‘You’ve got the magic.’ South MS singer Stallworth advances on ‘American Idol’

South Mississippi singer Daniel Stallworth is still “Livin’ on a Prayer.”

The Moss Point native advanced to next week’s episode of “American Idol” with a stirring performance of the Bon Jovi hit, which leaves him as one of only nine singers remaining on the reality television singing competition.

Stallworth’s song choice was a surprising one, as the elementary school teacher said during a recorded clip on the show that it was the first time he had performed a rock song. Mentoring from Rock & Roll Hall of Famer couple Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo helped Stallworth craft what proved to be a winning performance.

As he has week after week, Stallworth wowed the Idol judges, who had this to say after his performance:

Carrie Underwood: “Watching your rehearsal time ahead of time, I did not think I was going to like it, and I was wrong. I can admit when I was wrong. That was awesome.”

Luke Bryan: “It was so you, it was so you. Keep being you. Make these songs come to you. And stay you, work the room. I smiled the whole time. You’ve got the magic, buddy.”

Lionel Richie: “Way to take Bon Jovi to church, my brother.”

Stallworth and the other 8 remaining competitors will next take the stage on Monday, April 20. That episode will feature the singers performing Disney songs with the mentorship of superstar Jennifer Hudson, a former “American Idol” contender. At the end of the show, two more contestants will be eliminated, leaving just seven singers.

As it happened

9 p.m.: Rae Boyd and Philmon Lee were eliminated.

8:58 p.m.: Daniel Stallworth has advanced to next week’s episode.

8:53 p.m.: The show has gone to its final commercial break. Voting will close during this break and the results will be announced shortly.

8:49 p.m.: McCullough has taken the stage to sing “Somebody to Love” by Queen. After his performance, and likely a commercial, two of tonight’s performers will be eliminated from the competition.

8:42 p.m.: Jordan McCullough will the final performer of the night, after a commercial break.

8:38 p.m.: Harper has taken the stage and is singing “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac.

8:33 p.m.: Hannah Harper and Jordan McCullough will be the final two singers of the night after a commercial break. After Harper and McCullough perform, two singers will be eliminated from the competition.

8:27 p.m.: Philmon Lee is the 9th singer of the night. He is performing “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner.

8:22 p.m.: Inskeep is performing “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin.

8:19 p.m.: Kyndal Inskeep is the next contestant, but after a commercial break.

8:14 p.m.: Lucas Leon is the 7th of 11 singers tonight, and will be performing “Benny and the Jets” by Elton John.

8:06 p.m.: Seacrest said that the next two singers after the break will be Lucas Leon and Kyndal Inskeep.

8:05 p.m.: Six singers remain, with Keyla Richardson the next to perform. She is performing “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” by Stevie Wonder.

7:53 p.m.: Stallworth received a standing ovation from the judges after his performance. The judges then weighed in. Here is what they said:

Carrie Underwood: “Watching your rehearsal time ahead of time, I did not think I was going to like it, and I was wrong. I can admit when I was wrong. That was awesome.”

Luke Bryan: “It was so you, it was so you. Keep being you. Make these songs come to you. And stay you, work the room. I smiled the whole time. You’ve got the magic, buddy.”

Lionel Richie: “Way to take Bon Jovi to church, my brother.”

7:50 p.m.: After mentoring by Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Stallworth has taken the stage to sing “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. In the introduction, Stallworth said it is his first time performing a rock song.

7:45 p.m.: Before the competition resumes, guest mentors Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are performing a medley of hits.

7:40 p.m.: Seacrest announced that Moss Point’s Daniel Stallworth will be the next contestant to sing, after a commercial break.

7:36 p.m.: Rosser is, in fact, the fourth singer to hit the stage tonight, performing Jackson Browne’s “These Days.”

7:30 p.m.: Seacrest announced that Brooks Rosser will be performing when the show returns from commercial.

7:25 p.m.: Braden Rumfelt is third to sing, performing “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder.

7:20 p.m.: The singers are being mentored this week by Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.

7:19 p.m.: Rae Boyd, who finished as one of the bottom two votegetters last week, was second to sing. She is performing “MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer.

7:12 p.m.: Heading into the first commercial, host Ryan Seacrest announced that the next two singers will be Rae Boyd and Braden Rumfelt.

7:07 p.m.: Chris Tungseth is the first to sing, performing “Cold as Ice” by Foreigner.

7:05 p.m.: Voting is now open. By the end of the night, the two lowest votegetters will be eliminated from the competition.

7 p.m.: Billy Idol and Carrie Underwood kicked off the show with “Rebel Yell.”

6:50 p.m.: Tonight’s broadcast will begin in 10 minutes on ABC. The network says of tonight’s show: The Top 11 perform iconic hits from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees as America votes live for the Top 9. Inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2026 ceremony are revealed.

ORIGINAL STORY

Daniel Stallworth, the South Mississippi native who has advanced deep into the competition on “American Idol,” will return to the stage again tonight.

Stallworth, originally from Moss Point, survived last week’s cut of three singers that reduced the number of finalists to 11. After the remaining contestants perform tonight (7 p.m., ABC), another two singers will be sent home from the competition.

Follow here for results from the episode, an update once Stallworth sings, and the results of the final cut to 9.

Previous performances

INITIAL AUDITION: Stallworth was introduced to the judges and America as a music teacher from Moss Point. For his audition, he performed “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey and received nothing but praise from the judges. Needing just two “yes” votes to advance, he received three.

Music icon Lionel Richie was the first with praise, saying “Your students are going to hail you as the greatest thing that has ever shown up in their lives.” Carrie Underwood, a previous American Idol winner, said “my teeth hurt because I am smiling so much.” Country superstar Luke Bryan was the last to judge Stallworth, saying he was just “thinking about how lucky the kids are to have you.”

HOLLYWOOD WEEK: Again facing elimination, Stallworth sang “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. Hollywood Week was a series of two shows where the talent pool was cut from 127 to 30 singers. The show’s three judges, who all had glowing reviews of Stallworth’s audition, each stood and applauded after he finished.

“To take a song that we’ve heard so many times and just take it to the rafters of this place, you are a truly special person,” Bryan said.

OHANA ROUND: On a night where the number of singers would be cut from 30 to 20, Stallworth sang “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. The episode was filmed at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai’i. Stallworth again received a standing ovation from all three judges.

TOP 20 AT DISNEY: The Moss Point native sang “All Night Long” by Idol judge Richie in an episode that aired last week, taking a big chance and getting raves from the judges, including the song’s original singer. The song choice was “the riskiest thing anyone is doing,” said country music superstar and guest judge Brad Paisley.

Richie was wowed, saying “I’m going to give a compliment that I’ve never given before. You took that song and made it yours. If you put that out tomorrow, I’ll split (the profits) with you.”

Bryan delivered a powerful compliment, adding “You might be the best singer in this competition.”

SONGS OF FAITH NIGHT: The show began with the elimination of 6 singers: Kutter Bradley, Genevieve Heyward, Aboyami Lewis, Madison Moon, Makiyah Mustiful, Ruby Rae.

Stallworth was one of the first of the remaining 14 singers to perform, delivering a powerful rendition of “Brighter Days” by Blessing Offor.

Stallworth again received nothing but praise from the American Idol judges in his bid to survive the planned cut from 14 to 12.

‘90s NIGHT: Needing to survive the elimination of two singers at the top of the show and a second elimination of a singer at the end, Stallworth breezed to the next round.

Eliminated on Monday were Julian Kalel, Jake Thistle and Jesse Findling.

Stallworth was again one of the first contestants to take the stage, and the “Idol” judges were again wowed by his performance. The music teacher was given three songs to choose from: “Can We Talk” by Tevin Campbell, “I Want You Back” by *NSYNC, and “It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over” by Lenny Kravitz. He chose the Kravitz song.

11 singers remain

The 11 remaining singers who will compete Monday are:

• Rae Boyd
• Hannah Harper
• Kyndal Inskeep
• Philmon Lee
• Lucas Leon
• Jordan McCullough
• Keyla Richardson
• Brooks Rosser
• Braden Rumfelt
• Daniel Stallworth
• Chris Tungseth

This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 11:02 AM.