Sunday night’s episode of American Idol delivered drama, talent, and more than a few surprises—but none quite like Josh King’s unexpected twist on Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.” His blues-inspired rendition, complete with harmonica, set social media ablaze, dividing viewers between awe and outrage.
With the Top 10 taking on songs by iconic female artists, and mentorship from country superstar Miranda Lambert, expectations were high. But Josh, ever the unpredictable showman, made sure his performance was the one people couldn’t stop talking about.
Before hitting the stage, King explained to Lambert that while Adele’s hit wasn’t strictly blues, he felt its roots were close enough to bring his signature style to it. Lambert described him as “a quirky kid” with big energy and advised him to simplify and stay grounded—while also appreciating his boldness.
He started softly at the piano, but the real shock came mid-performance when he broke out a harmonica—blending soulful grit with pop precision in a way no one saw coming. By the time he hit the final note, the judges were on their feet, applauding his originality.
“Shake it out!” one of them called, clearly energized by the daring performance.
Lionel Richie offered a lighthearted jab: “Chill out,” he laughed. “You started off cool, but when you pulled out that harmonica, I thought—Adele could never do that!”
While the studio crowd and judges gave King their approval, online reactions were a rollercoaster. Some fans weren’t impressed:
“Do y’all feel sorry for Josh or something?? Plz stop voting for him,” one viewer wrote on X.
“That damn harmonica was the best part of the performance. Y’all can stop with the sympathy votes for Josh now. Adele should roll up on him for that.”
“Josh has to go home tonight. It’s time. Vocally, he is just not on par with the rest.”
But others rallied to his defense, praising his creativity and calling it his best performance yet:
“This was my favorite Josh performance BY FAR. It had everything.”
“He’s a cross between Billy Joel, Elton John, and Michael Bublé. That was art.”
“OMG, WHAT AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE. LOVED IT AND VOTED.”
Love it or hate it, Josh King’s performance made waves. In a season where risks can mean everything, his harmonica-fueled moment might just be the thing that sets him apart—or sends him home. Either way, American Idol fans are still buzzing.
