Lionel Richie shared that his top moment from American Idol’s Taylor Swift-themed night felt like a “spiritual experience.”

On Monday, April 17, the contest advanced to its Top 5 finalists.

One performance especially stood out to Lionel Richie during Taylor Swift Night on American Idol.

On the April 17 episode, the Top 7 contestants each performed a song by Taylor Swift. After the live show, Richie told reporters that choosing a favorite was difficult, but he singled out Jordan McCullough’s performance as his standout moment.

He praised McCullough for completely transforming the song, saying he “put some BBQ sauce” on it and has a talent for turning any performance into something deeply moving—almost like a “religious experience,” even when performing a Taylor Swift track.

McCullough performed “Tim McGraw” from Swift’s debut album and admitted he was surprised by how many of her songs he already knew, joking that he might actually be a Swift fan.

By the end of the night, McCullough advanced to the Top 5 alongside Keyla Richardson, Braden Rumfelt, Hannah Harper, and Chris Tungseth, while Brooks Rosser and Daniel Stallworth were eliminated.

Richie also offered advice to the contestants who were sent home, encouraging them to stay positive and focus on what comes next. He urged them to pursue strong material, find the right management, and work toward a breakout hit.

He added that success in the music industry is ongoing rather than final, noting that even after decades in the business, new challenges and goals always continue to appear.