The moment millions of fans have been waiting for is finally here. The Season 24 finale of American Idol airs tonight — Monday, May 11 — at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, and the competition could not be tighter. Three extraordinary artists — Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, and Keyla Richardson — will take the Idol stage one final time, each singing their hearts out for America’s vote. So, who will win American Idol Season 24? Let’s break it down.
Key Points Summary
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ – The American Idol Season 24 finale airs May 11 on ABC & Disney+. ║
║ – The Top 3 finalists are Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, ║
║ and Keyla Richardson. ║
║ – As per Kalshi prediction markets, Hannah Harper leads at 73% ║
║ probability of winning. ║
║ – According to Gold Derby polling, Hannah holds 49.3% of fan votes.║
║ – Jordan McCullough is the sole remaining Platinum Ticket holder ║
║ from this season. ║
║ – Hannah's original song "String Cheese" went viral and charted ║
║ on Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart. ║
║ – Alicia Keys serves as the finale mentor and performer. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝Season 24 at a Glance: How We Got Here
According to Wikipedia and ABC’s official broadcast schedule, American Idol Season 24 premiered on January 26 on ABC. Host Ryan Seacrest returned alongside judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood — the same judging panel that powered the previous season’s success.
Remote auditions were held between August 26 and October 6, 2025, followed by open-call auditions exclusively at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. For the first time in franchise history, Hollywood Week left its iconic Los Angeles home, relocating to Nashville in a production shake-up branded “Music City Takeover.” A total of 127 contestants advanced through this stage, making it one of the most competitive early rounds in the show’s history.
From Nashville, the competition moved to Hawaii, where the Top 30 competed in the newly introduced ‘Ohana Round at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Ko Olina, Kapolei. As per ABC, this round introduced a first-of-its-kind triple voting system: fellow contestants, family members in the audience, and a panel of industry musicians each awarded a Platinum Ticket to the performance they found most compelling.
The three Platinum Ticket recipients were:
- Jordan McCullough — voted by fellow contestants
- Brooks — voted by friends and family
- Kyndal Inskeep — voted by musicians and industry figures
Of those three Platinum Ticket holders, Jordan McCullough is the sole finalist remaining.
Season 24 Competition Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug 26 – Oct 6, 2025 | Remote & open-call auditions |
| Jan 26 | Season 24 premiere on ABC |
| Feb 24 | Hollywood Week (Music City Takeover) – Part 1 |
| Mar 3 | Hollywood Week – Part 2 / Top 30 announced |
| Mar 17 | Top 20 at Disney’s Aulani Resort – Part 1 |
| Mar 24 | Top 20 at Disney’s Aulani Resort – Part 2 |
| Mar 31 | Songs of Faith Round – Top 14 |
| Apr 7 | 90s Judges’ Song Contest – Top 12 |
| Apr 14 | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night – Top 11 |
| Apr 28 | Celebrating Taylor Swift – Top 7 |
| May 5 | Class of 2006: Reunion X DWTS Night – Top 5 |
| May 11 | Season 24 Finale — Winner Announced |
Meet the Top 3 Finalists
Hannah Harper — The Frontrunner
Hannah Harper has been the name on everyone’s lips since her very first audition. As per Parade, during her Nashville audition, Hannah performed an original song called “String Cheese” — a raw, heartfelt piece about her personal experience with postpartum depression. The performance stopped judge Carrie Underwood in her tracks. Underwood, herself an American Idol champion, said: “You might be my favorite person that’s walked through those doors.”
That audition went viral almost instantly. According to Deseret News (as cited by Entertainment Now), “String Cheese” went on to chart on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart — before the season had even concluded. That is an extraordinary achievement for a contestant still in the competition.
As per TV Insider, Hannah leads all finalists in Instagram followers (397,000) and also tops the pack in YouTube performance views, with 60,000 and 57,000 views respectively on her most recent Top 5 performances. Gold Derby reports that Hannah is the sole country artist in the finale — a lane that has historically performed very well with American Idol voters.
According to Gold Derby’s fan polling conducted ahead of the finale, Hannah commands 49.3% of the reader vote, comfortably ahead of Jordan at 30.3% and Keyla at 20.4%.
Chances of winning: Very High
Jordan McCullough — The Dark Horse With the Voice of an Angel
Jordan McCullough, a worship leader from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is the contestant critics and music insiders most frequently cite as the one who should win — even if the numbers suggest he may not.
As per Parade, Carrie Underwood told Jordan after his performance of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” that he has “one of the best voices she has ever heard” on the show. For a judge who has heard thousands of performers across two decades, that is no small compliment.
Jordan holds the distinction of being the only remaining Platinum Ticket holder among the three finalists — a ticket voted on by his fellow contestants, people who understand vocal talent from the inside.
According to DraftKings Network, Jordan’s standout moment this season came on Disney Night, when his performance of “Colors of the Wind” earned him a brief surge to the top spot in fan polling — the only week Hannah did not lead. His consistent vocal excellence has made him the critical darling of Season 24.
However, as per TV Insider, Jordan has the fewest Instagram followers of the three finalists (43,600) and records the lowest YouTube view counts, with 36,000 and 45,000 on his recent performances. In a viewer-voted competition, fan engagement metrics matter enormously.
Chances of winning: Moderate — the talent is there, but the numbers are a challenge
Keyla Richardson — The Heart of the Competition
Keyla Richardson, a native of Pensacola, Florida, has arguably undergone the most remarkable growth arc of any contestant this season. According to Entertainment Now, Keyla’s 9-year-old son Drew became a beloved part of her story throughout the season, with their bond drawing emotional responses from viewers around the world.
As per DraftKings Network, many fans point to Keyla’s Top 14 performance of “With a Little Help From My Friends” as the moment the competition took serious notice of her. From that point forward, her confidence visibly grew with every episode.
Keyla sits between her two rivals on social media metrics, per TV Insider, with 109,000 Instagram followers and YouTube performance views of 37,000 and 56,000. According to Gold Derby’s polling, she currently holds 20.4% of the fan vote, placing her third.
The risk for Keyla, as widely noted by analysts, is that she and Jordan occupy a similar gospel and R&B vocal lane, which may divide that portion of the voting audience — potentially benefiting Hannah, who stands alone as the country representative.
Chances of winning: Lower — but a standout finale performance could change everything
What the Prediction Markets Say
According to Kalshi prediction market data from May 6, Hannah Harper is priced at a 73% probability of winning American Idol Season 24. As per Vegas Insider, Jordan McCullough sits at 18%, while Keyla Richardson trails at 10%. The American Idol winner market on Kalshi has attracted over $814,000 in total trading volume, reflecting intense fan interest in the outcome. Kalshi’s data also shows Hannah experienced a 13-point rise in probability in the days leading up to the finale, suggesting growing trader confidence in her victory.
The Split-Vote Theory Explained
Multiple analysts have raised a compelling structural argument about why Hannah may be positioned to win even if she is not universally considered the strongest pure vocalist.
As per Gold Derby, “Jordan and Keyla occupy a more similar space as powerhouse vocalists with gospel and soul influences, potentially splitting a shared audience in a tight race.” The outlet draws a direct parallel to Season 23, where Jamal Roberts — who shared a genre lane with neither of his fellow finalists — ultimately prevailed.
According to Parade, the inverse dynamic may now be at play: Hannah, as the lone country artist, consolidates that entire voting bloc, while Jordan and Keyla’s gospel/R&B overlap may dilute each other’s support. Country has been one of the most reliably strong genres in Idol voting history, making this structural advantage potentially decisive.
The Finale: What to Expect
As per Gold Derby, the three-hour live finale begins at 8 p.m. ET/PT on May 11 on ABC and Disney+. Alicia Keys will serve as the finale mentor and performer, joining judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, who will also take the stage themselves.
According to Entertainment Now, the star-studded guest performer lineup includes:
- Alicia Keys
- Mötley Crüe
- Clay Aiken (Season 2 runner-up)
- Tori Kelly (Season 9 alum)
- Nelly
- Jason Mraz
- En Vogue
- Blues Traveler & Gin Blossoms
- Brad Paisley
- Lee Ann Womack
- Shinedown
- Cameron Whitcomb
As per ABC’s official show schedule, the finale will conclude at 11 p.m. ET. The episode will be available to stream on Hulu beginning Tuesday, May 12.
A Look Back: American Idol Season 24’s Guest Mentors & Moments
One of the most talked-about elements of Season 24 has been the quality of its guest mentors. According to ABC’s broadcast record, the season featured appearances from Brad Paisley and Keke Palmer during the Hawaii rounds, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night, and Jennifer Hudson who served as both guest mentor and guest judge.
As per Wikipedia, the season also featured a crossover with Dancing with the Stars, with professional dancers Jan Ravnik, Gleb Savchenko, Rylee Arnold, and Witney Carson making appearances during the 20th anniversary tribute to Season 5. That episode had each finalist performing a duet with a contestant from Season 5 of American Idol — a nostalgic touch that resonated deeply with long-time viewers.
Who Will Win American Idol Season 24? Our Final Prediction
Taking every data point into account — fan polls, social media engagement, YouTube metrics, prediction market pricing, structural vote-split theory, and judge commentary — the evidence points strongly toward Hannah Harper as the Season 24 winner.
According to Gold Derby’s final analysis: “Prediction: Hannah Harper will be named the Season 24 winner when Ryan Seacrest dims the lights one last time on May 11.” The outlet adds that the race is not locked — just leaning.
As per Parade, the consensus among expert analysts is: “Who will win is Hannah Harper, but who should win is Jordan McCullough.”
That nuance matters. Jordan McCullough has, by most critical assessments, delivered the most technically brilliant vocal performances of the season. But American Idol has always been, at its core, a popularity contest driven by public votes. And the public, it seems, has made its feelings clear.
If Hannah delivers clean, emotionally resonant performances in the finale — which has been her pattern all season — it would take a significant and dramatic shift in viewer sentiment to deny her the title.
Still, live television is unpredictable. Keyla Richardson could have the performance of her life. Jordan could deliver a moment so transcendent it breaks the internet. Anything is possible when the lights come on.
Who do YOU think will win American Idol Season 24? Drop your prediction in the comments below — and be sure to tune in tonight on ABC at 8 p.m. ET to watch history be made!