The top three “American Idol” finalists Kyra Richardson, Jordan McCullough and Hannah Harper advanced to the May 11 finale, but only one could win.
Carrie Underwood explains her reaction to ‘American Idol’
Carrie Underwood shares her thoughts on the ‘American Idol’ judges’ reactions and jokes about her sons taking pictures of her in pajamas with no makeup on.
LOS ANGELES — “American Idol” has announced its latest winner.
Heading into the May 11th finale, Kyra Richardson, Jordan McCullough and Hannah Harper are the top three finalists vying for the Season 24 win. After a three-hour episode featuring performances by judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, and a star-studded cast of guest stars including Nelly, Brad Paisley, Lee Ann Womack, and Jason Mraz, the ABC show announced the 2026 winner.
Ryan Seacrest announced the results of the fan vote and announced that Hannah won this season’s “American Idol.” According to the program, she is the first female country artist to win the award since Underwood.
Jordan took second place and took second place. Keira took third place.
“I’m a puddle right now,” Hannah told USA TODAY an hour after crying on stage with star-shaped confetti in her hair and eyelashes. “(My family) has sacrificed everything to make this happen. If it wasn’t for my husband…that poor guy would have sacrificed his life.”
“Every part of the normal life he had, uprooting his life and bringing his entire family here and living out of a hotel for two months, meant everything to me. I don’t know how I can repay him for that,” she continues. “It’s not just him, it’s my parents too. I feel like my village is growing now.”
After taking a much-needed break for “a couple of weeks,” Hannah said she is looking forward to hitting the road and performing in “small, intimate settings” during her fall tour.
Lionel Richie reveals career advice he shared with Hannah Harper
“Papa Richie,” now in its ninth season, says, “I’m very happy with the kids.” He also revealed the advice he gave Hannah as she embarked on her career as a full-time musician.
“As I said to Hannah, the real work begins now, so enjoy it now,” he says. “Enjoy this right now, because every time they say, ‘This is your hit record,’ the next question is, ‘What’s next?'” And then, “Great tour!” (But) what’s next? ”
“We understand what it takes to get to where we are,” he continued, referring to himself, Bryan and Underwood. “And it’s not an easy road. You don’t get more praise unless you generate praise.”
Who is Hannah Harper?
Willow Springs, Missouri singer Hannah Harper’s powerful rendition of “String Cheese,” an original song about postpartum depression, reportedly received a huge number of views on social media and became one of the show’s most-watched videos.
“It meant everything to me to know that I could really connect with other women, both women and men, who feel the same way I do,” she told USA TODAY. “And basically having the opportunity to share my ministry and my relationship with the Lord, all of that is precious to me. So every step of the way has been amazing.”
The 25-year-old mother of three is a favorite of Underwood’s, with the “Before He Cheats” singer declaring: “You might be my favorite person to walk through that door in the last three days. You look so good. It’s like you’re already famous.”
In episode 8, Underwood, who won Season 4 of the show, pointed out the similarities between himself and Hannah, saying, “When I look at you, I think of myself when I was on the show.”
Kyra Richardson, Jordan McCullough’s ‘American Idol’ journey is over
Keira, who lives in Pensacola, Florida, wowed the judges with her rendition of Pink’s “Glitter in the Air” during the audition aired on the Season 24 premiere, making her one of the top contenders in the contest.
A music teacher and mother of nine-year-old son Drew, Keira grew up singing in church. The 29-year-old was in her final year of qualifying as an “idol” and decided to “give it another try.”
After the audition, Brian emotionally told her: “You have a voice that makes people stop. Oh my god, I can’t stop my nose from running.”
She continued to impress and thrill the judges throughout the season, earning unflattering comparisons to Keiki Palmer’s Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino, who tearfully declared that Keira had an “ancestral” voice.
Jordan’s path to success as “Idol” began with a chance encounter at a concert with season 23 winner Jamal Roberts, the singer explained during her audition for episode 3. Jordan also earned praise from Season 3 finalist Jennifer Hudson, one of the show’s most successful alumni, when the EGOT winner commented on one of her videos on social media ahead of her “Idol” journey.
“I finally found what I was looking for,” the 27-year-old worship director from Tennessee declared in episode 9 as he advanced through the competition, adding, “I found my passion.”
He earned praise from the judges for putting a unique spin on each song and showing off his impressive range, but perhaps the most enthusiastic response came from original “Idol” judge Paula Abdul.
“This was a master class. This was a Grammy duet performance,” Abdul tearfully told Jordan and Elliott Yamin after singing “A Song For You” in the season’s penultimate episode.
