American Idol has showcased talented singers since June 2002 when the show premiered on Fox. By the time the singing competition went on a two-year hiatus in April 2016, it had helped launch the careers of several renowned artists. This includes the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jordan Sparks, Candice Glover, and Nick Fradiani. The show’s massive impact explains why ABC swooped in to revive it in 2018 after Fox decided to give it a rest following declining ratings. Picking up the show to the dismay of Fox executives who intended to bring back American Idol in the 2020s’, ABC’s version has been a tad different.
Its biggest changes range from a lineup of friendlier judges who seem to avoid harsh criticism to the elimination format. Compared to Fox’s version which averaged 40 episodes, allowing the audience to familialize with the contestants, ABC’s American Idol is quite rushed. It has managed an average of 19 episodes per season, with several competitors eliminated in one go to speed up the process. Regardless, the ABC version has been exciting with abundant memorable moments that have produced seven Idols thus far.
1. Maddie Poppe
Maddie Poppe is the first American Idol winner following ABC’s revival in 2018. A singer-songwriter and musician from Clarksville, Iowa, she had released an independent album before participating in the singing competition. Poppe triumphed over Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Gabby Barrett to emerge as the winner of American Idol Season 16 on May 21, 2018. Capitalizing on her newfound fame, she released her first studio album Whirlwind in 2019, followed by Christmas from Home, an EP she independently released in November 2020. Poppe is still active but the buzz around her career hasn’t been as loud as the attention she gained from her time on American Idol.
2. Laine Hardy
Laine Hardy was one of the contestants in American Idol Season 16, but he didn’t get past the top 50. When the show returned for Season 17 in 2019, Hardy accompanied Ashton Gill to her audition as a guitar player. Without the intention to audition for the season, the judges lured the Louisiana native into performing a song that earned him a Golden Ticket to Hollywood. Hardy went all the way to win the season on May 19, 2019. He released his debut album Here’s To Anyone in September 2021 and has remained active, albeit not as much as fans imagined when he won the competition.
3. Just Sam
Just Sam was a busker when they auditioned for the singing competition in October 2019. Upon winning the season on May 17, 2020, they signed with Hollywood Records and expected their life to turn around. This didn’t happen. They left Hollywood Records without putting out any album and had to pay the label to claim songs they had already recorded. This left the Season 18 winner broke, necessitating their return to busking in subways three years after winning the show. They are yet to release an album but are still committed to chasing their musical dreams.
4. Chayce Beckham
The fourth American Idol winner after ABC’s revival, Chayce Beckham won Season 19 of the singing competition on May 23, 2021. He performed Ed Sheeran’s “Afterglow” to bag the season, ahead of Willie Spence and Grace Kinstler. The Apple Valley, California native released his debut album Bad for Me on April 5, 2024. He has been busy since he won the competition. “The last three years were just a lot of hard work,” he told American Songwriter. “The whole buildup to this has been really awesome. To get to the point where we can record this album and be a part of awesome tours; it’s what dreams are made of,” added the singer.
5. Noah Thompson
A construction worker from Huntington, West Virginia, Noah Thompson’s life changed when his friend signed him up to audition for American Idol Season 20. After weeks of incredible performances, Thompson defeated HunterGirl and Leah Marlene to win the season. This was on May 22, 2022. Thrust into a musical career, Thompson released his debut EP Middle of God Knows Where on June 9, 2023. Following claims that the singer has been dropped by his record label in 2024, Thompson released an Instagram video, announcing that he has “chosen to continue his career as an independent artist.”
6. Iam Tongi
American Idol Season 21 winner took the show by storm with an emotional rendition of James Blunt’s “Monsters”, dedicated to Rodney Tongi, his late dad. Iam Tongi’s audition video went viral, making the Kahuku, Hawaii native an overnight sensation. He powered through the rest of the competition performing songs like Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence,” Lionel Richie’s “Stuck on You,” and Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home to Me.” On May 21, 2023, Tongi beat Megan Danielle and Colin Stough to win the season. He has been busy touring and performing across the United States since then.
7. Abi Carter
Abi Carter is the seventh winner of American Idol since ABC revived the singing competition. The Indio, California native became an instant sensation with her moving delivery of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” when she auditioned for the competition in February 2024. The performance earned her a Platinum Ticket with Luke Bryan predicting she would win the season. This came to pass on May 19, 2024, when she defeated Will Moseley and Jack Blocker to emerge as the winner of American Idol Season 22. Check out 5 possible replacements for Katy Perry in American Idol Season 23.
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