‘American Idol’ Finale 2026: How To Watch, Performers, Top 3 Finalists & More
Here’s everything you need to know about the “Idol’ finale.
Jordan Mccullough, Hannah Harper, Keyla Richardson; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless
American Idol is officially set to crown its Season 9 winner (Season 24 overall) during tonight’s highly anticipated grand finale episode airing Monday, May 11, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
The live three-hour event will feature the Top 3 finalists, Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, and Keyla Richardson, taking the stage one final time as they compete for America’s vote and the title of the next American Idol. Along with the final performances from the contestants, the finale will also include a star-studded lineup of special guests, collaborations, and unforgettable duets.
Here’s everything fans need to know about the American Idol finale.
How To Watch The American Idol Finale
Viewers can tune in Monday, May 11, 2026, beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ABC for the live coast-to-coast broadcast.
Who Are The American Idol Finalists?
Throughout the evening, the finalists will each perform multiple times in hopes of securing enough votes to win the competition. Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, and Keyla Richardson have emerged as fan favorites throughout the season, and tonight, one of them will officially become the newest American Idol champion.
Who Will Perform on the American Idol Finale?
Judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood are also set to perform during the broadcast. The trio will come together for a special rendition of Lionel Richie’s “Deep River Woman.” Bryan will additionally deliver the first-ever performance of his new song, “Fish Hunt Golf Drink,” and later join finalist Julián Kalel for a performance of Dwight Yoakam’s “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere.” Meanwhile, Carrie Underwood is set to team up with legendary rock band Mötley Crüe for a special collaboration performance.
Seventeen-time GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys will serve as the guest mentor for the finale and is also expected to perform during the show.
Additional performers throughout the night include Brad Paisley, Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms, Cameron Whitcomb, Clay Aiken, En Vogue, Jason Mraz, Lee Ann Womack, Nelly, Shinedown, and Tori Kelly.By the end of the night, American Idol fans will officially find out who America has chosen to win Season 9.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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