Who Will Win American Idol Now that it's Down to 5?
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The latest American Idol episode saw the Top 8 contestants whittled down to a Top 5 — but it will also live long in the memory for a surprise appearance by the newly-crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The contestants performed tunes by Alanis Morissette and Ed Sheeran, who both stood in for regular judges Lionel Richie and Katy Perry on the panel alongside Luke Bryan.
Richie and Perry were over in the UK to perform at King Charles' Coronation concert, but the pair still managed to make a virtual appearance on the ABC show — alongside the royal couple.
Speaking via video link from the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle during the episode, Richie and Perry told Idol host Ryan Seacrest they were having an "unbelievable time," and they were then joined by Charles and Camilla, much to the delight of the Idol crowd and viewers.
Charles joked he was checking how long Richie and Perry wanted to use the room, and Richie and Perry congratulated the royal pair on the Coronation before they all headed off to party.
Back in the studio, the latest American Idol episode saw the wannabes perform one of Morissette's songs as a solo, and they had to team up with another of the remaining Idol contestants for a duet of a Sheeran tune.
The episode featured three departures as Haven Madison, Warren Peay, and Oliver Steele all exited the competition, leaving just five hopefuls to battle it out in the next episode.
With these hypothetical odds provided by industry sports betting experts, we have looked into which wannabes have what it takes to be crowned this year's American Idol champion.
Tongi Remains American Idol Favorite
Iam Tongi remains the +100 favorite, with a 50% implied probability, to win this year's American Idol following his performance of Morissette's "Guardian."
Following his rendition, the Idol crowd chanted Tongi's name in appreciation and Morissette praised his "velvety voice."
Tongi later wowed Sheeran during his rendition of the singer-songwriter's 2014 tune "Photograph" as part of a duet alongside Steele.
Sheeran got emotional during the performance and praised the pair for their "crazy power singing ability" but admitted he loved the "gentleness and soulfulness" they displayed.
While Tongi is still the favorite to win the contest, Wé Ani is not far behind, and she is edging closer to Tongi.
Ani is now just +150 to triumph in the competition, with a 40% implied probability, from +200 last week.
In the latest Idol episode, Ani sang Morissette's tune "Uninvited," and Sheeran described it as "very, very powerful and super good," while Morissette said: "It was chilling to behold you."
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Megan Danielle Now American Idol 3rd Favorite
Megan Danielle also impressed Sheeran, who told her he forgot he was watching a singing competition while she performed Morissette's "Head Over Feet" tune.
Sheeran admitted he was "really impressed" with her performance, while Bryan told Danielle: "You nailed that and your voice makes this happen naturally."
Like Ani, Danielle has also seen her odds to win Idol shrink to +300 from +400 last week, and she is now third favorite behind Colin Stough.
Stough, now +400, sang Morissette's "Hand In My Pocket," and the music legend praised his performance of her song as "beautiful work."
Sheeran also told Stough: "Obviously, it's a song that everybody knows, but you are doing it in your own way and then rocking out."
American Idol's Smith Still In With A Chance
Zachariah Smith was given a chance to perform one of Morissette's biggest tunes when he sang "Ironic," and he didn't disappoint.
While Smith is now the +500 outsider to win the competition, from +300 last week, he was praised by Morissette for his performance, as she told him his voice was "beautiful" and sounded "like an angel."
Sheeran said: "I think your voice is super, super powerful, and I was captivated by the whole thing."
Smith also teamed up with Madison for a duet of Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud," which went down well with the song's creator.
Sheeran said: "I usually find when people who cover my songs, they usually sing better than I do. It was really soulful, really powerful."
While it wasn't enough to keep Madison in the competition, Smith is still there and will go up against Tongi, Ani, Danielle and Stough on Sunday in a bid to make the American Idol finale.
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