Noah Thompson and Rock Icon Melissa Etheridge Share the Stage For Sultry Duet On ‘American Idol’ Finale
American Idol finalist Noah Thompson and Rock icon Melissa Etheridge teamed up for a show-stopping duet during the American Idol…
Noah Thompson, Melissa Etheridge; Photo by ABC, American Idol
American Idol finalist Noah Thompson and Rock icon Melissa Etheridge teamed up for a show-stopping duet during the American Idol finale on Sunday (May 22).
The pair took the stage together to sing Etheridge’s smash hit, “I’m The Only One.” The song was originally released in 1993 but didn’t have an impact until after the success of “Come To My Window.” “I’m The Only One” was later re-released and reached No.8 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and No.1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Etheridge is the sole songwriter of the song, which is her biggest hit to date.
Thompson was surprised with the opportunity to duet with Melissa Etheridge following the unveiling of Idol’s Top 3. Judges Katy Perry and Luke Bryan surprised Thompson with the news that he would be performing with Etheridge.
“Noah, our friend reached out and wanted to sing with you. Her name is Melissa Etheridge,” Perry told Thompson, who replied, “Sounds good!”
Earlier this month, Thompson released his debut single, “One Day Tonight.”
Co-written by Jared Griffin, Trannie Anderson, and Brett Sheroky and produced by Jimmy Robbins, the mid-tempo track showcases the Kentucky native’s signature raspy vocals alongside pop/country vocals.
The song finds the former construction worker singing about his lover and how she dreams about their future together while sipping on wine.
“She wants a wedding in September/ Save up all winter/ Spend our summers in a fix ‘er upper in Denver/ She wants a girl and a boy/ And a old dog named Ole Roy Lord I hope this old boy can give her that life/ So go on girl/ Pour a glass of wine/ And dream aloud, talk about/ One day tonight,” he sings on the chorus.
The three-hour Season 20 finale of American Idol also featured performances from the Idol judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, as well as Thompson’s fellow finalists, HunterGirl and Leah Marlene.
Additionally, superstars Carrie Underwood, Gabby Barrett, James Arthur, Sara Bareilles, Michael Bublé, Deana Carter, Earth, Wind & Fire, Flo Rida, Ben Platt, Thomas Rhett, Tai Verdes, and more also performed during the star-studded broadcast.
Several other contestants from Season 20 also returned to the Idol stage, including Mike Parker, Christian Guardino, Jay Copeland, Nicolina Bozzo, Fritz Hager, Emyrson Flora, and Lady K.
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the American Idol finale aired live coast-to-coast on Sunday, May 22, at 8/7c on ABC. The finale also streamed live on ABC.com and the ABC app and will be available to watch via Hulu on Monday (May 23).
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.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
