American Idol Season Finale Delivers Countless Memorable Performances
Season 24 of the fan-favorite singing competition, American Idol, came to a close on Monday, May 11, with a stacked three-hour finale.
Vocalists Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, and Keyla Richardson navigated their way through 15 weeks of competition to earn their spot in the finals. United by their Christian faith, the three developed a close bond while they each displayed their individual artistry throughout the season.
The action-packed finale featured more than a dozen performances. Judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan performed “Deep River Woman.” Some of the season’s Top 10 returned to perform duets with some of their favorite artists, which included Brad Paisley, Blues Traveler, Clay Aiken, and more.
Finally, Hannah, Jordan, and Keyla all prepared multiple performances for the night. They opened the show with a group performance, and later each returned to sing a tribute and a duet with their musical idol.
Hannah Harper Dedicates Alicia Keys Cover To Her Husband
For one of her three performances, Hannah Harper put a bluegrass twist on “No One” by Alicia Keys. Originally released in 2007, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks. In 2008, it was the most listened to song on US radio, with 3.08 billion listeners.
Keys served as a guest mentor and judge for the finale, sharing her years of expertise with the contestants and, surely, adding a bit of pressure, too.
Hannah dedicated the love song to her husband, Devon, who watched from the wings. The couple has been married since 2018 and has welcomed three children.
The Missouri native’s folk sound showed through the traditionally R&B song. Watch Hannah Harper perform “No One” below!
Hannah Harper Wins American Idol
Viewers had a real-time say in who would win American Idol. While the episode was live, fans could vote online, via text, and on social media.
In a mid-show announcement, it was revealed that Keyla Richardson would take third place, leaving Hannah Harper and Jordan McCullough to fight for the title. In the end, host Ryan Seacrest announced that the newest American Idol is.. Hannah Harper!
See her crowning moment below.
