Hopefuls perform for the judges in Savannah, Ga.; Milwuakee, Wis.; Washington, D.C.; and Los Angeles; including a subway performer from Harlem, N.Y., a garbage collector and a hopeless romantic who encounters her own fairy-tale twist.
The contestants partner up for duets on the Orpheum Theatre stage; one pair's tensions run high as they can't agree on a song, while sparks fly with another pair; two pop divas come together for a powerful rendition of a Celine Dion song.
Hopefuls battle it out with solo performances, showcasing their unique voices and star power in hope of advancing to the next round of the competition.
The top 40 contestants head to Hawaii to soak up the sun and perform a concert on the beach before awaiting their final judgement for a spot in the coveted top 20 and the chance to compete for America's vote.
A deeper look into the lives of the top 21 contestants, featuring never-before-seen performances; America's votes are revealed as the top 21 is cut down to 20.
The top 10 are revealed; the judges must choose whether to save a contestant; the judges give the finalists a master class on what it takes to be a superstar; Phillip Phillips performs.
The remaining finalists perform two songs each, one from the Disney songbook and one dedicated to the mother figures in their lives; Laine Hardy performs.
The top 5 perform a song that celebrates their induction into the top 5, and a previously performed song; America's vote determines the winner; special performances from music legends, including a performance of "We Are the World."