An ‘American Idol’ Season 23 top eight contestant sings ‘I wanna go home'... and goes home

Maybe “You Make My Dreams (Come True)" would have been a better option after all.

The judges must decide to save either Mattie Pruitt or Josh King on Judges’ Song Contest night. (photo: ABC)

On Monday, American Idol Season 23 revived the series’ annual Judges’ Song Contest, with Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and first-timer Carrie Underwood each suggesting songs for the top eight contestants, and the judge whose song picks were covered the most being declared the winner. Carrie ended up losing, because only two contestants chose her songs, and at first she was chagrined, incredulously and semi-jokingly protesting, “I don’t lose on American Idol!”

But by the end of the episode, Carrie was happy with this result — because Lionel and Luke, who tied as the so-called “winners” of Judges’ Song Contest, then had to choose a wild-card contestant to round out the top seven. Carrie was understandably relieved to sit this one out.