When Abi Carter auditioned for American Idol on February 25, 2024, she had less than a thousand followers on Instagram. Her heartfelt rendition of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” made her an overnight sensation, pulling in over 30 thousand followers within a day. Carter’s soulful performance charmed viewers and the judges, earning the singer a Platinum Ticket to skip the first round of Hollywood Week. One of the three judges even predicted Carter’s emergence as winner for the season. “That may be the winner of American Idol right there,” said Luke Bryan, following Abi Carter’s passionate take on the Billie Eilish ballad.
Carter’s fame soared with each round of the competition. Her performance of Hillsong United’s “Oceans” saw Katy Perry declare she was her favorite contestant. With songs like Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well,” and Coldplay’s “Clocks,” Carter powered through the competition, leading up to the finals. She performed “Somewhere” from the 1957 musical West Side Story alongside Bon Jovi’s “Bed of Roses” and her single “This Isn’t Over” to win the season. Of course, her triumph is only the beginning of what’s expected to become an illustrious music career.
1. Abi Carter Hails From A Large Musical Family In Indio, California
The American Idol Season 22 winner is an American from Indio, California. Upon winning the competition, Abi Carter described herself on Instagram as “a girl from Indio who used to sing on street corners.” The second of seven children, Carter was born into a large, musically inclined family, a household that encouraged her passion for music. Even though the family struggled financially, Carter was allowed to take music lessons which fueled her enthusiasm. To balance things out, the singer was homeschooled during high school. This allowed her to work and support her family.
2. She Began Singing Before She Was Born
It’s probably saner to claim Abi Carter has been singing all her life, but according to the singer’s website, she’s melodic before her birth. “…She was even singing before she was born, when a nurse described her as humming through the ultrasound during one of her mother’s doctor visits,” read an excerpt from her “about me” page. If Carter was indeed born with her incredible singing ability, she has polished it over the years into a lethal technical skill. While her talent is innate, she has been influenced by artists like Taylor Swift, Lizzy McAlpine, Gracie Abrams, and Sara Bareilles.
3. Abi Carter Is The First Platinum Ticket Recipient To Win American Idol
Since the singing competition series introduced the platinum ticket in Season 20, none of the participants who received the ticket won the contest. So, Abi Carter’s victory is historic as she became the first platinum ticket recipient to win the competition. The singer was the second of three contestants who received the platinum ticket in Season 22. The first was Odell Bunton Jr., a 28-year-old airport security guard from Arlington, Texas, who stunned the judges with his rendition of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home to Me.” After Carter, Julia Gagnon bagged the last platinum ticked with her emotional performance of Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way,” dedicated to her birth mom in Guatemala.
4. She’s A Summa Cum Laude Psychology Graduate
Abi Carter is academically sound, perhaps as much as she is musically gifted. The American Idol Season 22 winner studied psychology at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). While in college, she shared her time between her studies and music. Carter performed anywhere she was needed, from birthday parties to clubs and restaurants. Despite this, she graduated with the highest honor possible. The university website described her as “a 2023 summa cum laude psychology graduate of CSUSB’s Palm Desert Campus.”
5. Abi Carter Is In A Relationship With Cooper McCollum
The American Idol Season 22 winner is taken! She is in a relationship with a fellow named Cooper McCollum. Much is yet to be learned about their relationship but McCollum supported Abi Carter throughout the singing competition. When she won, he took to Instagram to congratulate her in a lengthy post, which in part, reads: “One of the most amazing things to see was to see you grow and enjoy your passion during this show… I hope you see now how deserving you are of everything good this life has to offer.” In response, Carter commented, “Thank you so much my love, couldn’t have done it without you.” Here’s where the contestants of American Idol Season 21 are now.
Follow Us
