Warning! The following contains spoilers for the American Idol Top 10 in Season 18. Read at your own risk!
American Idol gave some good news to 11 of its 20 remaining contestants in Season 18, and they will now get a chance to be a part of next week's Top 7 Disney night. All who were selected were thrilled to advance, though the moment was bittersweet for one advancing contestant. For Just Sam, the moment was welcome but not ideal given her current situation.
As American Idol fans learned the week prior, Just Sam chose to remain in Los Angeles rather than return home to her grandmother in Harlem. Sam was happy to advance, but of course, may have been just a bit happier if her grandmother was there to experience it alongside her. Sam expressed sadness in not seeing her grandma, and later explained why she did not return home to Harlem in her interview video.
I just wish that I had one person here...I decided to stay in California so that my grandmother could be ok and so I wouldn't risk getting her sick. I don't have much just my two suitcases that I had packed about two months ago. I have my bible that I sleep next to every night. Even though I don't have much I have those things and it helps.
The American Idol contestant was given a chance to call her grandmother, and luckily, Just Sam got to share the news with her ahead of her performance. Sam's grandmother sounded delighted by the news, and happy that her granddaughter was one step closer to making her singing dream come true.
Just Sam's performance was a rendition of the Bill Withers classic "Grandma's Hands," which Sam told mentor Bobby Bones was an intentional homage to her grandma back in Harlem. While the two may be thousands of miles apart, Sam's heart is still strong for her grandmother. Not exactly a surprising bit of news, but a heartwarming one and reminder of the struggle many go through not seeing their loved ones.
Just Sam is rapidly emerging as a favorite to win American Idol, though it's hard to guarantee that anyone in this competition is a runaway candidate in Season 18. Favorites like Lauren Spencer-Smith and Olivia Ximines were among the top talent left behind in the latest round, and it's even harder to predict which of the current Top 11 will be around to perform in the Top 7. Just Sam has quite a few Idol fans in her corner, but does she have enough to see the end of this competition?
We'll soon find out, as American Idol continues on with Season 18, Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET. As always, continue to stick with CinemaBlend for more on what's happening in the world of Idol, and for a look at what's happening in television and movie news as well.
