After months and months of auditions, showstoppers, and live shows, the winner of American Idol Season 23 was finally crowned on May 18. (Read our minute-by-minute recap.)
The remaining three contestants — pop-country singer Breanna Nix, R&B artist Jamal Roberts, and country star John Foster — went head-to-head-to-head during ABC’s three-hour finale on Sunday night. After America voted live coast-to-coast, Jamal was named the winner, John finished as the runner-up, and Breanna came in third place.
Jamal is now the second Black man to win American Idol after Season 2’s Ruben Studdard 22 years ago, in 2003. Meanwhile, there have been four Black women to prevail: Fantasia Barrino, Jordin Sparks, Candice Glover, and Just Sam.
“I’m anointed. I know how to use it. I know how to tap in,” Jamal told Gold Derby on the red carpet. After the confetti fell, Jamal got down on the floor and did a snow angel on the big stage. “I will always remember that moment, because I’ve actually never done a snow angel before in the real snow — it was just amazing,” the Mississippi native revealed.
“I’m excited!” said showrunner Megan Wolflick about Jamal’s historic triumph. “It felt like an old-school Idol finale. It felt like Ruben vs. Clay [Aiken].” She told Gold Derby that she wouldn’t “call this the countriest season ever,” because it contained “multi-genre talent.” The producer pinpointed Season 10, which ended in the battle between Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, as quite possibly the season with the biggest country feel.
The rest of the top 14 also took part in the finale: Gabby Samone, Mattie Pruitt, Slater Nalley, Thunderstorm Artis, Josh King, Canaan James Hill, Kolbi Jordan, Ché Chesterman, Filo, Amanda Barise, and Desmond Roberts. They sang tunes with some of the biggest A-list artists in the industry, including Brandon Lake, Goo Goo Dolls, Good Charlotte, Jennifer Holliday, Jessica Simpson, Kirk Franklin, Myles Smith, Patti LaBelle, Salt-N-Pepa, and Cody Johnson.
Host Ryan Seacrest revealed the winner’s name at the end of the episode, just as he’s done for each of the past 22 seasons. Current judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie sang a showstopping rendition of “Stuck on You” together, while “Artist in Residence” and mentor Jelly Roll performed “Unpretty” and “Liar” with Jamal.
