Maddie Poppe is American Idol 2018

Maddie Poppe, 20, female troubadour from Iowa, is American Idol (AI) 2018. She bested country balladeer Caleb Lee Hutchinson, 19, from Georgia. This makes her the first female finalist to win the contest in ages. I think Jordin Sparks was the last one. After that, there came a succession of male singers, most of them of the bland, forgettable variety which I believe contributed to the first American Idol’s diminished viewership and which brought about its eventual death.

Actually this revival edition also went in that direction when Maddie, Caleb and third placer Gabby Barrett, 17, from Pennsylvania became the consistent top-notchers during the elimination rounds. They were getting the most votes from viewers. White America was voting in a big way and making very white choices just like this final trio. Truth to tell, I thought the show lost a lot of edge when it was those three contestants who were left in the finals.

It honestly felt like there was this unwritten rule hovering over the voters to keep American Idol white and singing country. Get rid of the rockers, the soul men, the Africans, the Hispanics, the half-breeds, the transgender, the short, the fat, etc. I have a feeling that judge Katy Perry realized this during the finals show when she blurted out that it was a disaster. I think she was referring to the performances and the nondescript original songs chosen for the finalists. All plain and dull.

This is not to say that Maddie does not deserve the title. Though always low-key, she was consistently good in her performances. She has her own style. She shows a lot of promise as a songwriter. And she is no rip-off like Caleb, who has too much of Johnny Cash and Scotty Mccreery or of Gabby who channels Carrie Underwood all the time. I liked her sweet moment singing Rainbow Connection with Kermit The Frog. She seems nice. But I want more dazzle. I want spellbinding star quality that she seems to lack.

Anyway, I hope Maddie becomes a success. Also Caleb and Gabby and all those fantastic, definitely more interesting talents that the show lost because the judges kicked them out or they did not get enough votes from the viewers. Besides if Maddie becomes a big star, then American Idol stays on air. And it is a fun show to watch. I love judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie and I am glad that they all signed on for the next season.

Now, make sure you tune in to the replays of this year’s finals night and most of all to the announcement of winners which came the next day. I may not agree with the viewers’ choices but the AI producers did put on a most enjoyable show. I would have loved Richie in a ballad duet with Michael J. Woodward but that All Night Long (Night Long) with the Top 10 finalists was a real rouser. Besides they gave Michael J. to the great Yolanda Adams to duet with in What The World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love and it was really great.

Other numbers you must also catch are Luke in a duet of Most People Are Good with Gabby; Nick Jonas singing Jealous with Top 7’s Jurnee; the sweet moment of Katy and Catie Turner from Top 5, together in Part Of Me; Top 24 contestant Layla Spring and her baby sister Dyxie singing Blue with original artist LeAnn Rimes. Oh and wasn’t it nice of American Idol to bring back Ada Vox to sing Lady Marmalade with no other but the legendary Patti Labelle, who I must say, still rides those vocal curls effortlessly.

Now adopting an alpaca was sweet of American Idol. It was for contestant Noah Davis. But bringing back Sendaya, the heartthrob from Season Six looking like that, was not. Oh and did you know that Maddie and Caleb are dating? Watching them sing together makes one wonder how their love story will play out. I hope they stay happy and in love forever.

And if you are feeling sad and blah or just feeling plain nothing, check out that rendition of Hello by Ada Vox, Noah and that James Franco look-alike, Katy’s crush Trevor Holmes. It is just plain hilarious.