Josh King of "American Idol" exited the stage with an act of selflessness that stole the hearts of many. On Monday, May 5th, King found himself in a tense showdown with Mattie Pruitt, their fates resting solely in the hands of judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, who were tasked with the difficult decision of saving just one. As Richie and Bryan, who had tied in a previous judges' song contest, deliberated, the 24-year-old King gestured towards Pruitt, urging the judges to select her. In an instant, the decision was made: Pruitt was saved, and King's journey on the show came to an end.
Following this heartwarming gesture, "Idol" fans took to social media to express their admiration, hailing King as a true "class act." One fan penned on Instagram, "Your performance was stellar, but my heart swelled when you kept motioning for the judges to pick Mattie! That display of selflessness was incredible! You have a radiant future ahead of you, Josh!" Another added, "Your humility shines through! I adore how you wanted Mattie to proceed!"
Intriguingly, a fan who initially wasn't among King's biggest supporters had a change of heart. "Though you weren't one of my favorites at the start, that quickly changed after witnessing your selflessness in letting Mattie take the spotlight and cheering her on. I'm incredibly proud of you; you've won me over not just as a fan but as a fellow human being. Class act indeed! Keep striving; brighter days lie ahead!"
Post-elimination, King participated in a roundtable interview with PEOPLE, reflecting on his time on the show with candor. "I never imagined I'd make it this far... I didn't think I'd reach the finals," he admitted. "I know I'm not the best vocalist, but I can hold my own on piano, harmonica, and guitar. I'm a jack of all trades, master of none." He further shared that he entered the competition with the mindset, "I might not win, but I'll give it my all... I came here to form connections, to meet people like me, to find friends in similar circumstances, and to be part of this incredible experience."
On Monday night, King captivated audiences with his rendition of Michael Bublé's "Home." The previous week, he moved viewers to tears with his emotional performance of Céline Dion's "All by Myself," revealing the loneliness he felt growing up as the reason behind his song choice. "I never had a place to call my own. 'American Idol' changed all that," he said. "These contestants have become some of the greatest friends I've ever had, and I cherish them for it," he added. "But there's always that lingering fear that once this journey ends, things will revert to how they used to be."
After Monday's episode, only the Top 7 contestants remained: Gabby Samone, Breanna Nix, Thunderstorm Artis, Slater Nalley, John Foster, Jamal Roberts, and Mattie Pruitt.
