A new American Idol winner was named on Monday night (May 11)!
After 15 weeks of intense competition, numerous emotional eliminations, and dozens of memorable performances, a new winner of American Idol was announced.
It came down to Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, and Keyla Richardson in the final three. Each of the finalists had compelling stories and delivered consistently impressive performances all season long, making them deserving of the title. But, there could only be one winner.
Season 24 Finale Performances
Monday’s three-hour Season 24 finale was a star-studded and performance-packed affair. Judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan took the stage together for a cover of Lionel’s “Deep River Woman.” Bryan also took the stage solo to perform his new single, “Fish Hunt Golf Drink.” He also teamed up with former contestant Julian Kalel for a cover of Dwight Yoakam’s “A Thousand Miles from Nowhere.”
Carrie Underwood, known for her love of rock, shared the stage with Motley Crue for a thrilling performance of “Home Sweet Home.”
Some of the season’s Top 10 hopefuls returned to sing collabs with their favorite artists, including Brad Paisley, Blues Traveler, Clay Aiken, and more.
Each of the three finalists sang hometown tributes, in keeping with Idol tradition. Highlights of each of their hometown visits were shown, a reminder of where they’ve come from and the support that got them to the end of the competition.
The Winner Announcement
Throughout Monday night’s finale episode, viewers cast their votes for who they think is the most deserving of the American Idol title.
Host Ryan Seacrest had the honor of sharing the vote results with the finalists and viewers. He first announced that Keyla Richardson came in third place.
Hannah Harper and Jordan McCullough held hands as they nervously waited to hear their fate. After a lengthy pause, Seacrest revealed that the winner of American Idol Season 24 is…
HANNAH HARPER!
