'American Idol' cuts a third of its contestants, reveals the Top 20

In an emotional episode, Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan revealed the Top 20, while an audience vote named platinum-ticket winners.

"American Idol" has undergone another brutal round of cuts in an emotional episode.

In the March 9 "Ohana round" episode, judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan were challenged with cutting a third of the Top 30 contestants — a daunting task, given the tearful performances the young singers dedicated to various family members.

But also, the cream rose to the top of the 20 finalists with an audience vote by the contestants, their family members and a "highly esteemed panel of industry experts." (Read: influencers such as Loren Gray; "Dancing with the Stars" pro Sasha Farber, an established member of the Disney family; and Rolling Stone co-Editor-in-Chief Shirley Halperin).

These stakeholders determined who would receive a platinum ticket for the first time this season.

After 30 performances in Kapolei, Hawaii, here's who made it into the Top 30 — and who was singled out for their star potential.