The sixth lady to win AI

MANILA, Philippines — While male talents dominated the winners of American Idol (AI), the women were the ones who have established stellar careers in the international music scene. Recently joining the esteemed league of female winners that include Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, is Season 16 champ, Maddie Poppe, the sixth lady to win AI.

Interestingly, aside from bagging this season’s title, Maddie was congratulated by her runner-up, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, who proudly announced in the last stretch of the finale that Maddie is his girlfriend and they are actually dating.

The revelation came before the couple rendered their riveting final duet, Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World. It was a welcome surprise not only to the millions of AI viewers worldwide, but also to the celebrity judges — R&B legend and four-time Grammy winner Lionel Richie, pop queen Katy Perry and country music artist Luke Bryan. A giddy Katy excitedly turned her swivel chair repeatedly after hearing the announcement.

Maddie bagged a recording deal from Hollywood Records, a performance at the Hollywood Bowl and for the first time, it was announced the winner would get $250,000. Everything will be on top of her talent fee from the show and performance on the forthcoming AI live tour.

On Twitter, Caleb, the last man standing among this batch of contestants, proudly tweeted, “My girlfriend won American Idol. No one deserved it more than you, babe. I am honored to know you and even more honored to call you mine. Don’t forget about me. I love you.”

No more brand-new cars were given away this time, as what the Top 2 usually get in the AI finale. Maddie, a 20-year-old native from Clarksville, Iowa and Caleb, a 19-year-old artist from Dallas, Georgia, merely got vacation packages to Hawaii.

Television host Jimmy Kimmel made his amusing AI finale appearance, being on the same network, ABC, where the reality talent show is now being aired, after 15 years with Fox. Nick Jonas, a guest mentor in the AI tribute to Prince, was also a performer in the finale.

Another surprise for the night was AI contestant Noah “Wig” Davis getting the alpaca that he earlier wished for, from the auditions. Then, Maddie was seen doing a much-loved Rainbow Connection duet with Kermit the Frog.

The Top 3 finalists were given their original songs during the finale. Third placer Gabby Barrett sang Rivers Deep, Caleb crooned Johnny Cash Heart and Maddie rendered Going, Going Gone, also her much-applauded reprise after she was announced winner.

From the Top 24 contestants, AI introduced a different process of fast elimination this season. The contestants were divided into two groups and from each batch, the judges made their choices of seven lucky talents to advance to the Top 14.

That happened in only two episodes, unlike in the previous years when two contestants were eliminated every episode until the group went down to the Top 12. Meanwhile, the Top 14 signaled the start of the Live Shows this season, with the results night that easily trimmed down the contestants.

The first Live Show had six contestants with the highest votes, who easily advanced to the next round. Four were “Immune” from elimination, but had to perform for the judges. While four contestants were readily eliminated. In the previous years, only two were booted out every Live Show.

The Top 10 individually churned out well-loved Disney tunes and collectively rendered When You Wish Upon A Star, with Katy. Idina Menzel from Disney’s Frozen served as guest mentor. After the contestant’s individual performances, three more were booted out from the batch. The seven remaining contestants who were declared “Safe,” advanced to the next episode.

Two weeks before the finals, it was announced that the Top 7 would go on tour, no longer the Top 10 as in the previous seasons. The Top 7 contestants paid tribute to the late Prince, by singing songs he recorded and wrote. Nick was the guest mentor.

A week before the finals, the Top 5 excitedly trekked to Nashville, Tennessee and met AI’s most successful champion (Season 4), Carrie. That week, too, the contestants rendered Carrie’s popular songs, as well as dished out songs for their moms, being Mother’s Day celebration.

The strong triumvirate of AI judges — Lionel, Katy and Luke — announced they would all return for AI Season 17. The same goes for long-time AI host, Ryan Seacrest.