Mon Apr 07 00:00:00 UTC 2025: ## American Idol Sends Talented Teens and a Platinum Ticket Winner to Hollywood
**LOS ANGELES, CA** – American Idol’s fourth week of auditions showcased a wave of young talent, culminating in the awarding of a coveted platinum ticket. While many teen contestants impressed, one performance stood out above the rest. 17-year-old Canaan James Hill, a preacher from Dallas, blew the judges away with his powerful rendition of Earnest Pugh’s “I Need Your Glory,” prompting judge Lionel Richie to leap from his seat in astonishment. Richie described Hill’s performance as “spectacular,” and the performance earned Hill a platinum ticket, guaranteeing his safe passage through the first week of Hollywood Week.
Other noteworthy teen contestants advancing to Hollywood included 16-year-old Kaleo Knight, whose performance earned praise from Luke Bryan as potentially the best from a 16-year-old in the show’s history, and 18-year-old Zaylie Windsor, whose original song impressed Carrie Underwood. 16-year-old Lexi Tieffel also secured a spot in Hollywood.
The episode also featured Landynn Kennedy, a 20-year-old caretaker with a moving backstory who impressed the judges with his unique interpretation of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” showcasing raw talent with room for growth.
A surprise appearance was made by Kariselle Snow, a reality TV personality from shows like *Perfect Match* and *Are You the One?*, although her audition performance wasn’t shown. The episode concluded with a number of additional contestants advancing to Hollywood, though many performances were not fully featured. Hollywood Week begins Monday at 8 p.m. on ABC.
First Piper 