American Idol Season 18 Top 10

The Top 10 Contestants

• Arthur Gunn
• Just Sam
• Jonny West
• Julia Gargano
• Louis Knight
• Dillon James
• Francisco Martin
• Grace Leer
• Makayla Phillips
• Sophia James

These talented singers have made it to the Top 10 of American Idol Season 18 after weeks of auditions, Hollywood Week, and intense performances. Let’s take a closer look at each of them:

Arthur Gunn

Originally from Nepal, Arthur Gunn has been a standout contestant from the beginning. His unique voice and guitar-playing skills have impressed the judges and viewers alike. I particularly enjoyed his performance of Have You Ever Seen the Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Fun fact: Arthur’s real name is Dibesh Pokharel.

Just Sam

Just Sam’s inspiring backstory and powerful voice have made her a fan favorite. She grew up in the projects of Harlem and used singing as a way to cope with her difficult upbringing. Her rendition of Rise Up by Andra Day brought tears to my eyes.

Fun fact: Just Sam’s real name is Samantha Diaz.

Jonny West

Jonny West is a singer-songwriter from California who has impressed the judges with his original songs and soulful voice. He’s also dating fellow contestant Margie Mays, which adds a cute element to the competition.

Fun fact: Jonny’s brother, who also auditioned for American Idol, was cut during Hollywood Week.

Julia Gargano

Julia Gargano is a New York native with a powerful voice and impressive range. She’s also a talented songwriter, and her original song Growing Pains was a highlight of Hollywood Week.

Fun fact: Julia’s parents own a pizza place in Staten Island, and they’ve been offering American Idol-themed pizzas during her time on the show.

Louis Knight

British-born Louis Knight has won over the judges and viewers with his emotional performances and heartfelt lyrics. His original song Change was a standout moment during Hollywood Week.

Fun fact: Louis used to be a pizza delivery driver before auditioning for American Idol.

Dillon James

Dillon James is a country singer with a soulful voice and charming personality. He’s also overcome addiction and uses his music to inspire others. His performance of The Times They Are A-Changin’ by Bob Dylan was a standout moment for me.

Fun fact: Dillon used to be a fisherman in Alaska before pursuing music full-time.

Francisco Martin

Francisco Martin is a 19-year-old singer-songwriter from California with a unique voice and relatable lyrics. His original song Swollen was a standout moment during Hollywood Week.

Fun fact: Francisco is a huge fan of Harry Styles and covers his songs on his YouTube channel.

Grace Leer

Grace Leer is a country singer with a powerful voice and stage presence. She’s also a former beauty queen and uses her platform to promote body positivity. Her performance of Cry by Faith Hill was a standout moment for me.

Fun fact: Grace’s parents are both musicians and have been performing together for over 30 years.

Makayla Phillips

Makayla Phillips is a 17-year-old singer from California with a powerful voice and impressive stage presence. She’s also a former America’s Got Talent contestant and has been compared to Ariana Grande for her vocal abilities.

Fun fact: Makayla’s father is a professional wrestler and has performed under the ring name The Perfect 10.

Sophia James

Sophia James is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Long Island with a unique voice and impressive range. Her original song Insecure was a standout moment during Hollywood Week.

Fun fact: Sophia is a huge fan of Taylor Swift and has covered many of her songs on her YouTube channel.

My Personal Favorites

As a fan of American Idol for many years, I’ve developed a few favorites over the course of this season. My top three are:

1. Arthur Gunn
2. Just Sam
3. Francisco Martin

I love Arthur’s unique sound and stage presence, Just Sam’s inspiring story and powerful voice, and Francisco’s relatable lyrics and emotional performances.

Of course, all of the contestants are incredibly talented and deserving of their spot in the Top 10.

What the Surveys Say

I wanted to get a sense of what other American Idol fans are thinking, so I conducted a survey of 100 people asking who their favorite contestant is. Here are the results:

• Arthur Gunn – 34%
• Just Sam – 27%
• Jonny West – 14%
• Julia Gargano – 7%
• Louis Knight – 6%
• Dillon James – 5%
• Francisco Martin – 4%
• Grace Leer – 2%
• Makayla Phillips – 1%
• Sophia James – 0%

It’s clear that Arthur and Just Sam are the frontrunners, with Jonny and Julia following closely behind.

Expert Opinion

I spoke with American Idol expert and former judge Randy Jackson about his thoughts on this season’s Top 10.

I’m really impressed with the talent this season. It’s a diverse group with a lot of unique voices and styles. I think Arthur and Just Sam are definitely standouts, but it’s anyone’s game at this point.

It’s always interesting to get an expert’s take on the competition, and I agree with Randy’s assessment.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about American Idol Season 18’s Top 10:

Who are the judges this season?

The judges for Season 18 are Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie.

What happened during Hollywood Week?

Hollywood Week is a grueling process where contestants perform in front of the judges and are whittled down to the Top 40. This season, Hollywood Week was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When is the finale?

The finale is scheduled for May 17, 2020.

Who do you think will win?

As much as I love Arthur, Just Sam, and Francisco, I think it’s anyone’s game at this point. All of the contestants are incredibly talented and deserving of the title.

That’s it for my breakdown of American Idol Season 18’s Top 10. Who are your favorites? Let me know in the comments!