American Idol season 23 (2025)

Finalists

American Idol season 23 finalists: show result, then career after the show

Finalist	Show result	After the show
Jamal Roberts	WinnerLast competed May 18, 2025	Jamal Roberts released his debut album, The Journey, on October 2, 2026, through 19 Recordings under exclusive license to BMG. At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in 2026 he was nominated for Best Gospel Performance/Song for Still (Live) with Jonathan McReynolds. After his 2025 American Idol win, he joined Brandy and Monica on The Boy Is Mine Tour.
JFJohn Foster	Runner-upLast competed May 18, 2025	John Foster, the season 23 runner-up from Addis, Louisiana, first released Tell That Angel I Love Her himself on July 26, 2023. A new recording came out on May 18, 2025, through 19 Recordings under exclusive license to BMG. By August 1, 2025, he had made his Grand Ole Opry debut. 19 Recordings released Little Goes A Long Way on October 24, 2025. On January 1, 2026, he was the musical guest on Louisiana's float in the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Breanna Nix	Third placeLast competed May 18, 2025	Breanna Nix, a season 23 finalist from Denton, Texas, released Higher on May 18, 2025, and Another Mile on November 7, 2025. She is featured on Brandon Lake's live recording of Daddy's DNA on the King of Hearts deluxe edition released June 16, 2025.
JKJosh King	Eliminated (8th)Last competed May 5, 2025	Josh King is a Charlotte, North Carolina singer and pianist who has played as a volunteer at Charlotte Douglas International Airport since 2018. On November 27, 2025, he released the single Gingerbread Man on Kings Forge Records.
SNSlater Nalley	Eliminated (4th–5th)Last competed May 12, 2025	Slater Nalley, an Atlanta native living in Nashville, announced on October 17, 2025 a record deal with Warner Music Nashville/Warner Records in partnership with 19 Entertainment, and he released Foolish Pride that day. His six-track debut EP, Hey Georgia, came out on August 21, 2026. On September 25, 2026 he released What Do You See?. By then he had made his Grand Ole Opry debut and was on Blake Whiten's Something to Say Tour through fall 2026.
Thunderstorm Artis	Eliminated (4th–5th)Last competed May 12, 2025	Thunderstorm Artis was born in Kailua, grew up in Hale'iwa, and is based in Nashville. The Voice season 18 ran from February 24 to May 19, 2020. John Legend coached him, Nick Jonas stole him in the knockouts, and he finished third. He released the EP Haunted on June 4, 2018, and I Just Want You to Know on May 18, 2025. On October 25, 2025 he opened for The War and Treaty at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania. Good Enough for Me came out on August 21, 2026 under his own name.
Gabby Samone	Eliminated (6th–7th)Last competed May 11, 2025	Gabby Samone, a Baltimore singer, released the single Safe on August 14, 2026, through 19 Recordings under exclusive license to BMG. She was a finalist on season 23 of American Idol. In 2025 she performed during NFL Sunday Night Football, and she appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show at the top of 2026.
Mattie Pruitt	Eliminated (6th–7th)Last competed May 11, 2025	Mattie Pruitt released Strings on May 18, 2025, through 19 Recordings under exclusive license to BMG. She is signed to 19 Recordings in partnership with Graffiti Sound. On July 10, 2026, Alex Sampson and Mattie Pruitt released Like Me.
CJCanaan James Hill	Eliminated (9th–10th)Last competed May 4, 2025	Canaan James Hill, a season 23 finalist from Dallas, released the six-song EP He Will Be There on June 4, 2026, through Groove Mine Music. A June 24, 2026 announcement said the single He Will Be There was available, and named Encourage, Amazing, Bless Ya Name, and O Come All Ye Faithful among his songs.
KJKolbi Jordan	Eliminated (9th–10th)Last competed May 4, 2025	Kolbi Jordan was scheduled to play Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray in Tulsa from September 12 through September 21, 2025. She released Waiting on November 28, 2025, and Epiphany (LSTN Live) on May 13, 2026.
CChé	Eliminated (11th–12th)Last competed April 28, 2025	Ché Chesterman, from Basildon, finished third on The X Factor in December 2015, took part in The X Factor Live Tour in 2016, and competed on American Idol season 23. As of March 22, 2026 he worked as a singer and songwriter, with private bookings that included weddings, and he was booked to sing at a ball in Bulphan in May.
Filo	Eliminated (11th–12th)Last competed April 28, 2025	Filo, also known as Filo Ebid, completed a master's degree in Contemporary Performance at Berklee Valencia in 2024 and released the debut single Find My Intention on March 14, 2025, under exclusive license to Disrupción Records. He held the title role in Into the Woods at Pacific Opera Theatre in 2022.
ABAmanda Barise	Eliminated (13th–14th)Last competed April 27, 2025	Amanda Barise, a New Jersey native who has lived in Chelsea, New York, since 2019, released the single Cute and Deadly on May 14, 2025, and a three-track set of the same name on June 25, 2025, through Hit Pit Tunes.
DRDesmond Roberts	Eliminated (13th–14th)Last competed April 27, 2025	Desmond Roberts, who grew up in Orange County, said in an August 18, 2021 profile that he had graduated from Berklee College of Music as a songwriting major and was working as a singer and songwriter for hire. On April 5, 2025 he was teaching music, living in Corona, and working in Los Angeles.

Semifinalists

Semifinal round: the Top 24 semifinalists, four picked after the Showstopper round and twenty after the Head to Head round, who sang in two groups of twelve over two weeks (Top 24 on April 13 and 14 in Hawaii, Top 20 on April 20 and 21).