Ryan dismisses Phil and goes to the judges' table to ask if they think there's a clear winner for the first round. Randy says Josh has a slight edge, but Phil seemed to move everyone, and Steven agrees, but won't commit to a winner. Like he'd remember anyway.

Introducing the hometown segments, Ryan calls Joshua out to the stage. While presenting Ryan a string of beads that makes it look like he went to Mardi Gras and has sunburned boobs, Joshua talks about being the first person to sell out the hometown arena. Cut to him nervously flying in the private jet, landing even more nervously, and greeting his family and what looks like the whole neighborhood on the tarmac. There's a "Sherriff's Crawfish Boil" at 6 PM, and then the next morning, Saturday, he rides in a stretch SUV to his dad's rinky-dink little church. He invites his very young niece Chloe to ride with him in the parade, which takes place at noon through Westlake. Looks like the locals have lain on every float they've ever built. Josh hits the Westlake High School at 3:00 PM and finds the gym pretty full for a Saturday assembly. The next stop is the Burton Coliseum at 7:00 PM, where Josh puts on a little karaoke show for the town. The day ends with literal fireworks, and that's it for Louisiana.

Now he's back in the auditorium, singing "Imagine" by John Lennon. That's surprising enough, but this is the round where they pick their own songs, remember. I'm sure his preacher father will appreciate his choice of a heartfelt and tender call for atheism and anarchy. It's also pretty wrong for him, and the gospelling-up he gives it in the second half seems a bit forced. Steven says he's happy to have sat and watched Joshua learn how to sing this season, which seems like a backhanded compliment at best. Jennifer actually says Joshua pulled back and controlled it, then talks about how his performances set him apart among the top three voices. Randy asks why he picked the song, and Joshua somehow makes "I heard it on the radio on the way to rehearsal" sound deep and profound. Randy buys it, of course, complete with the full warrantee and carrying case.