The American Idol Season 23 Top 8 results show on May 5 stirred up plenty of emotion—and even more debate online—after the judges chose to save Mattie Pruitt over Josh King.
Josh King’s elimination wasn’t just a plot twist—it became a flashpoint for Idol fans on social media. While many applauded the decision to save Mattie, especially after her emotional performance of Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me,” others felt Josh outperformed her and deserved the save. The online response ranged from respectful disagreement to fiery rants, underscoring just how split fans were.
Interestingly, Josh’s gracious reaction, reportedly even encouraging the judges to save Mattie, won him a wave of post-show support—even from some who agreed he had reached his peak in the competition. That gesture only deepened the narrative of Josh as a humble, heartfelt artist who made a lasting impression despite his early exit.
Meanwhile, Mattie moves into Disney Week with momentum but also pressure—many fans feel her next performance has to be a standout to justify the judges’ faith in her. She’ll be competing alongside front-runners like Jamal Roberts, who delivered a goosebumps-inducing performance of Fantasia’s “I Believe” the same night he welcomed a newborn daughter, and John Foster, whose classic country appeal continues to grow stronger by the week.
The Top 7 now head to Disneyland for a two-night Disney theme, starting Sunday, May 11, with Lin-Manuel Miranda mentoring on night two. From here, only five will advance.
