Jill O'Rourke
Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
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| May 23, 2021 SIGN IN TO SAVE POST
ABC/Eric McCandlessReading Time: 4 minutes
The American Idol Season 19 finale aired on Sunday night. The three-hour event featured a number of incredible performances from contestants and guests. At the end of the night, a winner was finally crowned.
The Top 3 delivered several performances during the episode — including one song chosen by the judges. Voting was open during the show, and the Top 2 was announced part of the way through the night.
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‘American Idol’s Luke Bryan Invites Chayce Beckham Fishing
Chayce Beckham got an amazing offer from Luke Bryan after his first performance on Sunday night. He performed “Blackbird” by the Beatles. Lionel Richie complimented his “wonderful raspy voice of light,” while Katy Perry nicknamed him “Chayce the Ace.”
SEE ALSO: GRAHAM DEFRANCO REPLACES ARTHUR GUNN DURING ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ FINALE
Meanwhile, Bryan told Chayce that he wants to go bass fishing with him. He told Chayce that he’s earned it, adding, “Win or lose, we’re going fishing.”
Chayce shared that he was “broken” before joining the show, and thanked his family for pushing him to audition. Perry told him that sometimes “God has to turn up the volume on your life to see if you’re listening.”
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Willie Spence Brings Katy Perry to Tears
Willie Spence delivered one of the most emotional performances of the night. Before the finale, he returned to his hometown in Georgia to reunite with his family. His mother was in tears over the reunion. After Willie performed “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke, Perry was in tears as well.
“Seeing you with your mother just melted my heart,” Perry said through tears, while Bryan said the performance brought him joy.
Earlier in the show, Willie said that he lacked confidence when he first auditioned for the show, and he later contemplated quitting after his grandfather’s death. It’s amazing to see how far he’s come, and to watch him own the stage with confidence. Richie told Willie that watching him perform is a “religious experience.”
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Grace Kinstler Gives Celine Dion a Run for Her Money
Before her first performance of the night, Grace Kinstler said she would love to follow in Kelly Clarkson’s footsteps, calling her “authentic.” The judges chose for her to sing “All By Myself” by Celine Dion. Grace blew them away by making the song her own and giving Dion a run for her money.
Perry told Grace that the performance gave her “full body chills,” praising Grace’s “vulnerable power.” Bryan said she took the song “to another level,” while Richie told her, “Only you can create another song out of a standard song.”
Unfortunately, Grace didn’t make it into the Top 2. She was eliminated part of the way through the night, but there’s no doubt she has an incredible future ahead of her even without winning the show. Later in the night, she delivered another stellar performance of “Scars to Your Beautiful” with Alessia Cara herself.
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Katy Perry Plays Guitar During Performance with Hunter Metts
Judge Katy Perry delivered a memorable performance during the finale. She teamed up with contestant Hunter Metts to perform her song “Thinking of You.” Notably, both Perry and Hunter played acoustic guitar during the emotional, stripped-down performance.
SEE ALSO: JINGLE MASTER SUMS UP ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ SEASON 19 IN HILARIOUS FINALE PERFORMANCE
We’re used to seeing the fun pop side of Perry, with plenty of colorful costumes to go along with it. And as much as we totally love that persona, it was refreshing to see the judges show off her guitar skills and really showcase what an amazing voice she has. It just proves how qualified she is to give these singers advice.
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Who Is the Winner of ‘American Idol’ Season 19?
Voting was open during the show, as America decided which singer should be crowned the Season 19 American Idol winner. At the end of the night, host Ryan Seacrest announced the results. Before he did, Chayce and Willie said they loved each other.
The winner of American Idol 2021 was announced to be … Chayce Beckham. The 24-year-old forklift operator from California performed his single “23” to celebrate his big win while his fellow contestants clapped along. Congratulations to Chayce. We can’t wait to see where he goes from here.
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