American Idol has been on the air for many seasons and has had many winners. However, the most recent winner of American Idol is Iam Tongi. He won the 21st season of American Idol, which aired in 2023.
American Idol is an American reality television singing competition that has been on the air since 2002. The show was created by Simon Fuller and it is produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, which is a division of CKX, Inc. The show follows a group of aspiring singers as they compete in front of a panel of judges and a live audience to become the next American Idol.
List of American Idol Winners
Here is a list of all the American Idol winners by season:
Season 1 (2002): Kelly Clarkson
Season 2 (2003): Ruben Studdard
Season 3 (2004): Fantasia Barrino
Season 4 (2005): Carrie Underwood
Season 5 (2006): Taylor Hicks
Season 6 (2007): Jordin Sparks
Season 7 (2008): David Cook
Season 8 (2009): Kris Allen
Season 9 (2010): Lee DeWyze
Season 10 (2011): Scotty McCreery
Season 11 (2012): Phillip Phillips
Season 12 (2013): Candice Glover
Season 13 (2014): Caleb Johnson
Season 14 (2015): Nick Fradiani
Season 15 (2016): Trent Harmon
Season 16 (2018): Maddie Poppe
Season 17 (2019): Laine Hardy
Season 18 (2020): Just Sam
Season 19 (2021): Chayce Beckham
Season 20 (2022): Noah Thompson
- Season 21 (2023): Iam Tongi
It's worth noting that there was no American Idol season in 2017, as the show was briefly canceled before being revived in 2018.
Who are the judges of American Idol?
For the current American Idol Season 21, the judges are as follows:
Katy Perry - an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She joined the show as a judge in 2018 and has been with the show ever since.
Lionel Richie - an American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. He joined the show as a judge in 2018 and has also been with the show ever since.
Luke Bryan - an American country music singer and songwriter. He joined the show as a judge in 2018 and has been with the show for several seasons now.
American Idol judges have changed over the years. Some of the previous judges include Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr., among others.
What is the format for American Idol?
The American Idol audition process is designed to filter out contestants and select the most talented and promising singers for the competition. The audition process typically involves several rounds of performances, and contestants are evaluated by the show's producers and judges. Here's an overview of the audition process for American Idol:
Initial auditions: The first round of auditions is open to anyone who meets the eligibility requirements. Contestants are usually required to sing a song of their choice a cappella or accompanied by a musical instrument. This round is typically held in various cities across the United States.
Callback auditions: Contestants who pass the initial auditions are invited to perform again in front of the producers and judges. This round is often held in a large venue, where contestants perform in front of a group of producers and judges.
Hollywood Week: The remaining contestants are then invited to Hollywood, California, to participate in a week of intensive training and performances. During this week, the contestants perform solo and in groups, and are evaluated on their singing ability, stage presence, and other factors.
Live performances: Once the Hollywood Week round is over, the remaining contestants compete in a series of live performances in front of a live audience and the judges. These performances are typically broadcast on television and are open to viewer voting.
Throughout the audition process, contestants are evaluated on their vocal ability, stage presence, personality, and overall potential to become a successful recording artist. The producers and judges use their expertise to filter out the weaker performers and select the most promising contestants for the competition.