Makiyah Mustiful advanced to a new round on “American Idol”.
The bank branch manager from Pine Bluff made the list of the top 30 singers this season to compete in the Ohana Round. The top 30 were revealed during Monday night’s episode.
Mustiful qualified for the Golden Room after performing “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” by Deborah Cox during the Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Part 1 of that stage, where she performed, aired Feb. 23, with the second and final part airing Monday.
Palestine-Wheatley High School sophomore Michael Garner advanced as well after surviving a sing-off with Jayson Garner in Monday’s airing, according to TVInsider.com.
According to ABC, the Ohana Round is a three-episode arc filmed at Disney resort Aulani in Ko Olina, Hawaii. The network states the top 30 will perform for tastemakers, or one who influences trends in a given industry. These tastemakers include social media due Kaniyia Brown and Terry McCaskill, dancer and choreographer Sasha Farber, artist and music creator Anthony Gargiula, singer and actress Loren Gray, Rolling Stone co-editor-in-chief Shirley Halperin, vocal coach Cheryl Porter, and country music personality Kelly Sutton. Twenty of the “Idol” singers will advance from the Ohana Round.
“Designed as the ultimate focus group, the ‘Ohana Round blends peer respect, emotional support and professional insight before the competition moves on to America’s Vote,” ABC said in its release, via People magazine.
A spokeswoman for “Idol” confirmed Mustiful will appear in the first Ohana episode March 9.