American Idol Season 24 returned on Monday, March 9, but this time, contestants didn’t head to Nashville’s Belmont University. Instead, the Top 30 captivated the crowd at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, as part of the all-new “Ohana Round,” where the hopefuls were whittled down to 20.
“We’re going from pine trees to palm trees. Okay, this is different,” said 27-year-old worship director Jordan McCullough of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who served as the first performer of the night.
He stepped in front of judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie in hopes of making the cut. But, he had to wait for the very end of the show to find out if he was given a Platinum Ticket.
Getting teary-eyed before his performance of “Grandma’s Hands” by Bill Withers, McCullough shared his love for his family, including his mom Denise and dad Laran, who have supported him every step of the way.
He said, “I would not be sitting here today if it weren’t for my entire family, mom, dad, grandma, uncles, and cousins to show up to places that I needed to perform or sing at. Now I get to live my dream.”
Turning toward his beloved family members from the outdoor stage, McCullough added, “Tonight I dedicate this song as a tribute to my family. When I think of this song, I think of protection. I think of love and care. So here’s ‘Grandma’sHands.’”
The emotional performance wowed the audience, their families, and the industry tastemakers, who were experts with a combined accumulation of at least 150 million followers. As his mom and dad watched from the front row, McCullough brought the crowd to its feet, as cheers echoed throughout the outdoor venue. Even the Idol judges bowed in admiration as McCullough put his powerhouse vocals on full display.
For the performance, McCullough wore a maroon-colored shirt, comfortable blue jeans, and a ball cap. His high falsetto rang out across the stage, and he even shifted the key higher during the performance, showcasing his impressive vocal range.
McCullough has proven himself countless times, but this time he delivered with full force.
Fans will recall that, for his Idol audition, he performed “Goodness of God,” originally by Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson and famously performed by CeCe Winans, which sent him through to the next round.
This time, he once again earned high praise from all three judges.
“Where’d he come from?” Bryan asked his fellow judges.
“I don’t know,” Richie answered.
“Not a bad way to get things started,” Underwood beamed.
“I don’t know what happened to you in Hawaii. But let the congregation say Amen,” Richie told McCullough afterward.
At the end of the show, 10 hopefuls were sent home. Platinum Tickets were also awarded to a lucky few, but for the first time, the judges did not make the selections. Instead, the Ohana “family,” the industry tastemakers, and fellow contestants decided who would receive the coveted honor.
McCullough was one of the three singers awarded a Platinum Ticket. Those who made it into the Top 20 will compete for America’s vote in the coming weeks of American Idol. Now, over the next two weeks the Top 20 Idol hopefuls will perform for America’s votes at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, competing for a spot in the next round with guidance from superstar mentors Brad Paisley and KeKe Palmer.
Follow Jordan McCullough’s journey on American Idol Mondays at 8/7c on ABC, or stream the episode the next day on Hulu.
