The long wait is over and we finally know the next American Idol.
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Chayce Beckham, Willie Spence and Grace Kinstler all delivered memorable performances during the finale and showed why they made it to the Top 3.
The three-hour finale episode had everything you’d want from American Idol. Contestants singing their hearts out, performances from all-star musicians like Luke Combs, Mickey Guyton, Fall Out Boy, and more, plus many, many surprises.
While we won’t reveal the Season 19 winner until the end (gotta build the suspense, Seacrest style!), let’s take a look at the 13 best moments from the American Idol Season 19 finale.
Look up in the sky… It’s Macklemore!
That’s how you kick off a show! All three contestants joined Macklemore for a performance of “Can’t Hold Us” on top of a rooftop as the Season 19 Idol finale got under way in grand style.
Grace Kinstler stuns in first performance
20-year-old Grace Kinstler was the first solo performer of the evening as she performed a stirring rendition of Celine Dion’s “All By Myself.” “You did not not just take that one higher than Celine sings it, holy crap,” Katy Perry said. “Only you can create another song out of a standard song,” Lionel Richie said.
Willie Spence’s first song is a “religious” experience
Willie Spence performed a dazzling cover of the Ray Charles song “Georgia On My Mind.” “I can smell magnolias!” Luke Bryan immediately exclaimed afterwards. “You have delivered since the day you walked in the audition. You have delivered every single time, and I see you doing that the rest of your life.” Lionel Richie was left almost speechless as he called Spence’s performance “religious.”
Chayce Beckham gives a new take on a classic
Chayce Beckham performed “Blackbird” by The Beatles. “It’s a classic small but mighty song, and you do it so well,” Katy Perry said. Luke Bryan also extended the invitation to go on a bass fishing trip with Beckham.
Mickey Guyton and Alyssa Wray deliver beautiful, powerful rendition of “Black Like Me”
Mickey Guyton and Alyssa Wray teamed up for a gorgeous performance of Guyton’s smash single “Black Like Me.” The two singers joined in unison for a beautiful duet and reworked the first chorus to sing “You should try to be Black like us.”
The Top 3 becomes the Top 2
Just over an hour into the show, the Top 3 became the Top 2 as Grace Kintsler was the first contestant of the evening to see her Idol run come to an end.
Tom McGovern’s Season 19 recap jingle is everything
We’re just going to leave this incredible video of Tom McGovern recapping the season here.
Fall Out Boy put on an epic show
Fall Out Boy hit the stage halfway through the Idol finale and gave a rousing rendition of “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up).” Complete with mesmerizing visuals and pyrotechnics, the performances also saw the return of several Season 19 contestants.
Chaka Khan brings a medley of hits
Chaka Khan performed a medley of hits including “Sweet Thing,” “I’m Every Woman,” “Ain’t Nobody” as Deshawn Goncalves and the ladies of Season 19 contestants joined in to serve as her backup singers.
Willie Spence and Leona Lewis deliver a breathtaking performance of “You Are The Reason”
Spence and Lewis teamed up for a gorgeous duet of “You Are The Reason” as Willie took on Calum Scott’s portion of the song. Don’t worry, we had to wipe away tears at the end of this performance too.
Sheryl Crow makes us happy and brings along Graham DeFranco
Sheryl Crow performed “If It Makes You Happy” and “Everyday Is A Winding Road” and brought along Graham DeFranco to guest on vocals during the song. The duo’s voices worked incredibly well alongside one another as it brought a smile to our face the entire time.
Luke Bryan and Casey Bishop get their rock on with Bon Jovi cover
Earlier in the season, Luke Bryan predicted 16-year-old Casey Bishop would be “the damn winner of American Idol.” While that ultimately didn’t come to fruition, the two shared the stage for a rocking cover of Bon Jovi’s “Living On A Prayer.”
Lionel Richie lifts our spirits with “One World”
Lionel Richie brought along Season 19 contestants as they performed the uplifting track “One World” off Richie’s 2004 album Just For You. Richie was happy to step out of the spotlight to let the Idol contestants showcase the voices that got them on the show.
Lindsey Buckingham and Cassandra Coleman go their own way on Fleetwood Mac classic
Buckingham and Coleman teamed up for a beautiful duet of Fleetwood Mac’s classic track “Go Your Own Way.” It was a joy to see Buckingham back on stage nearly two years after undergoing emergency heart surgery.
We’re thinking of you Katy Perry
Katy Perry and Hunter Metts delivered a gorgeous rendition of her song “Thinking Of You” and we’re just sitting here with the tissues wiping away our tears.
And the next 'American Idol' is…
The next American Idol is… Chayce Beckham! From their first audition to the finale, Beckham wowed fans throughout Season 19 and continued to amaze us with his talent. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store.
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Your next 'American Idol' is...
