‘American Idol’ Shocks Judges and Contestants With “Truly Unprecedented” Cliffhanger
Another American Idol season has come to an end after a note-worthy finale.
Host Ryan Seacrest announced Hannah Harper as the winner of the competition series May 11, as judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood celebrated. Hannah, who became a standout during season 24 after her "String Cheese" original song debut, claimed the top spot over finalist Jordan McCullough, as well as Keyla Richardson, who was eliminated earlier in the night.
Of course, in Idol fashion, it was a star-studded finale, with Alicia Keys joining Luke, Lionel and Carrie as a guest mentor and performer. (Brad Paisley, En Vogue, Nelly and Tori Kelly were also among the artists to take the stage during the episode, along with former Idol contestant Clay Aiken, who debuted the song "Rewind," his first new single in 18 years.)
Prior to the finale, many Idol legends—including Carrie and Ryan—reflected on the competition show's decades-long legacy.
"American Idol is the ultimate real-life Cinderella story," Carrie, winner of Idol's fourth season, shared with Good Morning America in an interview published May 8. "I learned so much on the show that set me up for everything that would follow."
While Ryan, who co-hosted the first season with Brian Dunkleman in 2002 before Dunkleman's Idol exit, noted, "There's history, heritage in the show, and it's pivoted with the times. And I think that's the beauty of the history and the legend that is American Idol."
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Legendary indeed. In late April, Idol alum Jennifer Hudson returned to the show as a guest judge, a milestone moment for the singer.
"To be on the other side of everything is insane," the Jennifer Hudson Show host told E! News ahead of her appearance, "but it puts how much time has passed into perspective."
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As she continued, "I'm like, 'Wow. Idol was 22 years ago. Dreamgirls was 20 years ago.'"
From her POV, the timing made sense, even as she works on a major Broadway revival. "OK, yes, I can return as a judge or mentor on Idol," Jennifer said of her mindset, "and then be on the production side of Dreamgirls to see someone else get a chance."
While we wait for another season of American Idol, keep reading to learn the secrets behind the show.
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Do American Idol Contestants Get Paid for Being on the Show?
"You don’t get paid until you make it to the live rounds," Margie Mays, who competed on seasons 17 and 18 of American Idol, shared in a 2020 TikTok, "and then you can be paid."
The singer noted she did get paid to appear in American Idol commercials and to return for a finale performance after she was eliminated.
"When they take you to places like Hawaii, obviously, they pay for that and then there’s things like a per diem for, like, eating while you’re in Hawaii," she added. "But they’re not paying you to be a contestant. That’s the sacrifice you make to try to win."
But if you do win, there is a big prize.
"You do get $250,000, but not really because of taxes," season 16 champion Maddie Poppe told Business Insider in 2022. "And you get half of it before you complete your record, and then the second half you get after you complete the record. So it's just like an advance from the record deal, but I'm pretty sure I have to recoup it."
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Do American Idol Contestants Audition for the First Time in Front of the Judges?
In a word, nope.
In fact, season seven winner David Cook told Business Insider his audition in front of then-judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson was his fifth round.
There are a number of ways to audition for producers, including through open calls, live virtual auditions and social media. However, American Idol's guidelines state that singers who get a callback during the audition process must arrange their own travel.
"Once you get to Hollywood Week, they put you up [and] cover flights and all that," David continued, "but yeah, for the city auditions segment, you're on your own pocket."
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Do American Idol Contestants Have to Pay Their Own Way to Hollywood?
You're going to Hollywood...now what?
After contestants get their golden ticket from the judges—who currently include Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan—they have to travel out to California for the nail-biting Hollywood Week. But does the show cover these travel expenses?
"Yes, they will fly you to Hollywood Week if you have to take a flight," Margie continued in a 2020 TikTok. "They pay for that, they book for that. Awesome. They'll get you from the airport to the hotel. Hotel is paid for. Meals are provided."
As she clarified, "They're not paying you money, but they are paying for your expenses."
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Do American Idol Contestants Have to Pay for Their Own Clothes?
When it comes to picking out their outfits in the early rounds of competition, contestants operate as a solo act.
"You are responsible for dressing yourself," Margie said in a 2020 TikTok, later adding, "However, if you make it to the live rounds, which is usually Top 14 and above, they do dress you. There will be stylists, hair, makeup, the whole shebang 'cause they really want you to go from looking like [an] everyday person to a star and to really transform from the beginning of the show to the end."
Stylists have to work with a budget, though. And back in 2013, former costume designer Soyon An told The Hollywood Reporter contestants were allotted $400 an episode for their wardrobe.
"They're creating an image, their brand," she added. "So if the costume goes over $400, the contestants have to decide whether or not to buy it themselves if they really want to wear it."
Disney/Eric McCandless
What Happens After an American Idol Contestant Gets Eliminated From the Show?
When host Ryan Seacrest reveals the results and singers are eliminated from the competition, it's time for them to pack their bags.
"For Hollywood Week, you generally get sent home as soon as they can book you on a flight," Margie said in a 2021 TikTok video. "So, you will literally leave the theater and go to a separate hotel and then they put you on a flight and leave right away."
As for later in the competition?
"For Hawaii, you don't leave the same day," she added. "Everybody flies back to L.A. on the same plane, whether they made it to the Top 20 or didn't. And then when you live in the apartments and you're doing live shows, if you get cut between like 20 and 10, I think you probably leave quickly after. But if you're in the Top 10 and you get cut, you very likely will stay in the apartments until the finale because they're gonna bring you back for the finale and you're gonna perform in the finale."
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Do American Idol Contestants Under 18 Still Have to Go to School?
You must be at least 15 years old to compete on American Idol, so some of the singers are still keeping up with their studies.
"We had to have school on set and all that stuff," Danielle Finn, who was 17 years old when she made the Top 24 on season 20, explained to season 14 runner-up Clark Beckham in 2022. "And we couldn't film more than 10 hours a day. So if we ever went over, we would be kept to the side. Or, if we ever had free time? 'Oh, you gotta go to school.'"
Victoria Johnson, just 16 when she made it to the Showstopper round on season 22, had a similar experience.
Though she was on spring break during Hollywood Week, because she was a minor, "they had me do the required school hours," she told University Press in 2024. "I just did puzzles the whole time because I didn’t have any schoolwork to do....I am taking all my classes online this semester because of Idol, because I was going back and forth with filming."
M Becker/American Idol 2009/Getty Images for Fox
Where Do American Idol Contestants Live During the Show?
Over the years, American Idol contestants have lived in apartments, hotels and even mansions. The huge house on season eight, for instance, had a basketball court, bowling alley, cinema room as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
"The mansion was sooo awesome," contestant Lil Rounds wrote in a February 2024 Instagram post while looking back at her season 15 years prior, "but we hardly had any sleep."
These days, contestants appear to stay in hotels. In fact, season 22 winner Abi Carter and top seven finalist Julia Gagnon were roommates.
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What Do American Idol Contestants Do When They're Not Performing on the Show?
They stay quite busy.
Season two winner Ruben Studdard remembered how packed his schedule was with song selection, preparation, vocal coaching and filming for show packages and commercials.
"Thursday we got the songs," he recalled during a 2023 interview with recording artist West Byrd. "Friday we chose the songs. Friday-Saturday we taped commercials. Sunday we made final selections. Then Sunday night-Monday night we went to the studio to make sure everything was right for the track. And then Tuesday morning we would do a dry run of the show, like top to bottom. So when you see the package when people are like, 'You should vote for X, Y, Z' that's already been taped Tuesday morning."
Then, of course, there's the actual show. "Wednesday is the elimination, and then it starts all over," Ruben added. "And it gets even tougher when the group gets smaller because the work is the same."
Jena Irene Asciutto has shared a similar sentiment.
"As the weeks went on and people were eliminated, the people left were responsible for filling that episode of time," the season 13 runner-up told Business Insider. "So we were needed for more things. And I think at like top eight was when we started doing Ford commercials every Sunday."
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