Wé Ani’s “Something’s Got a Hold On Me” is the strongest pick for the standout performance from American Idol’s 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night. Iam Tongi and Megan Danielle follow, while the rest of this editorial top 10 draws on ABC’s episode recap and the performances’ song choices. It is a subjective countdown, not an official ranking.
What happened on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night?
The episode aired during season 21 of American Idol. On April 30, 2023, the contestants performed songs associated with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists, with Adam Lambert serving as guest mentor. ABC’s recap, published May 2, lists 12 contestant performances. The order below is editorial judgment informed by ABC’s descriptions and, for the top three, a contemporary audience poll—not a comparable critical scorecard.
Who gave the best performance? Our top 10
1. Wé Ani — “Something’s Got a Hold On Me” (Etta James)
Wé Ani takes the top spot for a high-energy, soulful performance of an Etta James classic. She also led Yahoo Entertainment’s May 1 poll asking “Who gave the best performance?” with 27% of the displayed responses. That makes her the clearest choice for No. 1 in this list, though the poll is an audience signal, not official show voting.
2. Iam Tongi — “Bring It On Home to Me” (Sam Cooke)
ABC praised Tongi’s voice and delivery on Sam Cooke’s song. He placed second in the Yahoo poll, with 26%. The one-point gap between him and Wé Ani is a poll result, not proof of a measurable difference in performance quality.
#1 Best Overall
3. Megan Danielle — “Angel from Montgomery” (Bonnie Raitt)
Danielle’s Bonnie Raitt selection moved the audience, according to ABC’s recap. She came third in the poll at 16%, behind Tongi and Ani.
4. Nutsa — “The Show Must Go On” (Queen)
Queen’s dramatic anthem gave Nutsa room for a powerful rendition; ABC says the audience cheered. The performance stands out in the night’s lineup for its scale and crowd response.
5. Colin Stough — “Midnight Rider” (The Allman Brothers)
ABC highlighted both Stough’s guitar work and vocals on the Allman Brothers’ song. That combination made his performance one of the night’s most rooted in the band’s rock sound.
6. Warren Peay — “House of the Rising Sun” (The Animals)
Peay brought guitar skills and vocals to The Animals’ well-known song, two elements ABC called out in its recap. Its enduring, recognizable arrangement made it a natural fit for a night centered on Hall of Fame artists.
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Rank #3
- rock & roll, rock & roll music
7. Zachariah Smith — “Don’t Bring Me Down” (Electric Light Orchestra)
Smith’s energy and stage presence were the defining features in ABC’s account of his ELO performance. The song offered a lively change of texture in a lineup spanning soul, classic rock, and pop.
8. Marybeth Byrd — “Dancing Queen” (ABBA)
Byrd delivered a dynamic take on ABBA’s pop classic, according to ABC. It brought a bright, dance-oriented choice into a night with several more guitar-driven songs.
Rank #4
9. Tyson Venegas — “For Once in My Life” (Stevie Wonder)
ABC described Venegas’s Stevie Wonder rendition as powerful and reported cheers from the crowd. Those reactions help explain its place among the night’s memorable performances.
10. Haven Madison — “Livin’ on a Prayer” (Bon Jovi)
Madison rounded out this countdown with a Bon Jovi staple. ABC praised her powerful vocals, making the performance a fitting rock-forward close to the top 10.
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How to read the poll results
Yahoo Entertainment reported these displayed shares on May 1, 2023: Wé Ani at 27%, Iam Tongi at 26%, and Megan Danielle at 16%. The retrieved result does not state the number of respondents or establish that the poll represents the broader audience. These figures are neither scientific polling nor American Idol’s official voting results.
Who performed but did not make this top 10?
The countdown is a selection, not a complete episode list. ABC also included Lucy Love singing Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” and Oliver Steele singing Ray Charles’s “Georgia on My Mind.” Their omission here does not mean they were absent from the episode.
Adam Lambert’s “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” a cover of Tina Turner’s classic, was a separate guest performance—not one of the contestant entries and not included in the ranking. ABC reported that Lucy Love and Nutsa were eliminated after the episode; that competition outcome is separate from judging the performances themselves.
Quick Recap
All 12 contestant performances
| Contestant | Song | Associated artist |
|---|---|---|
| Tyson Venegas | “For Once in My Life” | Stevie Wonder |
| Warren Peay | “House of the Rising Sun” | The Animals |
| Haven Madison | “Livin’ on a Prayer” | Bon Jovi |
| Lucy Love | “All Night Long” | Lionel Richie |
| Oliver Steele | “Georgia on My Mind” | Ray Charles |
| Colin Stough | “Midnight Rider” | The Allman Brothers |
| Marybeth Byrd | “Dancing Queen” | ABBA |
| Wé Ani | “Something’s Got a Hold On Me” | Etta James |
| Nutsa | “The Show Must Go On” | Queen |
| Megan Danielle | “Angel from Montgomery” | Bonnie Raitt |
| Zachariah Smith | “Don’t Bring Me Down” | Electric Light Orchestra |
| Iam Tongi | “Bring It On Home to Me” | Sam Cooke |
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