Iam Tongi may have taken home the American Idol title Sunday night (May 21), but his fellow contestants – Colin Stough and Megan Danielle – didn’t go down without a fight. The latter, especially, shone brightly during the finale even when sandwiched between some of the biggest star-powered performances.
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The 21-year-old Douglasville, Georgia native kicked off the night with celebrity mentor Keith Urban’s song “God Whispered Your Name.” The grit-filled display only further proved her power, something the judges – Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie – recalled having seen grow throughout the season.
Danielle followed up the Urban tune with an homage to her hometown, singing the Journey hit “Faithfully.” She took on to anthemic rock belter with confidence and ease, bringing Perry to tears with the first few notes. The judges shared a moment of pride following her performance, saying they felt like parents at their child’s graduation.
In between contestant performances, the night saw stars like Ellie Goulding, Jazmine Sullivan, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Pitbull, TLC, former Idol contestants Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, and several more take the American Idol stage for their own musical showcases.
The show’s all-star judges also performed their hits with the season’s Top 12 contestants – Wé Ani, Zachariah Smith, Haven Madison, Oliver Steele, Warren Peay, Marybeth Byrd, Tyson Venegas, Lucy Love and Nutsa – joining in on the night’s festivities, as well.
Ahead of her final song, Danielle joined celebrity guest Lauren Daigle for her latest hit, “Thank God I Do.” It was a full circle moment for the Idol hopeful who sang Daigle’s “You Say” during her audition for the judges earlier this year.
Megan then helped close out the night and the season with her new single, “Dream Girl,” a rock-tinged country anthem that saw the runner-up shine. Check out her final American Idol performance below.
Photo by Eric McCandless/ABC
