Did Warren Peay Make The Top 5 On ‘American Idol’?
The South Carolina native was previously compared to Chris Stapleton.
Warren Peay; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless
Warren Peay returned to the American Idol stage for his Top 8 performance on Sunday evening singing an Alanis Morissette song in front of the iconic artist herself.
Morissette and Ed Sheeran were on hand as guest judges and the contestants were asked to perform songs from Morissette’s catalog.
Peay, a 24-year-old from Bamberg, South Carolina, performed “All I Really Want” from her career-defining album, Jagged Little Pill.
“Singing an Alanis song, I was nervous because she is an iconic singer,” Peay said ahead of his performance.
The former appliance repair man decided to perform sans his guitar in an effort to showcase his storytelling and performance skills.
“I’ve had some moments that I did not expect to go super well. I think it was putting my guitar down for a performance and I’m going to have to work the stage. I’m going to have to do something,” he admitted.
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After making his decision to put “the guitar down,” Peay said, “I feel like I’d like to focus mainly on stage presence and the storytelling aspect.”
Morissette offered Peay a few words of advice before he took the stage.
“Let’s maybe investigate starting smaller and letting it build. I’m wondering what the tinier version of you might sound like,” she told him during their mentoring session.
She complimented his “very strong” vocal tone as well.
“If Warren takes some of the revelations from today and he creates this range for himself there’s no holds barred for him,” she added.
The Judges Were Impressed
Donning a brown cowboy and jacket, Peay worked the stage allowing his stage presence to shine. His performance garnered support from Idol judge, Luke Bryan, as well as the guest judges.
“Warren, I love what you applied based on what we talked about. The gorgeousness of the dynamics building and starting small and big and medium and halfway and all of it and you really just brought that home,” Morissette explained. “This is a version I’ve never imagined ever hearing in my whole career. So thank you for adding to it and blossoming it in a way that I have never heard. It’s beautiful.”
Sheeran was equally impressed. He told Peay, “I thought you really, really shined without the guitar man. I’m someone who always has the guitar and always uses it as a like a barrier between me and the audience and I always feel very naked without it and I think you really shined with a lot of confidence there. It was really good.”
Bryan then reflected on Peay’s Idol journey so far.
“I keep wanting to tell them you should’ve seen him two months ago… You should’ve seen,” he urged.
The country star later added, “To watch you get away from your comfort zone and to explore the stage. I mean, you’re hitting cat walks and runways. He had skateboarding shoes on a couple weeks ago, but it’s fun watching you grow and I’m going to try to not speak much because I want to hear them talk. Anyways I’ll get longwinded. Great performance.”
Peay expressed gratitude following his performance, telling Morissette, “There’s a million things running through my head right now, but the biggest thing is just having fun with it and just do it and it was an honor to get to do that song. Thank you so much for that and for all your kinds word.”
See The Duet
Later in the show, Warren Peay joined We Ani for a duet of Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.”
Did He Make The Top 5?
Unfortunately, Peay’s American Idol journey came to an end as he did not receive enough votes to secure a spot in the top 5.
Guest Judges
Ed Sheeran and Alanis Morissette are temporarily replacing Katy Perry and Lionel Richie while they are in England performing as part of the Coronation Celebration for King Charles III.
“I can’t wait to guide you through this stage of the competition and career and yeah this is the first time I’ve done this on American Idol, I can’t wait to take the iconic American Idol stage,” Sheeran previously shared. “Mostly, I’m just looking forward to meeting all of you and talking through life and music and I hope you’re having a great time and I’ll see you very, very soon. Lots of love.”
“I am so excited to be mentoring and hearing your interpretations of my songs. I can’t wait to hear them and surprise I’m going to be guest judging with Luke as well. So I can’t wait to see you,” Morissette previously added.
Perry and Richie made a brief appearance during Idol with a video from Windsor Castle.
American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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