AceShowbiz - American Idol host Ryan Seacrest surprised viewers during the first live show of season 24 by postponing the announcement of the Top 12 finalists. Initially expected to be revealed on the March 30 episode, the results were delayed due to an overwhelming response from fans, with a record-breaking 10 million votes cast.

During the broadcast, Ryan Seacrest, 51, explained the unprecedented delay was necessary to complete the ongoing vote tabulations. Consequently, the Top 12 will not be announced until the beginning of the next live show, scheduled for Monday, April 6.

The delay was met with visible surprise from the Top 14 contestants as well as the panel of judges: Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie. This marks the first time in the franchise’s history that voting results have been postponed due to such a high volume of votes. Fans can anticipate a significant elimination round in the upcoming episode, as the competition will reduce the contestants from 14 to 11 by the end of the night.

Earlier in the two-hour program, the field of hopefuls was narrowed down to the Top 14 after eliminating Abayomi, Genevieve Heyward, Kutter Bradley, Madison Moon, Makiyah, and Ruby Rae. These eliminations set the stage for "Songs of Faith Night," where the remaining contestants performed inspirational songs to impress both the judges and viewers.

During the live performances, the contestants showcased spiritual and uplifting music, hoping to earn a spot in the coveted Top 12. A group performance of "Jesus Is Love" featured Lionel Richie, 76, joining the hopefuls on stage, while Carrie Underwood, 43, collaborated with former Idol alumni Filo Ebid, Canaan James Hill, and Kolbi Jordan for a rendition of "How Great Thou Art."

Due to the delay in vote results, contestants such as Keyla Richardson, Jesse Findling, Lucas Leon, Daniel Stallworth, Philmon Lee, Ruby Rae, Jake Thistle, Braden Rumfelt, Julián Kalel, Kyndal Inskeep, Jordan McCollough, Brooks, Hannah Harper, and Chris Tungseth must wait an entire week to learn if they advance to the second live show.

Among the standout performances was Keyla Richardson’s cover of the contemporary worship song "Jireh," originally by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music. Lionel Richie praised her, telling Keyla, "You have that star look, that star sound, and more important, that star strut. You were walking the walk! Your presentation was wonderful."

Carrie Underwood expressed particular admiration for Jesse Findling’s rendition of "Bless the Broken Road," famously covered by Rascal Flatts but originally by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. She said, "That was great, Jesse. That song is such a singable, beautiful song, but when people say you made it your own, you really did make it your own. I loved the arrangement."

Season 24’s first live show highlighted the intense competition and high stakes as the contestants aimed to secure their place moving forward. The delay in announcing results has heightened anticipation for next week’s episode, where fans will witness the elimination of multiple contestants.

In addition to the voting update, the show featured moments of encouragement from the judges. Luke Bryan commended 17-year-old Lucas Leon from Gallatin, Tennessee, for what he described as his best performance yet. Luke said, "That was my favorite performance I've seen you do. It felt like everything came together. Your voice worked in this room. You had everything together and you were ready to be a star."

Fans of American Idol can tune in to ABC on Monday, April 6, at 8 p.m. ET to watch the Top 12 finally be announced and to see the contestants battle it out as the competition heats up. The show continues to deliver emotional performances, unexpected twists, and intense eliminations as it progresses through season 24.

As the season advances, viewers can expect even more dramatic moments, including the judges’ tough decisions and the contestants’ push to prove they have what it takes to become the next American Idol.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Us Weekly.