Katy Perry pretended to dramatically collapse on the judges’ table following a passionate performance by Uché Ndubizu on Sunday’s episode of America Idol.
On a night where Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon brought both Katy and Luke Bryan to tears, the I Kissed A Girl singer initially fanned her face and dropped her mic after Uché’s driving version of Bruno Mars’ Finesse.
Katy, 34, then sprawled out on the judges’ table – with Luke, 42, and Lionel Richie, 69, both pretending to resuscitate her.
Dramatic collapse: Katy Perry pretended to faint on a table after a passionate performance by Uché Ndubizu on Sunday’s episode of America Idol on ABC
The theatrics further excited Uché’s already crazed family, with Luke running up to celebrate with them while Uché, 23, looked on in tears.
‘Excuse me. Are we allowed to show that performance on television?’ asked Katy, who had also pretended to collapse after a performance by the same singer at an earlier stage in the competition.
‘I mean, whatever happens in this competition, just keep swinging. You’re going to hit your lucky star.’
All three judges had stood to dance during the performance, with Uché – who only scraped through his audition, with Lionel initially giving a no – also driving the audience wild with his energetic, gyrating moves.
Killed it: Uché’s driving version of Bruno Mars’ Finesse impressed the judges
Multiple talents: The 23-year–old singer also showed off some impressive dance moves
Helping out: Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan pretended to resuscitate Katy on the table
‘Uché, will you please teach me to dance?’ Katy asked, telling him: ‘You’ve come so far it’s miraculous.’
The other judges were equally as impressed.
‘That was, like, the opening of the best awards show I’ve ever been to,’ Luke insisted, joking: ‘Can I change my name to Luché?’
The judges: Lionel, Katy and Luke were equally impressed with Uche
Lionel, meanwhile, told him: ‘Young man, let me tell you something – you are wonderful. Every time … you’re the show-stopper. Keep this going.’
Uché was one of the final 14 all singing to try to get a spot in the top 10 that will be announced Monday night. Seven spots come from viewers’ votes, with the judges each getting to pick one more hopeful to join them.
Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon had Katy fanning away tears with his performance of Elton John’s We All Fall In Love Sometimes.
Top 14: The top 14 singers sang for a spot in the top 10 that will be revealed Monday
‘I’m a mess,’ Katy said, her voice cracking as she told him: ‘I’m just so proud. ‘I’m just so glad because you’re such a gift. You’re a light to the world. Your story is everything and your talent supersedes all.
‘We’re just so blessed to have this job to meet people like you.’
Luke then had watery eyes himself as he said he was ‘a mess too,’ saying he felt he was ‘not worthy to be sitting here watching.’
Piano man: Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon had Katy fanning away tears with his performance of Elton John’s We All Fall In Love Sometimes
‘I just see Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon on this big billboard,’ Luke claimed.
Lionel, meanwhile, gushed: ‘You just took an Elton John song, you passed Freddie Mercury and you Jeremiahed the whole thing.
‘There are notes that Elton can’t do, there are notes that Freddie Mercury can’t do – and you went to a Z flat somewhere up there, past Pluto and Mars. Your voice is amazing, and your career is going to be amazing.’
High praise: Jeremiah was told by Lionel that his voice was ‘amazing’
Music stars: Lionel and Richie received a warm welcome from the audience
Jeremiah also had a moving moment before the show – going to his sister’s wedding, with video showing genuine warmth with family members who initially seemed to reject him because of his homosexuality.
‘We put our differences aside and just enjoyed the moment together,’ he said, feeling they were in a ‘better place and things are looking up.’
‘We’re learning how to talk about difficult things and remind each other that we love each other no matter what.’
Better place: Jeremiah said he was in a ‘better place’ with his family who initially seemed to reject him because of his homosexuality
Another frontrunner, Alejandro Aranda, showed off a completely different style – dropping his usual chilled-out acoustic sound for driving electronic music with Drake’s One Dance.
‘In my eyes, you can do no wrong,’ Luke told the 24-year-old, while Lionel praised him for being ‘so versatile.’
‘You are just like a shapeshifter,’ Katy told him, admitting she was following him on Instagram. ‘You are a true artist. Don’t forget to keep nurturing and watering and growing – because you’ve got it.’
Early frontrunner: Alejandro Aranda showed off a completely different style – dropping his usual chilled-out acoustic sound for driving electronic music with Drake’s One Dance
Alejandro’s highest praise, however, came online – with Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks writing about how she cried during his American Idol audition.
‘My tears did not stop until he stopped,’ she wrote, welcoming him to the ‘grand stage that will be your home for the rest of your extraordinary life.’
The contestant said: ‘I felt very grateful and very humbled knowing that an artist like that checked out my music. It’s crazy.’
Highest praise: Alejandro said he was ‘very grateful and very humbled’ after learning that Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks wrote about how she cried during his audition
Katy later told 23-year-old Laci Kaye Booth after her performance: ‘You are the definition, in my own opinion, of Idol.’
Calling Laci’s sound ‘timeless,’ Katy insisted: ‘I’m your number one fan. You’re amazing.’
Before the performance, Laci had laughed a how awful her spray tan looked when she watched back her audition, saying: ‘I’m gonna start working on it a little better. Not being so orange.’
Timeless sound: Laci Kaye Booth was told by pop star Katy that she had a ‘timeless’ sound
Luke insisted: ‘You could have been purple, girl, and nothing would have stopped you from getting to this point you’re at right now.’
Lionel, meanwhile, called her performance of Blink 182’s I Miss You ‘a big, special moment,’ telling her: ‘You blossomed.’
After Madison VanDenburg, 17, finished singing Alicia Keys’ Fallin’, Luke told her: ‘That is how you put yourself in contention.’
Teen talent: Madison VanDenburg, 17, took on the Alicia Keys song Fallin’
After pausing to acknowledge an audience member who called her a ‘superstar,’ Luke added: ‘You just really made a statement. I had the goosies everywhere.’
He encouraged her to ‘become a diva’ – with Katy acting innocent at the suggestion she was an example, protesting: ‘Lionel can do that, he’s the big diva in the group.’
Kelly had likened the high school student to Kelly Clarkson in earlier rounds, but insisted now: ‘We love Kelly Clarkson, but you just carved out your own notch. You are your own person.
Own notch: Katy told the teenager that she had carved out her own notch
‘That performance was Madison through-and-through. It was unstoppable.’
After Riley Thompson,16, finished singing Sara Evans’ Suds In The Bucket, Luke asked: ‘How does it feel becoming a star?’
Lionel then told the high school student: ‘From the first time we laid eyes on you, this has been an attack of the 16-year-old.
Teen singer: Riley Thompson, 16, belted out the Sara Evans song Suds In The Bucket
‘You have slowly drifted in but now you are crushing it.’
Katy told her she was ‘so natural’ and ‘owning the stage,’ joking of her hair-flip: ‘Oh my gosh what vitamins is she taking?’
‘You don’t take vitamins when you’re 16. You don’t have to,’ Luke stressed, with Katy pretending to be mad as she said: ‘You’re right. You still have collagen left in your face. Damn 16-year-olds.’
Crushing it: The teenager was told by Lionel that she was ‘crushing it’ with her performances
Ryan then brought up Riley’s younger sister – and self-confessed biggest fan – to the stage, with the youngster too shy to speak.
Laine Hardy, 18, opened the show with Elvis Presley’s That’s All Right, with Katy saying: ‘It’s so exciting to see a good looking man step into his shining personality. I love this Bayou boy!’
‘Your mom can’t believe it!’ Katy joked of his new look as the camera cut to her in the audience. ‘She’s a little bit ashamed, scared, shocked – and in love.’
Family support: Riley’s younger sister – and self-confessed biggest fan – was brought to the stage, but the youngster was too shy to speak
Rock classic: Laine Hardy opened the show with Elvis Presley’s That’s All Right
The host: Ryan Seacrest stood next to Laine as the judges reviewed his performance
Lionel, meanwhile, did an Elvis impersonation as he told Laine: ‘You were on fire, buddy. Just do it some more.’
Another comeback kid, high school student Alyssa Raghu,17, performed Sara Bareilles’ ballad She Used To Be Mine.
‘Raghu – the sauce is on fire,’ Lionel told her, calling her ‘spicy sauce.’
Comeback kid: High school student Alyssa Raghu,17, performed Sara Bareilles’ ballad She Used To Be Mine
‘Every time you come out, you give us a little more of a peek at your growth,’ he added, pointing out her tender age and saying they were ‘proud’ of her.
Luke, meanwhile, called it ‘very angelic and perfect.’
Katy insisted she forgot where he was and wanted to film it on her phone, saying: ‘We’re not at a concert, but I am a fan.’
Growing stronger: Alyssa was praised by the judges for her angelic performance
Alyssa insisted the dynamics of the show was weird for her, too.
‘It’s weird for my parents to watch me, and I’m watching my parents watch me – that’s kinda crazy,’ she said, with Katy screeching and joking ‘That’s the black hole we’ve been looking for!’
Evelyn Cormier, 20, then got an ovation from the judges for her rocking version of Jimmy Eat World’s The Middle.
Flower power: Evelyn Cormier, 20, got an ovation from the judges for her rocking version of Jimmy Eat World’s The Middle while wearing floral-print pants
‘Was that a Van Halen leg kick I just saw?’ Luke asked. ‘Just when we think we have someone pegged we like to see a whole other element.’
‘That’s what showbusiness is all about,’ Lionel added.
Katy managed to focus her praise on herself.
Rocking out: The 90 Day Fiance star busted out a high leg kick that reminded Luke of Van Halen
‘One of my favorite things to do is to be a chameleon,’ the star said.
‘I mean yesterday my hair was short, today my hair is long – who knows what I’m gonna have tomorrow? And that’s what keeps people tuning in.
‘So thank you for taking a chance. It really paid off.’
Short hair: Katy praised Evelyn for changing things up and said she herself enjoys being a ‘chameleon’
Ryan had earlier asked Katy about her hair, and she recalled telling him: ‘Don’t ask questions about the magic. Just enjoy the magic.’
Fun-loving Eddie Island, meanwhile, wore a wacky multi-colored shaggy jacket for his performance of Elton John’s Bennie And The Jets.
‘You are here because you make us smile,’ Luke told the 25-year-old. ‘Look at your outfit – what the hell is all that?’
Shaggy jacket: Eddie Island wore a multi-colored shaggy jacket for his performance of Elton John’s Bennie And The Jets
‘I almost wore that today,’ Katy joked, with Luke asking: ‘Did you break into Katy’s trailer?’
Lionel, meanwhile, told him: ‘Isn’t it great being different?’
Known for his big personality, Eddie earlier let on he had previously been suicidal as an overweight kid at school.
Big personality: The singer earlier let on he had previously been suicidal as an overweight kid at school
‘I wasn’t happy, I didn’t fit in with people,’ he admitted. ‘I went from being a huge personality and happy – to just not wanting to be alive anymore.’
He recalled losing 60 pounds in his senior year to ‘take control’ of his life, saying: ‘After I lost the weight I realized anything is possible and all these big mental barriers that I have built for myself weren’t actually real. I’m just so thankful every minute that I’m here, and I wanna go back and tell little Eddie, ”Hey, it’s gonna be OK”.’
Wade Cota, 27, showed off his raspy vocals with Ray LaMontagne’s Trouble – leading Lionel to nickname him The Hammer.
Hammer drop: Wade Cota, 27, showed off his raspy vocals with Ray LaMontagne’s Trouble
‘What you just did tonight was drop the hammer,’ the Hello singer insisted. ‘That was powerful. I love it.’
Katy praised the song choice, calling it ‘amazing, emotional and strong’ – while Luke insisted: ‘It was a spiritual moment.
‘When you sing with your body, it fires us up,’ the country star added.
Spiritual moment: Luke called Wade’s performance a ‘spiritual moment’
Wade earlier revealed where his distinctive vocals came from – screeching in a heavy metal band when he was younger.
‘America, you would have been terrified of metal-band Wade,’ he said, admitting his long hair left him ‘mistaken for a girl a lot.’
He said the screeching ‘wrecked my actual voice,’ but stressed: ‘If I hadn’t sung metal I don’t think my voice would have sounded the way it does today, so I wouldn’t change it for the word.’
Metal guy: Wade earlier revealed that his distinctive vocals came from screeching in a heavy metal band when he was younger
Dimitrius Graham, 27, gave a fresh take on Ed Sheeran’s Perfect that had Katy telling him: ‘You really developed into an artist.
‘I can see the artist that you want to be – that you are,’ she added, calling him an ‘exceptional’ and ‘miraculous’ singer.
Lionel told him of his ability to ‘explode’ in song, saying: ‘Give us that for the rest of your career my friend and you’ll go far.’
Fresh take: Dimitrius Graham, 27, gave a fresh take on Ed Sheeran’s Perfect that had Katy telling him: ‘You really developed into an artist’
Dimitrius was earlier shown surprising his family at home in Baltimore – his mom screaming and in tears at the shock.
‘Hugging my mom and seeing her face – it gave me inspiration for why I’m here in the first place and why I’m doing it,’ he said.
After Ashley Hess, 27, sang Coldplay’s Fix You, Katy told her: ‘You look like Diana Krall and you sing like Carole King.’
Nailed it: Ashley Hess, 27, sang Coldplay’s Fix You that earned comparisons to Diana Krall and Carole King
Ashley admitted the song had ‘gotten me through a lot of tough times’ and ‘tugs at the heartstrings.’
Music major Walker Burroughs, 20, closed out the show with Climb Ev’ry Mountain from The Sound Of Music with Lionel praising him for being ‘dressed for GQ.’
‘You really literally climbed every step of that mountain of a song … and then you soared,’ Katy told him. ‘It’s been amazing to see you really step into your power and realize this is your purpose.’
Last one: Music major Walker Burroughs, 20, closed out the show with Climb Ev’ry Mountain
She also admitted of the last performance of the night: ‘I’m exhausted from this emotional rollercoaster of a show.’
The top 10 will be announced when America Idol returns on ABC on Monday.
Maddie Poppe, 21, won season 16 of American Idol in May 2018.
Eliminations next: Walker and Ryan Seacrest shared the stage ahead of Monday’s episode when four contestants will be eliminated