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.” 

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

May 8, 2023

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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.

Megan Danielle, Colin Stough; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless
Megan Danielle, Colin Stough; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless

“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.”

Megan Danielle, Colin Stough; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless
Megan Danielle, Colin Stough; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless

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.”

Megan Danielle, Colin Stough; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless
Megan Danielle, Colin Stough; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless

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. 

Colin Stough; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless
Colin Stough; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless

“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

Megan Danielle; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless
Megan Danielle; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless

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.”

ALANIS MORISSETTE, RYAN SEACREST, LUKE BRYAN, ED SHEERAN; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless
ALANIS MORISSETTE, RYAN SEACREST, LUKE BRYAN, ED SHEERAN; Photo by ABC/Eric McCandless

“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.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

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.