Fans Go Wild For Megan Danielle and Colin Stough’s ‘American Idol’ Duet
They joined forces to sing a country version of Ed Sheeran’s “Dive.”
Megan Danielle, Colin Stough; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless
Megan Danielle and Colin Stough teamed up for a duet on American Idol on Sunday, and it was of the most buzzed-about moments of the show.
The pair joined forces to sing a country version of Ed Sheeran’s “Dive.”
“It was honestly awesome because we’re both country, so, it was it,” Megan Danielle shared.
“It was really hard too,” Colin Stough added, “we can’t never take each other seriously. So, having to be serious for a moment, I mean, even right there I just couldn’t do it.”
Taking the stage wearing coordinating blue outfits, the contestants earned a standing ovation from the crowd and the Idol judges.
Ed Sheeran, who appeared as a guest judge, was thoroughly impressed with the pair’s performance.
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“This was actually the first thing I saw today because I got to my trailer and the soundcheck was on, on my TV and I wasn’t really sure what to expect today. And you walk in and you see that you’re like this is going to be pretty good tonight,” he told the pair. “Whoever put you together is a genius. You compliment each other so well. It’s really, really great. I feel like this is such a privilege for me sitting here listening to you guys do my song really, really well, it’s great.”
Fellow guest judge Alanis Morissette also praised their duet.
“It is definitely a trip to hear our songs sung back to me and I’m loving Ed’s songs through you each of you. It’s breathtaking,” she said. “The plaintiff cry that you both have and what was just said about you being so complimentary and really connected and familiar almost. It was really beautiful to watch you both. Let’s make the joyful noise.”
Luke Bryan was the final one on the judges’ panel to speak. He was beaming with pride.
“Once again I’m just smiling at our babies up here on stage. What was amazing is… Megan you really do great with this big tricky runs and then Colin did an Ed Sheeran run and I watched his face and he was like ‘alright, I’m going to try this…’ Then he’s like ‘oh I did.’ It was just fun watching you do the run,” he said. “It’s probably a movement you’ve never done singing. I could tell by the look on your face, but you survived it and it was a sweet moment.”
Fans went crazy over the performance on social media. Some deemed it the “best duet match of the night.”
Solo Performances
Sunday evening’s Top 8 show also featured Colin Stough covering Morissette’s “Hand In My Pocket,” and Megan Danielle performing Morissette’s “Head Over Feet.”
Stough’s performance earned praise from the judges’ panel.
“I did not see that coming. If nasty is this then I love nasty. You also kind of brought the lower inward-looking and then built it up to this big bombastic, beautifulness. So beautiful work!,” Morissette complimented.
“I love how you really rocked it at the end, but also how you gave it a different spin at the beginning because obviously it’s a song that everyone knows and you’re doing it in a way that makes it your own and then rocking out. So, yeah, it was brilliant,” Sheeran added.
Danielle’s solo performance was a definite standout.
Morissette told her, “You went less beautiful than you went this way and then you went more beautiful this way… So God bless. Just really soulful and really expressing that ambivalence of you know I’m used to being hard on myself and yet here’s this person across from me loving me so well and just expressing that really authentically. God bless you, gorgeous!”
Sheeran continued to praise the Georgia native.
Fate Revealed
At the end of the episode, it was revealed that both Colin Stough and Megan Danielle earned a spot in the coveted Top 5. They will return to the American Idol stage next week for Disney Week.
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.
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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