American Idol: Noah Thompson wins Season 20 ABC Singing Contest in the three-hour finale
Noah Thompson won American Idol season 20 during a star-studded three-hour finale on ABC on Sunday.
The 19-year-old country singer from Louisa, Kentucky won after colleague Arthur signed him up and recorded his virtual audition.
HunterGirl, 23, who was an early favorite after earning a platinum ticket during her audition, took second place.
Season Champion: Noah Thompson won American Idol season 20 during a star-studded three-hour finale on ABC on Sunday
Leah Marlene, 20, of Normal, Illinois, took third place.
The three finalists each performed a cover of a Bruce Springsteen song honoring the American rocker and a song of their own.
Leah sang Cover Me by The Boss, followed by the original song Flowers. HunterGirl sang the Springsteen classic Dancing In The Dark and then performed Red Bird. Noah took over I’m On Fire and then sang the original One Day Tonight.
Audience votes were tallied after their two performances and it was announced that Leah was the third-place finisher.
Second place: HunterGirl, 23, who was an early favorite after earning a platinum ticket during her audition, took second place
Third Place: Leah Marlene, 20, of Normal, Illinois, took third place
The finale featured several live performances including: Flo Rida; earth, wind; Deana Carter and Mike Parker; Ben Platt and Lady K; Sara Bareilles and Nicolina, judges Katy Perry and Thomas Rhett and Michael Buble with Christian Guardino.
Carrie Underwood, 39, was also scheduled to perform but was unable to take the stage due to COVID exposure in her group, show host Ryan Seacrest, 47, said at the start of the finale.
Noah, after completing the last two, teamed up with Melissa Etheridge, 60, for a duet of I’m The Only One.
The host: Ryan Seacrest hosted the three-hour finale on ABC
Show judge Lionel Richie, 72, came in the top 10 for a funny version of his 1983 hit You Are.
Ryan also surprised Noah and HunterGirl by revealing that the top two have been awarded a trip for four on Disney Wish’s new cruise, which launches this summer.
After Leah was shown as a girl singing fireworks, she then teamed up with judge Katy, 37, for a spirited rendition of the pop song.
The judges: Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan served as judges throughout season 20, each appearing during the finale
HunterGirl, after completing the last two, also performed an I Told You So duet with judge Luke Bryan, 34.
The early favorite to win American Idol season 20 was 17-year-old singer Kenedi Anderson of Crozet, Virginia, but last month’s Platinum Ticket winner dropped out due to “personal reasons.”
Chayce Beckham, 24, won American Idol season 19 in May 2021.
Life Performances: The finale featured several life performances, including Flo Rida