Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Season 24 finale of American Idol.
Hannah Harper has been named the Season 24 winner of American Idol. The Missouri country singer was crowned on Monday night (May 11) during the show’s live three-hour finale on ABC and Disney+, with Jordan McCullough finishing as runner-up and Keyla Richardson in third place.
The Top 3 opened the finale by singing judge Carrie Underwood’s “The Champion,” before each delivered a series of solo and duet performances throughout the evening.
Harper performed a duet with Lee Ann Womack on “I Hope You Dance” and closed out the competition with “String Cheese” — the original song that launched her journey on the show — before ultimately being crowned with a performance of “At the Cross (Love Ran Red)” by Chris Tomlin.
Harper went viral during her audition with “String Cheese,” an original song she wrote while dealing with postpartum depression following the birth of her youngest child. The mother of three from Willow Springs, Missouri grew up performing bluegrass and gospel music with her family band, The Harper Collective, and cited Dolly Parton, Shania Twain and Jo Dee Messina as key influences.
During her hometown visit last week, she was surprised onstage by Messina — whose song she had performed earlier in the competition. The city of Willow Springs officially declared May 6 Hannah Harper Day.
The star-studded finale featured guest mentor Alicia Keys, who performed alongside the top contestants. Judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood all took the stage — the trio performing Richie’s 1986 hit “Deep River Woman” together — with Underwood also performing alongside Mötley Crüe.
Additional performances came from Brad Paisley, Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms, Cameron Whitcomb, Clay Aiken, En Vogue, Jason Mraz, Lee Ann Womack, Nelly, Shinedown and Tori Kelly.
Harper had been a frontrunner throughout the season, with Underwood calling her one of her favorites from the moment she auditioned. American Idol Season 24 aired on ABC and streams on Hulu.
