Nepalese American singer falls just short of winning 'American Idol'

For a moment, it looked like Nepalese American Arthur Gunn had won American Idol. When Ryan Seacrest announced Gunn, 22, as one of the two finalists, his family was screaming, dancing around the living room and confetti was raining.

Seacrest had to remind him that the other finalist was Just Sam, who was eventually crowned the winner.

Filipino American Francisco Martin, another fan favorite, made the top five but was eliminated along with piano teacher Jonny West and construction worker Dillon James.

From the auditions throughout the elimination process, Martin was a favorite of judge Lluke Bryan, who bid the college student goodbye.  He said he was “heartbroken that this is the last time we’ll get to hear you perform like this on ‘American Idol.’”

Under the social distancing rules forced American Idol to alter its usual format with artists singing in front of a live audience. All the performers sang from their living rooms and back porches making the climax suspenseful, but less exhilirating after the winner was announced.

Gunn, who was born in Kathmunandu, Nepal, but lives in Wichita, Kansas now, captured fans and the judgess' attention with his unique style that's hard to categorize, a cross between country, reggae and rock.

After singing his third version of "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," Gunn (a.k.a. Dibesh Pokharel) won over Bryan, who favored Martin. “Way to nail every aspect of ‘Idol.’ You have checked every ‘American Idol’ box that you need to check in my opinion. I mean, you’re a star,” Bryan gushed, continuing the show’s fixation on Gunn moving from Nepal to America to pursue his singing dreams. “If there are any more like you in Kathmandu, please get on the phone and call them and tell them to come out next year.”

Two Asian Americans vie for 'American Idol' finals

Both Asian American contestants, Francisco Martin and Arthur Gunn, made the Top 7 of American Idol and could end up in the finals next Sunday.

The Top 11 was whittled down to the Top 7 through the votes from the audience. The same voting process will determine who will move on to next week's finale.

Sunday night, the singers sang two songs each -- one from the Disney songbook and the second one dedicated to their mothers as a Mother's Day tribute.

Gunn, whose birth name is Dibesh Pokharel, was first to learn he had made the Top 7.

For his Disney selection, the Nepalese American, in his own unique style, sang his rendition  of the song “Kiss the Girl” from The Little Mermaid.

Before he performed his second number in the living room of his Wichita, Kansas home, Gunn read his mother a letter he had written thanking her for all she had done for him. Then, he sang a cover of “Hey Ma” by Bon Iver as she looked on.

“It’s amazing to see her reactions to me being on ‘American Idol,’” Gunn told the camera. “She’s bursting out in joy and she’s all smiles.”

For his Disney song, Martin picked “You’re In My Heart” from Tarzan and drew praise from the judges -- Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie -- who at this stage of the contest with the audience voting their favorites, just offer instant reviews. They remarked how relaxed he's become, in contrast to the nervousness he displayed earlier in the American Idol journey.

The Filipino American singer from Daly City, CA was even better when it came to his Mother’s Day song — “River” by Leon Bridges — which he dedicated to his mother, Fatima, who is working on the front lines at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco. 

Martin's emotional cover while his mother dabbed at her tears, impressed his enthusiastic supporter Luke Bryan who called it "better than the original."

“I would buy that right now,” he says.

Perry was just as taken, calling it “so soulful and beautiful and real.

Richie was a fan, as well, continuing to marvel at Francisco’s progress.

“You’re no longer in your head,” he said. “Your confidence is front and center and it’s all about your delivery now. …You have a career.”

The reality competition continued its unique format --  without a live audience with the competitors singing from their homes. The format change was necessary to maintain the social distancing edicts aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Fans can vote for their favorites at the American Idol website, use the Idol app or text until 9 a.m. Eastern Time, 6 a.m. Pacific, Monday.

Next week, the Season 18 “Idol” winner will be crowned during a finale that will air on ABC at 8 p.m.

Two Asian American singers. keep their hopes high on American Idol's Top Ten

SCREEN CAPTURE / ABC
Francisco Martin sings from his home in Daly City, Caalif.

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A shy Filipino American kid from Daly City, California and a Nepalese American from Wichita, Kansas who's into country and reggae, have made it into the top 10 of American Idol.

Francisco Martin and Arthur Gunn advanced out of the top 20 based on fan voting to make it into the top 10.They now go onto next week’s show when the top seven fan favorites will be revealed.

Martin was the last contestant named into the top 10, causing the 19-year old some nervous moments. Judges however emphasized the order of the reveal was random and not based on number of votes.

The singer, as did all the contestants appeared from home and introduced viewers to his mom, a frontline nurse at Laguna Honda nursing home in San Francisco, his sister Francesca and his dog.

Because of social distancing rules and the stay-at-home mandates to slow the spread of the coronavirus, American Idol had to come up with a way to continue live reality show that asks audience members to vote for their favorites. So, this year, instead of performing on stage in front of a live audience, the singers are having to sing from their homes.

Martin said being at home under quarantine has “messed with his mind” and his anxiety as he’s constantly worried about his mother being exposed to the coronavirus.

Preparing for Idol has taken his mind off things, which he says has helped. He admits being anxious about consistently being on top of his game.

He performed "Falling like the Stars," which moved judge Katy Perry to tears of joys.

Fellow judge Luke Bryan called Martin “a diamond in the rough” who “really knows how to get all the emotion out of a song.”

Lionel Richie heaped on his own praise.

“Halfway through that song, I saw you fly out of your nervousness and give us exactly what you’re all about-true talent, man.

Joining Martin next week is the show's first Nepalese American contestant. Gunn, whose birth name is Dibesh Pokharel, was born in Kathmandu, Nepal and moved with his parents to Wichita five years ago so his sisters could attend school. He performed in coffee shops in Wichita before taking his shot on American Idol.

Although he had been singing and playing his guitar since he was a kid in Nepal, it wasn't until his family moved to Wichita that he was drawn to the country music genre.

He drew praise for his reggae twist on the John Denver classicm "Country Roads." "You have a hit record there, my friend," said Richie.

Gunn, 21, is an original, putting his own spin on familiar songs and making the songs his own. After his audition song, Bryan asked him if he wanted to open for his upcoming concert?

Earlier in the singing competition, Richie went on to encourage the singer: “This is me talking to you and you have no idea what this journey is going to for you. You are the story we need to tell and welcome to the world.”

The judges used their save to advance Makayla Phillips into the next round, meaning there will be 11 competing for seven slots next Sunday.

Audience voting on the America Idol website or the American Idol App until Tuesday, 9 a.m. EST, 6 aa.m. PST. American Idol can be seen on ABC, 8 p.m. on Sundays.