The singing-challenge show, American Idol, has come to an end after 15 seasons and setting the path for American singing competitions.
The show broadcast its final season finale on April 7th naming Trent Harmon as the last Idol, after almost three hours that compelled dozens of singers that started their career on the famous TV show.
Performances on the finale included former winner Carrie Underwood in a duet with Keith Urban followed by finalist Jordin Sparks and Fantasia while awaiting for the show’s long host Ryan Seacrest to announce that Trent Harmon was this season’s winner.
Former judges were a big part of the show’s finale, former judge Jennifer Lopez performed on the show’s stage while Simon Cowell brought the original panel that included Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson to say their final goodbye to the show that brought them all together.
Ryan Seacrest also brought to the stage his former co-host of the show Brian Dunkleman, who left after season 1. The duo gave each other a warming hug after not seeing each other for over 14 years.
The Winner
Trent Harmon, a white male from Mississippi defeated La’Porsha Renae a single mother from the same state. The competition between these two finalists was very tight and a lot of fans was expecting Renae to win the contest.
Hermon almost collapses when hearing host Ryan Seacrest announcing him as the final Idol, the winner told USA today why he was so overwhelmed.
“ I haven’t been able to breath in almost a year, i feel like in that moment i got to decompress for the first time in almost a year.” He said backstage at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre
The winner also issued the fact that historic Idols were watching him.
“There’s a sea of people on that stage tonight that Idol made relevant in so many homes for so many years, anytime I am mentioned as a champion with a Carrie Underwood or a Kelly Clarkson, I’m OK with that,” said the winner to USA Today.
Despite the farewell of the show, fans and critics are generating controversy over Harmon’s title. Assuring Renae should have won the contest.
Most of the critics are stating that the show has a race problem over their winners, social media enthusiasts expressed the same opinion
Elton John mentioned in 2004 that he was wondering if the show had a race problem since all the performers he had admired “happened to be black” and they all “seem to land on the bottom three”.
Both the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Time agree with the social media and review the ending of the show as a non-shocker finale, describing it as a typical winner for the franchise.
Source: USA Today