Last Updated on 23 hours ago by Vijay Kumar
American Idol officially crowned its new winner after an exciting three-hour finale packed with emotional performances, celebrity appearances, and fan voting. In the end, Hannah Harper defeated fellow finalist Jordan McCullough to win the title, while Keyla Richardson finished in third place.
Before the final results were announced, all three contestants delivered powerful performances in front of judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie.
Closing out this season on such a high note! Congratulations to our #idol Season 9 winner Hannah Harper. I could tell from the beginning you were gonna make us proud. pic.twitter.com/gD3hi4toxQ
— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) May 12, 2026
In the first round, the finalists performed songs connected to mentor Alicia Keys. Hannah Harper sang “No One” with her own bluegrass-inspired style, earning praise from the judges for making the song unique. Lionel Richie said her voice has become instantly recognizable, while Luke Bryan compared listening to her singing to “walking through a beautiful garden.”
Keyla Richardson followed with a performance of “Unthinkable,” a song she said matched her journey throughout the competition. Carrie Underwood praised her confidence and told her she was ready for a successful future. Luke Bryan also praised Keyla’s determination and growth during the season.
Jordan McCullough closed the round with “If I Ain’t Got You.” The judges loved his stage confidence and performance style. Lionel Richie called the performance “money,” while Carrie Underwood joked that Jordan’s future career would definitely make him some money.
During the second round, contestants performed songs connected to their hometowns and personal lives. Hannah Harper performed her original song “Married Into This Town,” dedicated to her husband and hometown. Carrie Underwood became emotional and praised Hannah for beginning and ending her Idol journey with original music.
Keyla Richardson then performed “I Love the Lord” as a tribute to her hometown of Pensacola, Florida. Her emotional performance moved Carrie Underwood to tears, while Lionel Richie said Keyla’s talent was meant to inspire people.
Jordan McCullough performed “Dear God” for his hometown in Tennessee and once again impressed the judges. Carrie Underwood even joked that all three finalists deserved to win because of how talented they were.
After the voting results from the first two rounds were revealed, Keyla Richardson was eliminated in third place, leaving Hannah Harper and Jordan McCullough as the final two contestants.
For the last round, both finalists returned to perform the songs they originally auditioned with. Hannah performed her viral original song “String Cheese,” while Jordan sang “Goodness of God,” earning another standing ovation from the judges.
At the end of the night, host Ryan Seacrest announced the final results. Hannah Harper was officially crowned the winner of American Idol Season 24, while Jordan McCullough finished as the runner-up.
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
