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Hannah Harper Wins ‘American Idol’ Season 24 in Live Finale on ABC and Disney+
Hannah Harper wins American Idol Season 24 after the live finale on ABC and Disney+, with Jordan McCullough second and Keyla Richardson third.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Season 24 finale of American Idol.
Hannah Harper won Season 24 of American Idol on Monday night, May 11, closing out the show’s live three-hour finale on ABC and Disney+. The Missouri country singer finished first ahead of Jordan McCullough, who came in second, and Keyla Richardson, who placed third.
The Top 3 kicked off the finale with Carrie Underwood’s “The Champion,” then moved through a night of solo sets and duet performances. Harper later sang “I Hope You Dance” with Lee Ann Womack, then returned to the song that helped define her run on the series, “String Cheese,” before the final crowning moment arrived with Chris Tomlin’s “At the Cross (Love Ran Red).”
Harper first drew attention during her audition with “String Cheese,” an original song she wrote while dealing with postpartum depression after the birth of her youngest child. She is a mother of three from Willow Springs, Missouri, and performed bluegrass and gospel music growing up with her family band, The Harper Collective. She also named Dolly Parton, Shania Twain and Jo Dee Messina among her key influences.
During her hometown visit last week, Harper was surprised onstage by Messina, whose song she had already performed earlier in the competition. The city of Willow Springs also declared May 6 Hannah Harper Day.
The finale brought in guest mentor Alicia Keys, who performed with the finalists. Judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood also took the stage, with the trio performing Richie’s 1986 song “Deep River Woman.” Underwood also appeared with Mötley Crüe.
Other performers across the night included Brad Paisley, Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms, along with Cameron Whitcomb, Clay Aiken, En Vogue, Jason Mraz, Lee Ann Womack, Nelly, Shinedown and Tori Kelly.
Harper had been a frontrunner for much of the season, and Underwood said she was one of her favorites from the moment she auditioned. American Idol Season 24 aired on ABC and streams on Hulu.
