Heavy/ABC "American Idol" season 22 finale
After nearly a year of nerve-wracking auditions, stellar performances, and surviving many rounds of eliminations, three singers remained for the “American Idol” season 22 finale, trying to earn viewers’ votes live on May 19, 2024.
The three-hour finale marks the final showdown among 21-year-old pop singer Abi Carter from Indio, California; 25-year-old country-folk artist Jack Blocker, who originally hails from Dallas; and 23-year-old southern rocker Will Moseley of Hazlehurst, Georgia. Many fan-favorite contestants from season 22 are also slated to perform.
The star-studded affair on ABC will feature Jon Bon Jovi mentoring all three finalists and performances by Hootie and the Blowfish, New Kids on the Block, Jason Mraz, Wynonna Judd, CeCe Winans, Cody Johnson, Seal, James Bey, and Bishop Briggs. In addition, the three celebrity judges — Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie — will perform together on Perry’s last night on the show, given that she’s leaving to focus on music and touring.
Spoiler Alert: Heavy is reporting live details and results throughout the night, so if you do not want to know what happens, stop reading here.
‘American Idol’ Season 22 Finale: Hour 1
The show kicked off with a drone-camera view from behind-the-scenes as the crew launched the live episode and the the three finalists took the stage to sing Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer.” They then surprised the crowd by introducing Jon Bon Jovi and singing the band’s latest single, “Legendary” with him.
Host Ryan Seacrest then welcomed the judges to the stage, and Perry was already emotional about it being her final episode.
The first performance came from Moseley, who first met with Bon Jovi — a favorite of Moseley’s dad, who suggested he sang “It’s My Life.” At first, Bon Jovi said he wasn’t owning the lyrics — but he pushed the rocker to put his emotion and energy into the tune.
- JUDGE FEEDBACK: Richie told him “you’re there” and encouraged him to just keep having fun. Perry said Moseley actually sounded like Jon Bon Jovi, and Bryan said he was impressed that Moseley did so well without guitar in front of him.
Next up, Blocker met with Bon Jovi, telling the legend he’s a big fan. Blocker chose to sing “I’ll Be There For You,” thinking of his wife as he sang. Bon Jovi encouraged him to keep her in mind and even said “Jack’s gonna win this [expletive] contest.”
- JUDGE FEEDBACK: Perry acknowledged that she had not voted for Blocker when he first auditioned, and how proud she is of his progress, adding “no one is blocking Jack Blocker, not even me.” Richie joked that Blocker’s western shirt should win a shirt, but that he’s fully capable of winning the contest. Impressed with what an artist Blocker’s become on the show, Richie pretended he also voted for Blocker at the beginning, even though the truth is that the crew convinced him to reverse his “no” and let Blocker in.
After a commercial break, Carter met with Bon Jovi to work on her round one song choice, “Bed of Roses.” Bon Jovi asked her to tap into her own emotions that the song brings up for her, telling her she’s “the whole package.” Carter performed the ballad on the grand piano, giving it her own arrangement.
- JUDGE FEEDBACK: The judges had to wait for the crowd’s applause to die down, which brought Carter to tears. Bryan replied “wow” to their reaction and said, “I think they’re saying it!” Perry said, “The room may be cheering, but if you’re not voting at home, it doesn’t mean anything — so you’d better vote.” Through tears, Carter told Seacrest, “I’m so imaginably thankful.” He also showed a video from Billie Eilish, who congratulated her for making the top 3 after auditioning with her song “What Was I Made For,” and said she’s “here to support ya forever and I love ya!”
Finalists Make Their Hometown Visits
After a break, Seacrest introduced Moseley’s trip back to his hometown — a longstanding “Idol” tradition for the top finalists. Producers followed “Big Mo” back to Hazlehurst, where he talked with his Dad about the goal he’d set for himself the year before; he gave himself a year to try to make it in music. Moseley got to hang out with other members of his family, too, and then headed to their small town’s downtown, where people lined the streets.
At his old elementary school, the kids wowed him by singing one of his original songs back to him, which blew him away. He then performed a concert at his packed high school stadium, where he used to play football.
“I just hope people see who I am, how much love’s in my heart and why it’s there,” Moseley said. “It’s because of this community — it’s the best place in the world.”
Back in the “idol” studio, Moseley then performed Montgomery Gentry’s “My Town.”
- JUDGE FEEDBACK: Richie said “that song said it all for you” and that it made him tear up. Perry said that “Idol” is “keeping the American dream alive,” and Moseley shouted, “Amen!” Bryan said that Moseley has “all the tools to be anything you want,” whether he wants to be a rocker or sing ballads because he’s “a wonderful talent.”
Following another break, it was time for Blocker to head home to Dallas, where he grew up. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban sent him a video to invite him to play during halftime at their playoff game, which Blocker called a “dream come true.” The next day, they went to the coffee shop where he played his first gig, which was filled with friends and fans. They then visited their private high school in Addison, where he met his wife Georgia. Together, they rode through a parade of fans, and he then performed a concert at the AT&T Performing Center before a packed crowd.
Blocker then took the stage to sing an up-tempo rendition of “All My Exes Live in Texas” by George Strait.
- JUDGE FEEDBACK: “You did everything we talked about,” Perry told him, loving that he had fun and was loose in his performance. Bryan agreed, saying that it was his probably his “favorite thing you’ve done.” Richie said “I think you’re just on to something — it’s called a career!”
Back from a break, it was Carter’s turn to head home to Indio. Carter started riding the tram, where she spent many fun days with her family and friends growing up, and was surprised by many of them to catchup before she went to her elementary school. There, she reconnected tearfully with her piano teacher and was cheered on by students who wrote letters to her and sang for her. A local councilwoman named Carter “mayor for the day,” too. Saying she felt pretty alone when she was growing up, Carter marveled at how much “love and support” was waiting for her in Indio.
Carter then took the stage to sing the power ballad “Somewhere” from the Broadway show “West Side Story.”
- JUDGE FEEDBACK: Again, the crowd kept chanting Carter’s name after her performance and Bryan joked, “I want to hear myself talk!” Richie then interrupted to say “That was a show-stopping moment. It doesn’t get any better than that, when you can take it down to silence and kill the show.” Perry said Carter looked like the “Statue of Liberty is coming to life,” and said that if she wins “Idol,” the bar is going to be “so high,” adding that her performance was “magic.”
‘American Idol’ Season 22 Finale: Hour 2 (First Elimination)
The second hour opened with a surprise appearance by season 3 winner Fantasia, who gave a brief but powerful motivational speech to the finalists.
“God gave you a gift and it’s up to you how far you take it,” the Grammy winner told them, adding, “If it had not been for this show, this show opened so many doors for me.”
Fantasia, who has said she’d love to replace Perry as a judge, said she has new music coming, that she went back to school for a business degree before launching her new entertainment company, and Seacrest teased an upcoming performance from her.
Seacrest then introduced pop singer Jason Mraz, performing “I Feel Like Dancing” with top 7 contestant Julia Gagnon.
After their performance, “Idol” showed the top contestants recording their first singles at the Sound Factory in Los Angeles. The top five all released new music on May 17, which Seacrest said they would perform later in the night.
Next up, Seal took the stage with another former contestant, top 12 singer Jayna Elise. Together they sang Seal’s hit, “Crazy.”
Following those performances, the show shared special moments from the contestants’ trips to their hometowns, when they each got to present checks to their favorite local charities dedicated to music programs for young people in their communities.
After that, the three contestants stood at center stage to hear the initial voting results from the night, and which of them would become the Top 2. Seacrest first announced that Moseley had advanced, meaning he’ll either win or be the runner-up. The final person who advanced was Carter, meaning Blocker took third place in season 22.
“Appreciate everything about you,” Seacrest told him.
After a break, Seacrest introduced James Bey, singing his hit song “Let It Go,” with two former contestants and “Idol” besties, McKenna Faith Breinholt and Kaibrienne Richens. After them, Bryan took the stage to sing his new single, “Love You, Miss You, Mean It.” He then brought Top 10 contestant Mia Matthews out on stage to duet with him.
After a break, Richie performed “Running With The Night.” He was then joined by a choir of the top 12 “Idol” contestants from season 22, including Emmy Russell, Roman Collins, KAYKO, and Triston Harper. Following their performance, Seacrest talked to the family members of Carter and Moseley, who said they were nervous and excited for them.
Next up, country star Cody Johnson appeared with Harper to sing Johnson’s hit song, “‘Til You Can’t,” which drew a standing ovation from the judges. After a break, the show returned with singer-songwriter Bishop Briggs, performing her song “River” with Carter.
The show then showed highlights of the three judges working together over the last seven years, from their first time listening to contestants’ auditions in 2018, to some of their hijinks over the years — dancing, pranking each other, and visiting each others’ hometowns. Perry was shown choked up as Richie and Bryan embraced her behind the judges’ table.
After that, Seacrest threw it to Nick Fradiani, who won season 14 of “Idol” and is now starring in the Broadway show, “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Story.” Singing a medley of Diamond’s hits, he was joined by several season 22 contestants Blocker, KAYKO, Harper, Moseley and Collins.
‘American Idol’ Season 22 Finale: Hour 3
At the top of the third hour, Moseley hit center stage with Darius Rucker and his 90s group, Hootie & the Blowfish, singing a medley of their hits including “Hold My Hand.”
After a break, the show returned with Perry singing a duet with Blocker. They performed her tune, “What Makes a Woman,” with a verse Blocker rewrote. Perry stood tall in a dress that was made of photos of contestants from over the years.
Next up, New Kids on the Block performed a medley of hits with KAYKO, who made it to the Top 8, as the judges danced at their table.
After a break, Russell performed her grandma Loretta Lynn’s hit song “Coal Miner’s Daughter” with country music legend Wynonna, significant because she is also part of a legendary country family, the Judds. They also sang a Judds classic, “No One Else On Earth.”
Afterwards, Fantasia joined Seacrest again, before the top 2 were to perform. She said they are both winners no matter what happens. Then, gospel singer CeCe Winans took the stage to sing with Collins, with a gospel choir backing them up.
After a break, the female contestants from season 22’s top 12 performed a medley of Perry’s hits. After their performance, she stood on the table and lifted her arms up in victory and the crowd shouted her name.
Afterwards, Seacrest then surprised Carter and Moseley with the news that they get to take members of their family on a Disney cruise to the Bahamas. Both of them were stunned, as were their families. Most likely, they’ll have to wait for vacation though, given that the top 2 contestants typically head to New York after the finale to appear on “Good Morning America” and other media outlets.
After a break, “Idol” shared a look back at Moseley’s journey on the show, from his audition to the finale, including multiple times the judges predicted he would be in the finale. He then performed his new single, “Good Book Bad.”
The judges then provided their final feedback to him, with Richie congratulating him on how far he’s come. Perry said he’s sung the best tonight she’s ever heard him and that he’ll be a star no matter what happens. Bryan agreed, saying that the ball in his court and that he can do anything he wants with his career.
Next, Carter’s journey was shown, from her audition and when the judges granted her one of the the platinum tickets. She then took the stage to sing her new single, “This Isn’t Over.”
Following her performance, she tried to hold back tears as the crowd shouted her name, and said, “I was really hoping I wouldn’t cry tonight.” The judges didn’t get a chance to give their feedback given the crowd’s enthusiasm. Seacrest then announced that live voting would end during the commercial break.
‘American Idol’ Season 22: Announcing the 2024 Winner
Before announcing the winner, with both contestants standing next to him at center stage, Seacrest said that the voting had ended and that it was a “very tight race.”
He then said, “After the nationwide live, coast-to-coast vote, the winner of American Idol 2024 is…Abi Carter!”
Moseley shouted, “You done it! You did it! You’re amazing!” and Carter fell to her knees in tears. Seacrest told her how amazing her growth had been and helped her to her feet. Carter tried to sing the song she auditioned with, Eilish’s “What I Was Made For,” but struggled a bit through tears. Cameras showed Perry tearing up watching her, and Fantasia, too.
As confetti fell from the ceiling, Carter’s dear friend Gagnon joined her and then all of her fellow contestants and family joined her onstage, embracing her. Seacrest thanked Richie, Bryan and “the always incredible Katy Perry” as the credits rolled.
“American Idol” has been renewed by ABC for a 23rd season, but Perry’s replacement has not yet been announced.