In two days, one of the most quietly remarkable finales in American Idol history will air on ABC - and the most remarkable thing about it has nothing to do with vocal runs.
The Season 24 finale airs on ABC and Disney+ on Monday, May 11 at 8 p.m. ET - and for the first time in the show's 24-year history, all three finalists are openly, publicly, and unapologetically Christian.
Jordan McCullough, 27, is a worship leader from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who has been performing in church since he was four years old. His Idol journey began with a soulful audition of CeCe Winans' "Goodness of God" that earned a standing ovation from all three judges - with Carrie Underwood saying, "It just felt like worship." McCullough previously auditioned for Season 17 of The Voice in 2019 without getting a single chair turn. Six years later, he is one performance away from winning the biggest singing competition in television history.
Hannah Harper is a stay-at-home mother of three from Willow Springs, Missouri, who served as a worship leader for seven years before Idol. She and fellow finalist Keyla Richardson both grew up in the Church, and when asked about sharing their faith on national television, Harper said simply: "It was an honor." Harper's journey on the show drew comparisons to Dolly Parton, Kacey Musgraves, and Alison Krauss - but her heart, by every account, belongs firmly in the Church pew.
Keyla Richardson is a gospel powerhouse and praise and worship leader from Pensacola, Florida, who teaches music at Life Shifting Learning Academy - a private Christian school founded by her own mother. She is also a single mother to her nine-year-old son Drew. During the Ohana Week round in Hawaii, judge Lionel Richie told her directly: "I have never had any contestant walk out on this stage and tear the place up. That was the greatest performance I have ever seen on this stage."
Three finalists. Three Christians. Three stories of faith, perseverance, and singing to God long before any camera showed up to watch.
Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys will serve as guest mentor and perform alongside the Top 3 during the finale. Whoever wins Monday night, the Church will have a new voice on the national stage - and they will already know exactly where their gift came from.
The American Idol Season 24 finale airs Monday May 11 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
