Real-time voting kicked in Sunday night on “American Idol” and it benefited Alabama’s Walker Burroughs.
The pop singer from Birmingham was voted through to the elite eight on the 7 p.m. show, after performing “When She Loved Me,” a wistful ballad from “Toy Story 2.” It was Disney night on the ABC reality series, and each member of the top 10 was tasked with singing a Disney-themed song.
Burroughs, like all the contestants, was mentored by actress Rebel Wilson of “Pitch Perfect” fame during a session at Disneyland Park. (“Walker is such a little cutie,” Wilson said.) She corrected his pitch at one point, and encouraged him to relate the lyrics to his life and sing with that emotion.
Later, when Burroughs faced the judges on the “Idol” stage, he delivered the tune with sweet conviction, singing while seated at the piano.
“That was so impressive,” Katy Perry said. “You really transported me into a different time and place.”
“I hope America understands how difficult it is to do what you just did,” Luke Bryan said. “You’re 20 years old and it’s like something a seasoned veteran does.”
“We call you, in our business, a pro," Lionel Richie said. “That is as close to a perfect performance that I can even think of.”
There could be no denying that it was Disney night, with Perry dressed as Ursula from “The Little Mermaid,” flipping the tentacles on her costume, making aquatic puns and munching on shrimp and crab. (Yes, really.) Characters such as Mickey, Minnie and Goofy made appearances on stage, and the theme park was prominently featured during the contestants’ video packages.
The top 10 also performed a group number, “Part of Your World” from “The Little Mermaid,” with Lea Michele of “Glee."
A lighthearted tone prevailed throughout the two-hour episode, but there was serious business at stake. Viewers voted for their favorites throughout the program, and the two singers with the lowest vote totals were eliminated. (The judges can save one contestant who’s set to be cut during Season 17, but that didn’t happen on Sunday.)
These singers remain on the show: Burroughs, Laine Hardy, Madison Vandenburg, Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, Laci Kaye Booth, Alejandro Aranda, Wade Cota, Alyssa Raghu. Uche and Dimitrius Graham were sent home.
Burroughs, 20, is the son of David and Colleen Burroughs of Vestavia Hills, and a sophomore at Belmont University in Nashville. He’s a music education major there, singing in an a cappella group called the Beltones.
As a member of the top eight, Burroughs moves on to the next step in the competition, covering a song by Queen on the April 28 episode. Viewer voting will rule the night again, and two singers are likely to be eliminated at the end of the show. Viewers can vote by text, via AmericanIdol.com/vote and on the “American Idol” app.
If you watch: “American Idol” airs on Sundays at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.