Lionel Richie has opened up about his high-stakes decision to save Rae from further elimination American Idoland revealed that he prioritized “vibe” and stage presence when faced with an incredibly difficult choice.
After the show on Monday, April 6, the legendary Hello the singer found himself in the hot seat after winning the judges’ singing competition, a victory that gave him the sole power to save one of the bottom two contestants.
Richie, 76, ultimately chose to keep Rae in the competition over Jesse Findling, explaining to reporters after the broadcast that he “chose mood over anything else.”
The dramatic conclusion followed a 90s-themed night where judges anonymously suggested acts to the hopefuls.
Richie, who was clearly enjoying his victory in the singing competition, joked that his success initially felt “embarrassing” compared to his fellow judges, but admitted that being in charge of choosing who stayed was a strange position to be in.
He noted that beyond the vocal performance, it was Rae’s attitude and the way she held the stage that tipped the scales in her favor.
Richie’s fellow judges were quick to support the decision, despite the emotional weight of the evening.
Luke Bryan, 49, described Rae as a consistently solid performer throughout the season, suggesting that any recent stumbles were likely due to a lack of familiarity with ’90s song choices rather than a lack of talent.
Meanwhile, Carrie Underwood, 43, called the situation “impossible” and noted that while she was surprised to see Rae and Jesse in the bottom two, the energy in the room often differs from what the public experiences at home.
The result was bittersweet for Rae, who was left grieving over her closest friend’s departure in the competition.
Expressing a mixture of gratitude and sadness, the 24-year-old praised Jesse Findling as a talented artist destined for a huge career.
The remaining 11 contestants are now preparing for next week’s challenge, where they will perform hits from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees as they battle for a place in the next round.
