Keyla Richardson's mother never expected her daughter to experience a moment like this. After Keyla, an American Idol finalist, came in third place in the season 24 finale on May 11, behind winner Hannah Harper and runner-up Jordan McCullough, her mother, Katja Richardson, expressed her disbelief that her daughter didn't win. "My baby was robbed," Katja wrote on Facebook on May 11. "She did not fail. She was robbed! I'm sorry, I have to say it!"
Keyla had kicked off the finale by singing Alicia Keys' "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" in honor of her guest mentor, before launching into "I Love The Lord" for the show's hometown round. And the judges, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood, were indeed wowed by her performance on the ABC show. "This whole year, I've just watched you focus with drive and determination," Luke told her. "We've seen you give it your all for your family, your crew, and your people, and you've won in our eyes."
"Just watching you seize every moment has been so inspiring to me," he added. "Congratulations, great job!" While the 29-year-old didn't respond to her mother's claims, she did take a moment to celebrate her third-place finish. "The journey has been amazing," she posted to Instagram after the finale aired. "We are just getting started #Idol."
Keyla also met up with fellow American Idol alum Breanna Nix, who came in third place on the last season of the competition series. "Season 23 & Season 24 3rd place finalist!" Keyla wrote on Instagram on May 12. "It's NOT BAD AT ALL; it's actually GREAT. I'm excited about what's coming; it's only up from here! Love you @breannanixmusic #Idol #Top3."
As for the night's big winner, Hannah, the 25-year-old shared the emotions she was feeling after coming out victorious. "What a wild, beautiful journey this has been," she wrote on Instagram. "And somehow we're just getting started." Hannah added, "Thank you to every single person who believed in me, prayed over me, voted, and helped carry this dream farther than I ever could've imagined. Y'all changed my life."
