‘American Idol’ Songs of Faith Night: Hannah Harper, Lucas Leon and More Deliver Standout Performances
The Top 14 contestants delivered heartfelt, inspirational performances centered around faith.
Hannah Harper, Lucas Leon; Photos Courtesy Disney, ABC
American Idol brought back its “Songs of Faith” episode on Monday (March 30), an annual tradition first introduced during Season 23 in 2025 in recognition of the Easter season.
Returning for its second year, and serving as the first live show of the season, the episode featured the Top 14 contestants delivering heartfelt, inspirational performances centered around faith. The Top 14 was determined through a combination of viewer votes, including texts, online submissions, and social media responses tied to the Top 20’s “Ohana Week” performances. By the end of the night, the competition heated up once again, with just 12 finalists advancing to the next round based on America’s vote.
The night was filled with memorable performances, but a few moments truly stole the spotlight:
Chris Tungseth – “By Your Grace”
Chris Tungseth delivered a moving performance of “By Your Grace,” written and recorded by Cody Johnson for his 2021 album Human: The Double Album, showcasing his soulful tone and emotional delivery.
Braden Rumfelt and Lucas Leon Perform Songs By Brandon Lake
Braden Rumfelt and Lucas Leon both leaned into songs by Brandon Lake, performing “Hard Fought Hallelujah” and “Gratitude,” respectively, each turning in what many considered their strongest performances of the competition so far.
Hannah Harper – “At The Cross (Love Ran Red)”
Hannah Harper appeared especially connected to the night’s theme with her rendition of “At The Cross (Love Ran Red),” performing with visible emotion and becoming tearful by the end of her performance.
Jesse Findling – “Bless The Broken Road”
Another standout came from Jesse Findling, who delivered a heartfelt take on the Rascal Flatts classic “Bless The Broken Road,” earning strong reactions from the crowd and judges alike.
The contestant performances aired alongside special judge moments on stage. Carrie Underwood performed “How Great Thou Art” alongside 2025 Platinum Ticket winners Filo, Canaan James Hill, and Kolbi Jordan, while Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie joined the Top 20 for a powerful rendition of “Jesus Is Love,” adding to the night’s choir-like, faith-filled atmosphere.
Following the success of last year’s “Songs of Faith” episode, producers decided to bring it back again this year.
“It was a discussion that started at a dinner with the judges, some people from ABC, and myself,” Idol showrunner and executive producer Megan Michaels Wolflick told Rolling Stone.
“We watch myriad Christmas specials. We don’t ever see a faith-based spring Easter-style show. So we kind of embraced that. It was a special show, and people loved it; the ratings were pretty amazing,” she revealed.
American Idol will return to ABC on April 6 with the “’90s Judges Song Contest” episode, where contestants will perform iconic ‘90s hits secretly selected by Bryan, Richie, or Underwood. The episode will also feature a nostalgic twist, as stars from ABC’s “TGIF” ‘90s lineup join the hopefuls in the lounge while America votes for the Top 11.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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