American Idol made another young hopeful’s dream come true as it crowned its Season 22 winner Sunday night during a spectacular live finale.
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Indio, CA native, Abi Carter, was crowned the 2024 winner of the singing competition, beating out other finale contestants Will Moseley (runner-up) and Jack Blocker.
Carter showed strong promise from the very beginning with her audition, where she sang Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” which earned her a Platinum ticket advancing her directly to the second round of the show’s highly competitive “Hollywood week.”
The finale brought things full circle for the 21-year-old who performed the same some immediately after she won. She also got a personalized video message from Eilish earlier in the show promising Carter support throughout her future music career “no matter what.”
Eilish was just one of the many established stars to grace the Idol stage for the big finale. In flashy Idol-style the big night was filled with star-studded performances and the return of past contestants from varying seasons. The finalists were also mentored by Jon Bon Jovi, who also took the stage to perform his song, “Legendary.”
One of the stand-out performances of the night came from judge Katy Perry alongside finalist, Jack Blocker, as they sang a stunning duet of her 2020 hit “What Makes a Woman.” The performance was an extra-emotional one for Perry, who revealed Season 22 would be her final one as a judge.
In true Katy Perry style, she went out with a bang as the platform she was standing on for her performance started to rise, expanding the skirt of her dress to show the faces of Idol contestants who’ve appeared on the show during her run.
Since revealing she’d be stepping away from Idol for new adventures, Perry has teased a top secret, sixth studio album.
“I love the show so much, but I want to go see the world and maybe bring new music,” she told Jimmy Kimmel in February “I think this will probably be my last show, my last season for Idol… It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat… let’s just say I’m creating space for my new wingspan.”