Baltimore Singer Stays In 'American Idol' With Help From Judge

BALTIMORE, MD — A Baltimore singer made it into the top 10 on "American Idol" this week in a dramatic twist. After it appeared he was going to be cut, Dimitrius Graham performed a heartfelt rendition of "When the Party's Over" by Billie Eilish that moved one of the judges to keep him on the show.

Graham, 27, took a moment to compose himself upon learning that he did not get enough votes from viewers after his performance on the previous episode to make it to the next round.

He believed that was the end of his journey on "American Idol" and told Billboard that he was "mentally preparing" to pack up his things and leave.

"I definitely thought I was going home," Graham said after the show.

"We felt you go inside — that breath you took and then you let us have who you really are," judge Lionel Richie said.

"It hurts, and we can feel that," judge Katy Perry said after he sang "When the Party's Over," noting that she could "hear that heart come through."

Emotion was what helped keep Graham in the competition.

"Great choice of song and maybe the most you've ever had me emotionally connected to what you were doing," said Luke Bryan, who used his power as a judge on the show to vote for Graham to continue into the top 10. "I hung on every word, and way to fight, man," Bryan said.

Reflecting on the experience, Graham said that being able to perform his all-time favorite song was "epic."

Votes from the public determined seven finalists who were definitely going on to the top 10, and each judge got to select one singer to save.

Bryan picked Graham, Perry selected Alyssa Raghu, and Richie saved Uché.

SEE ALSO: Baltimore 'American Idol' Finalist Is 'Male Beyonce': Katy Perry

After the April 15 episode, Graham is one of just 10 contestants remaining.

The top 10 will be whittled down before the season finale on May 19.

Graham is one of two finalists from the Baltimore area — Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon of Catonsville is also moving on to the top 10.

These are the finalists:

• Alejandro Aranda, 24, of Pomona, California
• Laci Kaye Booth, 23, of Livingston, Texas
• Walker Burroughs, 20, of Birmingham, Alabama
• Wade Cota, 27, of Phoenix, Arizona
• Dimitrius Graham, 27, of Baltimore, Maryland
• Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, 26, of Catonsville, Maryland
• Laine Hardy, 18, of Livingston, Louisiana
• Madison Vandenburg, 17, of Cahoes, New York
• Alyssa Raghu, 17, of Orlando, Florida
• Uché, 24, of Sugar Land, Texas

The next episode will be on Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC. It will take place at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. It appears Graham is already making friends there; he posted a pic of him with one of his fans Tuesday on Instagram.