‘American Idol’ Season 23 Live Blog: Grand Finale, Winner Crowned (May 18, 2025)

What better way to celebrate winning American Idol than through song?! Fresh off his big win Roberts took the stage to perform “Her Heart,” a song Anthony Hamilton put out in 2008. Roberts’ fellow competitors surrounded him on stage as confetti rained down throughout his celebratory performance.

After three hours of anticipation, Foster and Roberts took the stage once more, this time to find out who won the competition. Seacrest delayed as much as possible, but eventually announced Roberts as the season’s winner.

“I’m just a country boy from Mississippi chasing a dream,” Roberts reflected as highlights from the singer’s Idol journey played. After the touching package, Roberts performed his new single, “Heal.” Roberts previously performed track, which Tom Odell released in 2013, this season. Just as it did the first time, Roberts’ performance of the emotional ballad the audience and judges were left in awe.

During his last performance of the night, Foster performed “Tell That Angel I Love Her.” The original track is his just-released single, which he penned about his late friends who died in a car crash. The emotional performance moved the crowd and the judges. 

“It’s the simple things that made me into the person I am today,” Foster said as footage from his audition played. At that time, Bryan doubted that Foster had what it took to make it through the competition, but the judge later told the teen, “Nobody has ever proven me more wrong.”

It was the judges’ time to show off their stuff! Underwood, Richie, and Bryan did just that by performing “Stuck on You,” Richie’s 1983 track.

Jessica Simpson was next up on the stage, where she performed on TV for the first time in 15 years. She first sang “Blame Me” solo, before welcoming Idol finalist Josh King to the stage. The pair teamed up for a performance of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.”

In a video retrospective, Idol looked back at Underwood’s 20-year journey from contestant to judge. 

“If I haven’t made one decision my life would be completely different,” Underwood tearfully told the cameras, before taking a look back at the journeys after the Top 3 competitors.

The War and Treaty impressed with an unforgettable performance next. The duo was joined on stage by Idol finalist Thunderstorm Artist as they sang “Hey Driver.”

Underwood took the stage to perform alongside Slater Nally, an Idol finalist whose voice she’s previously praised. They two expertly sang “I’m Gonna Love You,” the duet Underwood recorded with Cody Johnson. Johnson wasn’t left out of the performance, though. In a surprise to both viewers and Nally, Johnson walked onto the stage halfway through the performance.

In a sweet tribute video, other Idol contestants praised Roberts for his love of fatherhood, while also teasing him for his dislike of shirts.

During Kolbi Jordan’s American Idol audition, she named Patti LaBelle as one of her favorite performers. Richie responded by getting LaBelle on the phone and telling Jordan that his dream was to have the women perform together. That dream came true on Sunday when the ladies teamed up to sing “Lady Marmalade” together.

PJ Morton took the stage next, performing “How Deep Is Your Love” alongside Idol finalist Amanda Barise. It was surely a huge moment for Barise, who counts Morton as one of her biggest influences.

Seacrest told the Top 2 finalists that, after the show wraps, they’ll both be taking a Disney cruise for four. The news elicited excitement from both Roberts, who has three daughters, and Foster, whose little sister has been by his side all night.

Breakout artist Myles Smith made his way to the Idol stage next. He performed “Nice to Meet You” and “Stargazing” with Filo and Che, both of whom competed on this season of Idol.

This season’s artist-in-residence joined Top 2 finalist Roberts to perform during the finale. The men sang both “Unpretty” and “Liar,” bringing the emotion in the first song and the fire in the second.

Gabby Samone, who competed on this season of Idol, made her return to the show by performing “I Am Changing” alongside Jennifer Holliday. The women showed off their powerful voices and amazing stage presence throughout their performance of the Dreamgirls track.

Though Nix has been eliminated from the competition, her time on the Idol stage hasn’t ended yet. She teamed up with Brandon Lake to sing his song, “Daddy’s DNA.” The pair’s voices beautifully melded as they performed the track.

In a hilarious video tribute, eliminated American Idol contestants playfully teased Foster for his country style and background, with some even doing their best impression of the teen.

Mattie Pruitt returned to the stage next, as she performed “Iris” with the band behind the 1998 track, Goo Goo Dolls. The audience sang and swayed along throughout the captivating performance. 

Celebrated gospel singer Kirk Franklin came to the stage next. He teamed up with Idol‘s Canaan James Hill to sing “Melodies from Heaven” and Love Theory.” The men brought incredible energy to the stage, and had the whole room dancing as they did so.

After Seacrest welcomed season 20 winner Noah Thompson back to the show, Underwood told the country singer that he’ll be making his Grand Ole Opry Debut later this month.

After Bryan’s solo performance, Foster joined the superstar on stage. The pair expertly covered Randy Travis’ “Deeper Than the Holler,” as Underwood, Richie, and the live audience sang and danced along.

Bryan took a break from his duties as a judge to take his turn on stage. The country superstar delighted the crowd with a performance of his 2024 song, “Country Song Came On.”

The rock duo took the stage to perform “The Anthem,” and the whole crowd was on their feet. No one was more excited, however, than Richie, whose daughter, Nicole, is married to Joel Madden. Later, the Top 14 men joined the duo to perform “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”

Nearly halfway through the live episode, the Top 3 took the stage again, this time to send one person home. Foster was the first person to make it into the Top 2, and Roberts followed. That means that Nix was sent home, taking third place in the competition.

Salt-N-Peppa Took the stage to perform two of their biggest hits: “Push It” and “Shoop.” The judges were on their feet dancing throughout the whole performance, as was the entirety of the crowd. Then the Top 14 ladies joined the duo on stage to perform “Whatta Man.”

Seacrest announced that American Idol will be holding in-person auditions at Nashville’s CMA Fest this June.

After celebrating her success in her hometown, Nix took the Idol stage once again. This time, she performed Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” 

“What a perfect song choice,” Bryan said. “… What a feeling you just gave us.”

“Perfect voice. Perfect presentation,” Richie added, before Underwood said, “You’re a gorgeous, wonderful inspiration to so many people.”

As Nix headed home to Texas to celebrate her success, she told the cameras that Idol is “the best thing” that’s ever happened to her, save the birth of her son. A local ice cream shop created a sundae in Nix’s honor, before she gathered with her family at her sister’s house. 

“When I left Denton I felt like a nobody, and now that I’m back they’re showing me that I’m somebody,” Nix said. “It’s the most incredible feeling ever.”

A local spa treated Nix to a makeover, before she headed to a parade in her honor. 

After fans got to see Roberts’ moving hometown visit, he took the stage again. This time, he performed The Temptations’ “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me).”

“You just have this incredible ability to make things your own, and it all sounds fresh, and new, and fun,” Underwood said, before Bryan called Roberts “one of the most amazing people I’ve ever seen on this show.”

“You are divinely guided, my friend,” Richie said.

After making it to the Top 3, Roberts headed home to Mississippi to celebrate with his hometown. He spent time with his daughters, before heading to the school where he teaches PE. He treated the kids to a day of fun, complete with sports, bounce houses, and more. A family cookout followed, before the fun continued with a parade. “This is amazing,” Roberts marveled amid the day. Twenty thousand people proceeded to fill the streets to see Roberts perform.

For his second performance of the night, Foster sang John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The judges were once again impressed with the showing, and Underwood praised his “great song choice.”

Foster returned to his Louisiana hometown for a hero’s welcome. During the visit, he stopped by his elementary and high schools. While at the latter school, he was praised for his original song, “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” which he penned after two of his friends died. He also visited the cemetery where his pal is buried.

A parade followed, and Foster remarked, “I experienced every emotion under the sun today. No matter what happens, this will forever be the best day of my life.” At a concert, he played the song, which is his new single, and broke down crying while on stage.

Jelly Roll decided to have Nix perform Katy Nichole’s “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” as her first song of the night. Nix expertly delivered a powerful rendition of the track that left the judges and crowd in awe.

“I think they’re saying it for me,” Bryan said as the crowd roared behind him. “… You have such a special heart and thing about you.”

Richie noted that all of the final three contestants “have a career forever,” before encouraging Nix to “stay on your path” in the future.

“God bless you,” Underwood said after praising Nix’s performance.

Nix proceeded to reflect on going from a fan of the show to a finalist on it, telling Seacrest, “It’s a dream come true.”

Roberts wowed during his first performance of the night, singing TEEKS’ “First Time.” All three judges were on their feet after Roberts’ performance.

“You are just so talented,” Carrie Underwood said. “… You just feel so comfortable and sound so comfortable, and it sounds so good.”

Luke Bryan agreed, before quipping, “Will you teach me how to be that smooth?”

“What I love about you is the way you just navigate the story, it happens to come out of your mouth in brilliant form,” Lionel Richie added.

After a standing ovation from the judges, host Ryan Seacrest asked Foster about it will take to win the show.

“It all comes down to what America wants,” Foster said. “… It would be the honor of a lifetime.

After some advice from artist-in-residence Jelly Roll, Foster took the stage to perform Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).” The teen perfectly channeled the late country singer during his performance, as the crowd cheered and sang along.

To kick off the grand finale, American Idol‘s three finalists took the stage to perform Queen’s classic track, “We Are the Champions.” John Foster, Breanna Nix, and Jamal Roberts proved why they’re the last three standing during their time on stage.