After numerous rounds of rigorous song selection, captivating performances, and intense voting, the winner of American Idol's season 24 was finally unveiled during the season finale on Monday. Amidst the competition between Missouri native and devoted stay-at-home mom Hannah Harper; Jordan McCullough, a worship director from Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Keyla Richardson, a gospel singer hailing from Pensacola, Florida, voters unanimously crowned Harper as this season's champion. Richardson was unfortunately eliminated early in the show, shortly after the initial vote totals were revealed. Nevertheless, all three finalists delivered outstanding performances that left the judges, Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, in awe.
The judges frequently praised this group of singers as the best in any season. Underwood expressed her admiration and urged the audience to continue voting. "I am so proud of America for voting you three into the finale, but you guys have to keep voting out there," she said. "Can we just have a three-way tie? Is that possible?"
Harper was particularly praised for her performance of an original song, which she had famously performed during the auditions with her hit "String Cheese." She returned to sing it once again during the finale's later stages. Underwood raved about her voice, saying, "I love how your voice just makes everything sound beautiful and tender, like a lullaby. I had the biggest smile on my face the entire time."
Richie showered McCullough with praise after his tearful rendition of "Dear God" by Smokie Norful. "I take so much pride in saying that you are a teacher, a preacher, and a hell of a singer," Richie said. "Let the congregation say amen!"
The finale was a star-studded event as always, with the judges themselves taking the stage to perform together. They sang Richie's 1986 hit "Deep River Woman." Bryan also performed his new song "Fish Hunt Golf Drink" and joined former Idol finalist Julian Kalel for a rendition of Dwight Yoakam's "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere." Underwood teamed up with rock legends Mötley Crüe for a medley that included "Home Sweet Home."
Grammy winner Alicia Keys, who has previously served as a judge and mentor for the competition, took the mic alongside fellow show alums Clay Aiken, Tori Kelly, and Cameron Whitcomb. Other artists such as Brad Paisley, Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms, En Vogue, Jason Mraz, Lee Ann Womack, Nelly, and Shinedown also delivered their own songs, often with finalists who made it to the show's top 10 this season.
The show even included teasers for next season's auditions, leaving viewers eager for more.
