows with them, so it’s really fun to do this with them this year and have a good time.

We’re not going to get into spoilers, but in general, how was it?

I’m truly floored at the talent this season. At any given time on one of these shows, you have the potential to have a really unique talent and a superstar that emerges, but I felt overwhelmed by so many today and I think Keke felt the same way. We really were bowled over by this talent, because they run the gamut. There were singer/songwritery people. There were absolute torch crooners and these girls that are unique in some ways and also some that are what you would call a classic, crazy, amazingly talented vocalist. Then there’s some of the ones where the guy walks in and just seems like that scene in Babe where the little mouse starts singing and this voice comes out of the mouse.

You’re talking about Brooks Rosser from Maryland.

Him and also [Braden Rumfelt] from North Carolina. They both start singing and it’s like your local butcher or pharmacist walks up on stage. So it’s truly fun to see this and who knows what happens with all of them. What’s fun about any of these shows that I’ve ever been involved with when it comes to the talent show, you find out one works with dementia patients and sings to them and I know the effect that has from having dealt with that my whole life and performing with people. That was very touching to know that’s what he does on a daily basis. And two of them are schoolteachers. One of them is a music teacher in Florida and those kids are lucky because he’s probably every kid’s favorite teacher in the school. He seemed as cool as they get. There was a schoolteacher from Houston and she had Keke in tears. So I love those backstories. That’s what everybody watches the show to see.

Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, Gabby Barrett, Lauren Alaina. Idol has produced many country stars and in Carrie, a superstar. What are your thoughts about what the show has done for every genre, but especially for country music.

For country, you could almost count Kelly Clarkson at times. She sticks her toe in the water. I think it’s an amazing marriage that this show has. There were several that would fit that mold in this group. Also, the lines are so blurred these days that sometimes they’ll have a country theme and they always nail that. When I think about the show’s contribution to what our format has had, we owe them a debt of gratitude for finding these people. Carrie alone is the craziest discovery. I think about the history that she and I have, and how different my life would be had she not decided to drive to that audition. There’s so many memories that I wouldn’t have. It’s neat that it’s still going and still doing it. I think it’s doing better than ever.

—

On Thursday, it’s time to interview two of the three guest performers on the Hawaii episodes. They are both returning Idols – Iam Tongi, the winner of season 22, and Thunderstorm, a top five finalist on season 23. Both grew up on Oahu. First up: Thunderstorm.

So what’s it like to come back and be among your Idol family without being judged?

Thunderstorm: It’s a really special feeling. There is a sense of peace, of being welcomed back into a family that you had such a great experience with. I want to jump right back into the seat of it all. For me, it’s a good feeling. I told my wife the first day we landed, “Man, this feels good.”

You were raised here in Hawaii. Where is home now?

Home is Nashville, Tennessee.

How do you like living there?

It’s great. Right now, it’s been hit by a crazy storm. So we flew in and our house is going in and out of power, but as far as the industry goes, it’s been really good for us. There’s a lot of new music coming out this year that I’m excited about and it’s been a great place to raise a family.

In terms of making music, how has living in Nashville impacted you?

It’s so accessible. Making music, writing music. Everything’s right there. There’s so much inspiration around you. Almost like taking a few weeks of American Idol and making a whole city of that. It is what you make it. That’s what I always tell people when they ask about my experience on American Idol. It could be overwhelming. It could be amazing, or it could be challenging, or you could just coast and you might not make it far, but it is what you make it. And the same goes for Nashville.

Let’s talk about your current music. I know there’s a new single.

We have a song we just put out called “Save My Life.” I’m very excited about that one. I love it. It’s doing well on streaming, and there’s a new one coming out that will be out when this episode is out. It’s called “Storybook” and it comes from a motto that I love to say about my relationship — which is, if we hurt together, then we can heal together. That’s what the chorus is really about, and I think it works for a relationship but it also works for the world. I think that when we can identify that each and every one of us is going through something painful, and recognize that and validate that, then we can actually heal together.

How biographical is “Save My Life”?

It’s really up and it’s a lot of fun, but it’s also tied to my faith as a Christian, and also tied to my wife, whose name is Faith. So it’s a fun little thing about faith and Faith, but it’s just about my life before both of those things. “Before you I was tragedy, a puzzle with a missing piece.” It’s just this beautiful proclamation of my love for God and also for my wife and the recognition of how they changed my life.

Who are you collaborating with in Nashville?

I just did a tour with The War and Treaty, which has been awesome. I made that relationship here on American Idol. I got to hang out with Jelly Roll a bunch too. We did the CMA Fest. I got to hang out with him through that whole thing. I got to collaborate with a lot of artists, but I’ve been working a lot with writers and producers and it’s been a wonderful year already and I’m excited for what’s in store.

Do people recognize you from Idol when you’re walking around?

If someone sees me with my guitar, they say, “You’re that cat, Thunderstorm.” I reply, “Yeah, that’s me.” If I’m in Franklin, Tennessee, I feel like I get recognized the most there. I play a lot of pickleball, so on the court, there are people coming over to get pictures every once in a while, but it’s a fun thing. It’s really cool to see the audience and the community that I’ve been able to build since being on the show. The demographic is all ages. It’s all sorts of people that are just really connected to what I have to offer. It’s really validating.

How would you compare living in Nashville to living in Hawaii in terms of music?

It’s very different. For local artists that grew up here, I wish there were more resources for island musicians and artists and writers and more outlets, because it’s really hard. And so for Nashville, it’s been really eye opening with collaborations. Southern hospitality is similar to the aloha mentality in terms of everyone getting together as a community and I really love that. But as far as the music, it’s very different. I love coming back here and it reminds me to take life slow and to keep things simple.

When you look back at your time on Idol, what stands out as a highlight?

My audition. As a seasoned artist, it was terrifying to do it. I went into that not having a voice and I was able to get through the performance and I didn’t know what the response would be. It was such an honest and humbling experience. But then also coming here, getting to do “Is This Love” by Bob Marley was a major highlight. That was just a beautiful moment to look out, see my mom, see my siblings, see all my friends that I grew up with that have watched me through all the different seasons.

My favorite moment was singing the Journey song, “Faithfully.” There are some moments that I look back on and think, “I wish I did that differently,” and somewhere else I think, “I did the best that I could.” And what I’ve just learned is that I’m most proud of the fact that I kept my identity through the whole thing and just stayed true to who I am as a person. I’m just thankful for the whole experience.

If you could go back and change one thing about your time on Idol, what would it be?

I wish I took more chances. That’s what I’ll say to anyone here, all the contestants. Take more chances. Have a lot more fun. Live in the moment. It feels like it goes forever, but it goes by so quickly, so really take it in. And I think if I did a little bit more of that, I would have been able to capture more of the essence of just what each song called for as a perfectionist looking back at that, but also it was such a beautiful experience and there’s so many moments that I wish that I was present in.

Where are you in terms of recording other material? Are you planning on recording more?

We have about 15 songs already recorded. I’m working on recording about 40 to 60 new songs this year. I want to be a fountain of music this year and keep writing and keep recording. It’s been beautiful to see the music that has been coming to me and being able to share that on social media and keep the audiences growing with it as well. American Idol gave me such an amazing platform, so just being able to cultivate that and utilize it in the correct way, I’m so thankful. And then also being able to pour into my two little boys is the most special thing that I do.

How old are they now?

Three and one. People got to watch my one-year-old grow up. My audition, we recorded it in October or November and he was born that September, so he pretty much grew up watching me on American Idol. He’s probably going to be on it one day.

—

Immediately following the interview with Thunderstorm, Billboard sat down with Tongi.

Where are you living these days?

Tongi: I’m living in Memphis, Tennessee. It’s been good. Working out a lot. Trying to just work on myself and be healthier.

Why Memphis?

My trainer lives in Memphis. He’s a Scottish guy. He grew up with one of my friends. He said, “You should work out with this guy, just for a couple months.” And I thought, you know what? I’m in Seattle. I’m obviously touring and stuff, but I don’t have a reason to be here. So I went to Memphis and tried it. It was supposed to be for three months, but now it’s been a year.

So you really like it?

I love it.

Are you recording in Memphis?

No, I’m recording in Nashville.

That’s a three-hour drive.

Better a three-hour drive than a 12-hour flight from Hawaii!

What is your day to day life like in Memphis?

Working out, training, writing music. I have a studio in my house, so I go there and jam, work on music, write songs and that’s what I’ve been doing when I’m in Memphis. I’m usually not there because I’m on the road, doing American Idol stuff or Disney stuff. So it’s good to be back in Memphis, just to be grounded. Training, healthy eating and everything.

What song are you singing on Idol?

I’m singing a song from my new album, Good for My Soul. That’s the name of my album and that’s going to be the song I’m singing tonight.

Tell me about the song.

I wrote “Good for My Soul.” It was inspired by my fiancée and also Hawaii. I know it’s two different things, but it’s almost like talking about love and talking about family and talking about the islands. Being in love with the islands, influenced by a lot of things. That’s why I felt this song would be perfect to sing here at Aulani, so I’m doing “Good for My Soul” tonight.

At this point in your life, what’s it like to come back to Idol?

It’s a lot of fun. It’s very different from being stressed when you’re on the show, being stressed out and trying to make it to the next round. Me being here, it’s so different, seeing a lot of the crew and not being told, “We gotta go! We gotta go!”

As they were just doing with this year’s hopefuls.

Yeah, exactly. So it’s really fun, man, just seeing the kids experience what I went through on the show. It’s a really cool experience.

When you look back at your time on Idol, what stands out the most in your mind?

The bonds that I made with friends, who became family. Everyone from Idol, they’re my family now. I guess that shared environment that we were in, we were all on the show and just growing together and arguing together, all the good stuff made us family.

I’ll ask you something I asked Ryan and the judges. If you had a time machine, what is the one thing you would go back and change about your Idol journey?

I don’t know if I would because I feel like everything happened how it was supposed to happen. If there was one thing, I would say there was one song that I was going to sing that I wish I would have sung. It was called “Sweet Lady of Waiahole.” It’s on my album. It’s a classic Hawaiian island reggae song. I grew up on it and I was going to sing that one. I really wish I did.

Tell me about singing a duet with Bing Crosby.

That whole process was insane. I was about to go on tour. It was my east coast tour in Florida and we went all over New York and right before we left on the bus, I got a call and they said, “The Bing Crosby Estate reached out and they want you to sing ‘Mele Kalikimaka,’” and it was King’s Hawaiian, the bread. They were sponsoring. So them and the Bing Crosby Estate reached out and they asked if I could sing this song.

How did it work in the studio?

They played his track and I started to sing along with it. Hearing that whole thing taken from the past and hearing it in your ears, It was so insane. I was getting goosebumps in the studio, which was great. We spent a couple hours in the studio, just trying to get it down and then we went back again and sang it again.

How many people get to duet with Bing Crosby??

It was insane, man.

I heard both versions and loved both. Just to clarify, did King’s Hawaiian use it in a commercial?

No, they were just in partnership with the Bing Crosby Estate.

Have you thought about doing a whole Christmas album?

I have. I love Christmas songs. I did a Christmas EP with three Christmas songs on it. One of my favorite songs is “I Heard the Bells.” Just a gorgeous song. You might be on to something. I might need to do a Christmas album.

Thursday evening, the first 10 contestants perform for the judges and Palmer. But their fates won’t be decided until the episode airs and for the first time this season, America will vote and decide who will leave the competition and who will stay. This episode will air on March 16.

The week of interviews concluded on Friday with the third guest performer, Skip Marley, grandson of the legendary Bob Marley.

I always ask about guest performer’s connections to Idol. You sang on “Chained to the Rhythm” with Katy Perry. Did you watch her on the show?

Oh, for sure. Me and Katy performed a lot of places as well. That was a special time in my life.

Tell me about watching American Idol.

Always, since being a young youth, I’ve always seen the show. I remember Simon [Cowell] being miserable. You’d always watch to see who would get through.

Simon was definitely playing a character.

Yeah, of course. We’d think, “That guy is so mean,” but I knew it was part of the show.

Some of the contestants never got over it.

I’m sure it hurt. I’m sure it bothered some people, you know. You have a dream and someone says, “You’re not…” Reality. You come on the show. This is what the show consists of.

What are you going to sing on the show?

I’m singing [his grandfather’s 1965 hit] “One Love” for everyone. Very special.

Do you have new music coming out?

We have lots of new music coming out. It’s been a long time coming. This music’s been in the works for years, so stay tuned.

Will it be an album?

Single and album coming out.

How did you decide on “One Love” for the show?

I decided that song is in touch with what’s going on. I’m grateful to be able to get this platform to be able to push that message in music. Everyone can hear it and listen to it and get in tune with that frequency. “One love, one heart, let’s get together and feel alright.”

There have been musical families where multiple members of the family have made incredible music. What do you feel about your responsibility or being a part of this legacy?

As the third gen, I have responsibility and I’ve been doing my best to carry it through and be true. Let’s move it forward and take it to new places, to new avenues and streets. This music is for the people. It’s good for the people. It’s like food, nutritional food. It’s not fast food.

Do you have any connection to Hawaii? Have you performed here?

This is my first time here.

Are you going to have time to check out the islands?

No, but I’ll be back. I need to be here. I’d love to come and play some music here on all these big islands.

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Just a few minutes after the interview with Marley, it’s time for the second group of 10 to perform for the judges and Palmer in an episode that will air on March 23.

The sun sets over the ocean during the recording of the episode, and when all 10 contestants have performed, it’s a wrap in Hawaii. Time to check out of Aulani the next morning and head home and wait for the live shows to begin at the end of March. Then finalists will be eliminated week by week until there is one person left standing at the conclusion of the season finale and we have the 24th winner of American Idol.