Keyla Richardson led the contestants with “Jireh” by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music feat. Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine.
“I’m just grateful,” Richardson told Seacrest afterward. “Grateful to be here and grateful to God, just to be on this platform.”
Contestant Lucas Leon performed Brandon Lake’s hit “Gratitude.” In her feedback, Underwood said she could tell Leon was nervous but also said he felt “genuine.”
“I felt a little Holy Spirit in the room,” she said.
Daniel Stallworth’s performance of “Brighter Days” by Blessing Offor prompted the judges to encourage him to keep relaxing and having fun. Judge Luke Bryan said Stallworth “got me in the Spirit,” and Bryan encouraged Stallworth to “keep growing.”
Brandon Lake was covered by another contestant, Braden Rumfelt, who performed Lake’s hit “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
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Underwood complimented Rumfelt’s “incredible voice,” but the judges seemed to agree that the song had a big sound Rumfelt could have filled more. “Don’t let it freak you out,” judge Lionel Richie said.
Seacrest commented to Rumfelt that Rumfelt’s church friends had submitted him for the competition. Now it’s “Songs of Faith” night, said Seacrest, so “it’s meant to be for you.”
Kyndal Inskeep gave a striking performance of the traditional hymn “Nothing but the Blood” in which she emanated a sense of barely-contained energy. Richie encouraged her to let that energy go and not to contain it.
Underwood said she was “in awe” and didn’t know how Inskeep was not “super duper famous yet.” Then Underwood said she did know: “That’s how the Lord works.”
“You’re here for this time, right now,” said Underwood.
Jordan McCullough, a worship director at Zeal Church in Nashville, Tennessee, blew the judges away with his performance of “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe.
