Daniel Stallworth was supposed to be safe. Through most of Season 24, the gospel-leaning entertainer had been earning standing ovations from the judges and praise as one of the strongest performers in the competition. On Sunday, April 27, 2026, during Taylor Swift Night on American Idol, he was eliminated.
His departure, alongside Brooks Rosser, narrowed the field to five contestants: Chris Tungseth, Jordan McCullough, Hannah Harper, Keyla Richardson, and Braden Rumfelt. The eliminations were announced at the end of the episode by host Ryan Seacrest, with guest judge Nikki Glaser joining Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood on the panel.
How the night went
The Top 7 performed twice. Each contestant took on a Taylor Swift song in the first round, then performed a song saluting “the spirit of California” in the second.
The Swift selections covered Swift’s full catalogue. Jordan McCullough opened with “Tim McGraw,” the 2006 debut single. Chris Tungseth took on “Exile,” the Folklore duet originally recorded with Bon Iver. Hannah Harper picked “Mean” and brought a banjo onstage. Brooks Rosser stayed in romantic territory with “Love Story.” Daniel Stallworth turned “Fearless” into something closer to gospel, drawing a standing ovation from Glaser. Keyla Richardson sang “Lover.” Braden Rumfelt closed the first round with “Cardigan.”
Lionel Richie’s read on Jordan’s “Tim McGraw” stuck out: “That is the way to put barbecue sauce on Taylor Swift.”
For Daniel’s “Fearless,” Richie added, “You picked the right song. You are fearless, man, when you walk out. You not only sing, you perform. The crowd is right there with you.” Underwood praised him for putting his own stamp on the theme. Glaser, the guest judge, said: “You brought something totally different to it. I just had the best time watching you.”
That made the elimination, when it came an hour later, the surprise of the night.
The reveal
The first four safe contestants were announced one at a time: Keyla, then Braden, then Jordan, then Hannah. That left Brooks, Daniel, and Chris standing.
“Two headed home. One will stay,” Seacrest told them. “Thank you all for an incredible season. Good luck to you right now.”
Chris Tungseth was named the fifth and final safe contestant. He hugged Daniel and Brooks before walking to the safe side of the stage. Seacrest then confirmed the eliminations: “Which means we say goodbye to Daniel and Brooks. Let’s hear it for them, everyone. Thank you.”
Daniel folded his hands to the judges and the audience. Brooks waved. Both hugged Seacrest before leaving the stage.
Fan reaction
The Stallworth elimination drew the loudest reaction online. Instagram and YouTube comments on the official American Idol post split between shock and disappointment. One YouTube viewer wrote: “I was indeed surprised that Daniel was eliminated. He has an amazing voice. I hope he receives life changing musical opportunities.”
Brooks Rosser, who dedicated his second-round performance of Maroon 5’s “She Will Be Loved” to fellow Season 24 contestant Rae (revealed during the episode to be his new girlfriend), also drew supportive comments from viewers who had pegged him as a finalist.
What’s next
Next Monday’s episode brings a Class of 2006 reunion: Paula Abdul returns as a guest judge, and Randy Jackson joins as a mentor. The episode will end with the reveal of the Top 3, the contestants who will compete in the Season 24 finale.
American Idol airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.
Maya writes on celebrity news, fashion, and entertainment trends with a focus on emerging voices.
