'American Idol' judges reveal top performances of the night

The excitement is at its peak following the American Idol's faith-themed evening.

In a conversation with a small gathering of journalists after Monday's live broadcast on March 30, judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan shared their insights on the performances and highlighted their top picks.

"I believe Hannah [Harper] and Chris [Tungseth] really stood out. And Keyla [Richardson] too. There’s a method to how they arrange the show, taking viewers through a musical journey, placing artists in a specific sequence. I think they’ve done a fantastic job," Underwood, 43, expressed about the producers' decisions.

Underwood also commented on the Top 14 eliminations that took place earlier, expressing her disappointment over some of America’s decisions.

"We lost some of my absolute favorites straight away. Madison [Moon], I’ve admired her since the first day. She possesses a unique voice and immense talent, and still, seeing her voted off was hard to digest."

Bryan concurred, mentioning that Harper’s rendition of "At the Cross (Love Ran Red)" could've been the standout performance of the evening.

"The song choice was spot-on. She really cemented how worthy she is," stated the "Drunk on You" artist, 49.

"Yet, many others also shone tonight. I think Philmon [Lee] excelled with 'Simple Man' and Jordan [McCullough]'s take on 'I Can Only Imagine.' It’s filled with great moments, and it will be intriguing to see how the final votes play out."

Richie, 76, although impressed by the night’s acts, was deeply moved by Underwood’s rendition of "How Great Thou Art."

"She personifies what this competition is all about. Her journey from contestant to judge, and the pinnacle moment she offered, was incredible," he remarked.

"Watching her shine on stage, imparting wisdom to these young artists, was the perfect finale," he added later.

"Luke told me, ‘I’m relieved we didn’t have to follow Carrie.’ I responded, ‘Absolutely. She delivered.’ But that’s what’s fantastic about our roles as judges."

As the night concluded and the announcement of the Top 12 awaited, the voting system unexpectedly crashed, leaving results unannounced. Next week's episode will commence with these results.

American Idol airs every Monday at 8pm ET on ABC.