EntertainmentKaty Perrydrag queensAmerican Idol

'American Idol' Judges Make 'Executive Decision' To Send Drag Queen Ada Vox To Top 10

"We stand for truth and justice," panelist Katy Perry said.
Open Image Modal
By 

General Assignment Reporter, HuffPost

|

“American Idol” viewers had already spoken on the fate of drag queen Ada Vox, failing to vote the performer into the next round.

But thankfully, the viewers aren’t judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. The three made an “executive decision” Monday to advance Vox into the Top 10 immediately after her performance. Viewers voted for six contestants, and the judges chose four additional performers to join them. 

As seen below, the singer earned it, belting out a rigorous rendition of Jennifer Holliday’s “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” The crowd on the live episode chanted Ada’s name afterward.

Vox had been given a second chance after not making the cut on Sunday ― and made the most of it, according to the judges.

“I do think we know talent when we see it,” Perry said after the performance. “So I say we would like to make an executive decision right now.”

Perry pointed to the area where the Top 10 qualifiers were, and gestured for Vox to move over there.

“Enough was enough and you put your foot down when it’s real,” Perry later told reporters, per People. “We stand for truth and for justice.”

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Katy Perry's Style Through The Years
2002(01 of52)
Open Image Modal
Posing during a portrait session on Sept. 25, 2002, in West Hollywood, California. (credit:Lester Cohen via Getty Images)
2004(02 of52)
Open Image Modal
At Clive Davis' Celebration of the American Music Awards in Beverly Hills, California, in November 2004. (credit:Jean-Paul Aussenard via Getty Images)
2005(03 of52)
Open Image Modal
At Esquire's fourth annual Oscar viewing party hosted by Jennifer Love Hewitt in February 2005 (credit:Albert L. Ortega via Getty Images)
2006(04 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the Sony BMG Grammy party at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Feb. 8, 2006, in Hollywood, California (credit:Vince Bucci via Getty Images)
2006(05 of52)
Open Image Modal
At Vanity Fair's 2006 Svedka Erotica Reading Series on April 20, 2006, in Hollywood, California (credit:J. Vespa via Getty Images)
2006(06 of52)
Open Image Modal
At Lucky Magazine's April 2006 Hosts party at Milk Boutique to celebrate its Los Angeles shopping guide (credit:Jeffrey Mayer via Getty Images)
2006(07 of52)
Open Image Modal
Attending the launch of Nintendo's Wii in November 2006 (credit:Jeffrey Mayer via Getty Images)
2007(08 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the 2007 EMI Post Grammy Party at Boulevard 3 in Los Angeles (credit:Mark Sullivan via Getty Images)
2007(09 of52)
Open Image Modal
At Rock & Republic's Fashion Rocks pre-party and after-party at Eyebeam Atelier and Hiro NYC on Sept. 5, 2007 (credit:Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
2008(10 of52)
Open Image Modal
At Betsey Johnson's fall 2008 show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Feb. 4, 2008, in New York City (credit:Shawn Ehlers via Getty Images)
2008(11 of52)
Open Image Modal
At Z100's Zootopia 2008 presented by Izod Fragrance on May 17, 2008, in New Jersey (credit:Jim Spellman via Getty Images)
2008(12 of52)
Open Image Modal
At Spike TV's second annual Guys Choice Awards held at Sony Studios on May 30, 2008, in Culver City, California (credit:Frederick M. Brown via Getty Images)
2008(13 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the release of her album "One of the Boys" on June 7, 2008, in Southampton, New York (credit:Tana Lee Alves via Getty Images)
2008(14 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the Kira Plastinina U.S. Launch Party on June 14, 2008, in Los Angeles (credit:Jason LaVeris via Getty Images)
2008(15 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the release party for "One of the Boys" at Capitol Records on June 17, 2008, in Los Angeles (credit:Jesse Grant via Getty Images)
2008(16 of52)
Open Image Modal
At Rok Las Vegas to perform inside the New York-New York casino on Aug. 30, 2008 (credit:Bruce Gifford via Getty Images)
2008(17 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards with Miley Cyrus on Sept. 7, 2008 (credit:Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
2008(18 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a Jean Charles de Castelbajac dress at the MTV Europe Music Awards, held at the Echo Arena on Nov. 6, 2008, in Liverpool, England (credit:Getty Images via Getty Images)
2009(19 of52)
Open Image Modal
On the red carpet at VH1's 14th annual Critics' Choice Awards at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Jan. 8, 2009, in Santa Monica, California (credit:Kevin Mazur via Getty Images)
2009(20 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a Tommy Hilfiger gown at the 2009 Met Gala in New York City on May 4, 2009 (credit:Kevin Mazur via Getty Images)
2009(21 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the official opening ceremony of Life Ball 2009 on May 16, 2009, in Vienna, Austria (credit:Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
2009(22 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a silver corset dress by The Blonds at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sept. 13, 2009 (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
2010(23 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing Zac Posen at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards held at the Nokia Theater on Jan. 31, 2010, in Los Angeles (credit:Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images)
2010(24 of52)
Open Image Modal
With her then-fiancé, comedian Russell Brand, arriving at the 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Sunset Tower on March 7, 2010, in West Hollywood, California (credit:Michael Buckner via Getty Images)
2010(25 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a CuteCircuit LED gown at the Met Gala to celebrate the opening of the "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 3, 2010, in New York City (credit:Larry Busacca via Getty Images)
2010(26 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a sparkly Zuhair Murad dress at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at Gibson Amphitheatre on June 6, 2010, in Universal City, California (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
2010(27 of52)
Open Image Modal
In a Marchesa dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Sept. 12, 2010, in Los Angeles (credit:Frederick M. Brown via Getty Images)
2011(28 of52)
Open Image Modal
With then-husband Russell Brand at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on Feb. 13, 2011, in Los Angeles. Perry was wearing an angelic gown by Giorgio Armani. (credit:Jason Merritt via Getty Images)
2011(29 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the premiere of "The Smurfs" at The Ziegfeld Theater on July 24, 2011, in New York City (credit:Jemal Countess via Getty Images)
2011(30 of52)
Open Image Modal
In Atelier Versace at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Aug. 28, 2011, in Los Angeles (credit:Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images)
2012(31 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing Elie Saab Couture at the 54th annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 12, 2012, in Los Angeles. (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
2012(32 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the 20th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party on Feb. 26, 2012 in West Hollywood, California. Perry wore a gown by Blumarine. (credit:Michael Tran via Getty Images)
2012(33 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a Twenty Cluny dress at the NARM Music Biz 2012 awards dinner party at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on May 10, 2012 in Century City, California. (credit:Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images)
2012(34 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a velvet Dolce & Gabbana dress at the premiere of "Katy Perry: Part Of Me" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on June 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (credit:Michael Buckner via Getty Images)
2013(35 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a Valentino dress backstage during the 2013 People's Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Jan. 9, 2013 in Los Angeles. (credit:Kevin Mazur via Getty Images)
2013(36 of52)
Open Image Modal
At "The Smurfs 2" press junket on April 22, 2013 in Cancun, Mexico. (credit:Vera Anderson via Getty Images)
2013(37 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing Dolce & Gabbana at the Costume Institute Gala for the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City. (credit:Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images)
2013(38 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the premiere of Columbia Pictures' "Smurfs 2" at Regency Village Theatre on July 28, 2013 in Westwood, California. Perry wore a a blue dress by Tadashi Shoji. (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
2014(39 of52)
Open Image Modal
At a U-Express Live 2014 press conference at Saitama Super Arena on March 2, 2014 in Saitama, Japan. She was wearing a Moschino dress. (credit:Jun Sato via Getty Images)
2014(40 of52)
Open Image Modal
Perry and rapper Riff Raff wore matching Atelier Versace denim ensembles -- an ode to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake -- for the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California. (credit:Jeffrey Mayer via Getty Images)
2015(41 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing Zuhair Murad Couture at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards at the Stapes Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles. (credit:Jason Merritt via Getty Images)
2015(42 of52)
Open Image Modal
With Jeremy Scott at the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City. Both wore matching Moschino ensembles. (credit:Larry Busacca via Getty Images)
2016(43 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a Prada gown at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (credit:John Shearer via Getty Images)
2016(44 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a dramatic Prada gown at the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 in New York City. (credit:George Pimentel via Getty Images)
2017(45 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing Tom Ford at the 59th Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 12, 2017 in Los Angeles. (credit:John Shearer via Getty Images)
2017(46 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the Human Rights Campaign's 2017 Los Angeles Gala Dinner on March 18, 2017 in Los Angeles. (credit:Todd Williamson via Getty Images)
2017(47 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a Maison Margiela Couture gown at the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (credit:Kevin Mazur via Getty Images)
2017(48 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the Chanel Haute Couture fall-winter 2017-18 show as part of Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2017 in Paris. She was wearing Chanel. (credit:Bertrand Rindoff Petroff via Getty Images)
2017(49 of52)
Open Image Modal
In a white gown by Stéphane Rolland at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (credit:Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images)
2018(50 of52)
Open Image Modal
At the ceremony honoring Minnie Mouse's 90th anniversary with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Jan. 22, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (credit:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images)
2018(51 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a Stella McCartney gown at Stella McCartney's autumn 2018 collection launch on Jan. 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
2018(52 of52)
Open Image Modal
Wearing a Versace ensemble for her March 5, 2018 appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (credit:Randy Holmes via Getty Images)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip