Braden Rumfelt of Murphy fell just short of entering the top three finalists Monday night on American Idol, with the season finale and winner to be announced May 11 live from Los Angeles.
This week’s episode consisted of both a solo first round with Dancing With the Stars pros dancing in the backgrounds, plus a second-round pairing of this season's five finalists from the 2006 fifth season of the show.
In keeping with the 20-years-ago theme, former judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson returned as this week's guest judge and vocal mentor, respectively.
Rumfelt's first-round solo performance choice was Teddy Swims' "Lose Control," which Jackson said "may be too big a song" for him. Rumfelt then went on to say he wasn't really "in it to win it," but changed his answer when goaded by Jackson to "stop thinking and feel the song" and that it may be a "good thing for [Braden] to lose control and own the song."
Rumfelt was accompanied in the background by Dancing With the Stars professional members Witney Carson and Jan Ravnik.
Rumfelt got huge crowd reaction both during the broadcast and after at the Mountain Vale watch party. Too, he received standing ovations from Abdul, judge Luke Bryan and judge Lionel Richie.
Judge Carrie Underwood said she was a little "distracted" by both the performance along with host Ryan Seacrest's open silver lame shirt, which somewhat mirrored Rumfelt's ensemble of a black and grey mottled silk shirt and crisp white pants. She reiterated Jackson's advice by telling him to "sing with your whole body and move those shoulders, because I know you've got some sexy moves in there."
Bryan said he was dazzled by the dancers as well as the song and was "on sensory overload." He echoed that Rumfelt needed to "swag it up" a bit more, recalling Richie's "ugly face" advice from past performances.
Richie echoed Jackson's advice about "thinking too much" and urged him to "relax and enjoy it, because you've got the voice. Now, just do it."
Abdul's first comment was "I absolutely love your voice. You're so talented and you own that song" She then said, "Your voice can fill arenas, but study the camera. We need our Braden there, not in the wings. You've got to believe in your voice like a child believes in Santa Claus."
His second-round performance was a duet of Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” with season five top-five contestant and Atlanta native Paris Bennett.
Rumfelt's ensemble for the duet with Bennett was a dark purple metallic shirt with black pants. Bennett matched his sparkle with a silver metallic pantsuit.
The duo's chemistry was apparent from their first meeting and rehearsal footage as well as onstage. Rumfelt said he'd been watching her previous performances and loved the song when she'd first performed it.
With a dramatic lightshow as their backdrop, the song began with Rumfelt solo which afforded him a chance to work the camera, the crowd and the stage. Bennett then joined in for the second portion of the song. The two sang into each other's eyes, then to the crowd, in a powerful final moment worthy of Freddie Mercury's bravado and vocal range.
Judges overwhelmingly gave high praise to the duet, with Bryan saying how proud he was to see Idol alums help this season's hopefuls. Then, he added, "You stood toe to toe with her."
Richie said, "There was that ugly face. You killed it." Abdul then went on to say she was "so proud" of Rumfelt, and the duo "took that song and flipped and rebuilt it like an IKEA kit."
Underwood said, "Amazing. The energy between you two, feeding off each other – amazing."
Rumfelt said of working with Bennett that "she knows exactly what she's doing and it makes it so easy working with someone like her." Bennett remarked how much she enjoyed working with him as well and how when they first met to rehearse they were ready to "bring it home."
Rumfelt also took to Facebook in a live post Monday afternoon to thank everyone for their support and remind everyone how to vote for him during the live broadcast.
Commenters on the live post remarked how good his hair looked before the show along with sending prayers and support for him.
Mountain Vale Lodge's ‘live watch’ party gathered their largest crowd yet as the contest came down to the wire, with Murphy Mayor Tim Radford in attendance. Owner Jen Stoey said, "Murphy really showed up for Braden tonight, and we can see it in the numbers."
Six minutes before the announcement the watch party crowd of thirty was on tenterhooks, nervous and Stoey said, "Either way, I don't think we're closing at 10 tonight. We'll either drown our sorrows or lift our joys."
A collective groan echoed throughout the Vale as Braden’s name was not announced to make the finale.
This last week has seen a frenzy of social media posts with waves of regional support and shout-outs from local and regional officials, including Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Michell Hicks, who said the tribe plans to have Braden perform over the summer at concerts and events. U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) added in a Facebook post that "all of N.C. 11 is cheering you on, Braden." Local restaurant Legends Steakhouse sponsored a congratulatory billboard in town.
Local super-fan Tracy McCall has been supportive of Braden this season since she’s close friends with Braden’s mother, Crystal, and the family; Braden’s father, Chris, is her pastor. She’s shared many social media posts to help spur interest in Rumfelt’s progress along with plenty of information about how to properly vote for him along the way.
Rumfelt posted on his own social accounts some footage of his vocal coaching and mentorship by former Idol judge Randy Jackson with his take on the popular Swims song “Lose Control.” Too, he posted about his interaction with the Stars' cast members.
Vocal coaching will be provided by Alicia Keys this last week of competition, and she will be also serve as a guest judge on the finale May 11. A star-studded lineup of musical guests will be featured as well.
The three finalists are Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough and Keyla Richardson. The American Idol season 24 winner will be announced May 11 at 8 p.m. on ABC.