In case you missed it, last week on American Idol was a cliff hanger for Philmon Lee, his family and fans, and, for that matter, all the contestants. The night began with the Top 14 announced. Philmon made it! The Songs of Faith episode featured him singing a hit from Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Simple Man”.
At the end of the show, a glitch resulted from an unprecedented number of votes, preventing host Ryan Seacrest from announcing which two singers did not advance to the Top 12. It was the highest viewed episode in American Idol history. There were 30,000 votes in a matter of minutes with a total of 10 million votes on all platforms.
“It’s stressful. It’s a week-to-week thing but I’m glad they are waiting until tonight to announce the Top 12 to properly count the votes,” said Kristi Terry, Philmon’s mom.
In the meantime, PJ, as his family and friends call Philmon, and his mom are making memories outside of the stress of competition.
They are also focused on what tonight’s show could reveal for their hopes and dreams. “It hits home when contestants get eliminated. You get to know them and their families over the weeks outside of performing on stage. You get to know them on a personal level.”
Kristi is blessed to be able to work remotely so that she can experience the Idol journey with PJ.
“It’s been hard, but whatever it takes, I will be here for my son.”
What’s next
Tonight’s show, beginning at 8:00 pm on ABC/WTVM, is expected to reveal the Top 12 right off the bat. Then, each singer will be given three songs from the 1990s selected by the judges and must choose which one they want to practice and perform. Viewers will have two hours to cast their votes during the show, and one more contestant will be sent home by the end of the two-hour episode.
For the second week in a row, Break & Run Cafe, located at 1107 Mooty Bridge Road in Lagrange, is hosting a watch party for Philmon Lee’s performance on tonight’s American Idol. It starts at 7:30 pm, and the cafe has extra parking located on the grass behind the tax office.
How to vote
Online/App: Visit http://abc.go.com/shows/american-idol/ or use the app to log in with an ABC account and select your favorite contestants.
Text the contestant’s number to 21523. (Philmon is 11)
Social Media: Visit official Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok accounts to vote on the pinned “Official Vote Post”.
Limitations: You can vote up to 10 times per contestant/platform (i.e., 10 on the site, 10 on text, 10 on Facebook, etc.).
Voting Window: Voting typically begins when the show premieres on Mondays and closes during the show.
Philmon Lee is the last contestant from Georgia to move forward in the American Idol competition. Another Georgian, Brianna Yancey of Alpharetta, did not advance to the Top 20. Your vote will count for Philmon to make the next round. His family and friends appreciate your prayers and support.
