One Nebraskan will remain on “American Idol.” The other was sent home.
After his performance, Nick Townsend said he wasn’t sure what would happen.
“The judges have everything in their hands,” said Townsend, a native of Tekamah, Nebraska.
On Sunday night’s “American Idol,” Townsend was paired against singer Lauren Engle during the show’s Hollywood week.
Townsend sang Shawn Mendes’ “Life of the Party,” strumming an acoustic guitar as he sang. Engle performed an a cappella version of Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel.”
Engle was sent home. Townsend made it to the next round.
Townsend was featured heavily on this season’s first episode, when he spoke about losing two of his siblings to suicide. Judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie were brought to tears by both his story and his performance.
“After everything I’ve been through this year, it means so much to me, and it means so much to my family to just see me keep going,” Townsend said during Sunday’s broadcast.
Townsend’s parents and sister were watching from the audience and greeted him with hugs after the judges decided to keep him on the show.
Grace Giebler, an Omaha native, was eliminated from “Idol.” Giebler described the experience on Twitter.
“Unfortunately, I did not make it through Hollywood Week,” she said. “I am forever blessed for this once in a lifetime opportunity! I have met some of the kindest souls by being on this show, and honestly, those friendships are way more valuable to me than anything else.”
