‘American Idol’ Shocks Judges and Contestants With “Truly Unprecedented” Cliffhanger
Another American Idol season has come to an end after a note-worthy finale.
Host Ryan Seacrest announced Hannah Harper as the winner of the competition series May 11, as judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood celebrated. Hannah, who became a standout during season 24 after her “String Cheese” original song debut, claimed the top spot over finalist Jordan McCullough, as well as Keyla Richardson, who was eliminated earlier in the night.
Of course, in Idol fashion, it was a star-studded finale, with Alicia Keys joining Luke, Lionel and Carrie as a guest mentor and performer. (Brad Paisley, En Vogue, Nelly and Tori Kelly were also among the artists to take the stage during the episode, along with former Idol contestant Clay Aiken, who debuted the song “Rewind,” his first new single in 18 years.)
Prior to the finale, many Idol legends—including Carrie and Ryan—reflected on the competition show’s decades-long legacy.
“American Idol is the ultimate real-life Cinderella story,” Carrie, winner of Idol‘s fourth season, shared with Good Morning America in an interview published May 8. “I learned so much on the show that set me up for everything that would follow.”