Sometimes a show reminds you why it existed in the first place. Monday night’s three-hour American Idol Season 24 finale — which aired live on ABC — was exactly that kind of television. And at the centre of it was Hannah Harper, a 25-year-old from Willow Springs, Missouri, who showed up with her husband and three sons in tow, sang a bluegrass gospel song about postpartum depression called “String Cheese,” and somehow made the whole country fall in love.
Ryan Seacrest announced Harper as the winner after a night that saw her outlast runner-up Jordan McCullough and third-place finisher Keyla Richardson. The finale was dense with guest performers — Alicia Keys returned to the show for the first time since Season 9 in 2010, mentoring the top three and performing with British singer Raye. Carrie Underwood joined Mötley Crüe for a genuinely unhinged but absolutely electric medley of “Home Sweet Home” and “Kickstart My Heart.” Clay Aiken came back after more than two decades to debut a new single, “Rewind.” Luke Bryan previewed his upcoming album.
But the night always came back to Harper. Her audition clip — in which a visibly moved Underwood called “String Cheese” the most relatable song she’d heard — racked up over 120 million views across all platforms and made her the season’s frontrunner almost immediately. This was also the first season to allow voting via social media, which proved to be a major advantage for a contestant who already had a loyal online fanbase before setting foot on an Idol stage.
She performed “String Cheese” one final time after the announcement, crying all the way through, surrounded by her family and fellow contestants. Genuinely good TV.
