Seasons

American Idol season 24 (2026)

Aired on ABC from January 26, 2026 to May 11, 2026. 14 finalists and 6 semifinalists, with their show results and what they did after the show.

The 14 finalists (Top 14).

Finalists

FinalistShow resultAfter the show
Hannah Harper
WinnerMay 11, 2026After winning season 24 in May 2026, Hannah Harper released the singles "Married Into This Town" (July 2026) and "Hold Your Horses" (September 2026) through 19 Recordings/Atlantic Outpost. She is touring with her family band on her String Cheese Tour, scheduled to run through November 14, 2026, and was announced for select fall 2026 dates supporting Brad Paisley and Lauren Alaina.
Jordan McCullough
Runner-upMay 11, 2026Jordan McCullough of Murfreesboro was worship leader at Zeal Church in Nashville as of March 4, 2026. His 2022 release Offering, through Zeal Worship, had passed 150,000 Spotify streams by that date. On The Voice season 17, which aired in 2019, he sang Let Me Love You and did not turn a chair. On American Idol season 24 he received a Golden Ticket for Goodness of God and a Platinum Ticket for Grandma’s Hands, and he finished as runner-up to Hannah Harper.
Keyla Richardson
Third placeMay 11, 2026Keyla Richardson of Pensacola was a season 9 finalist on Sunday Best in 2019 and signed with Uncle G Records. So Good, released November 1, 2019, reached No. 1 on Billboard Gospel Airplay, Mediabase Gospel Radio, and the Billboard Gospel Indicator chart. She performed the song at the 2020 Stellar Awards. An eight-track album titled So Good came out on September 25, 2020. She finished third on American Idol season 24 and, as of May 12, 2026, teaches music at Life Shifting Learning Academy in Pensacola.
Jesse Findling
Eliminated (12th)April 6, 2026Jesse Findling of Massapequa Park won a Golden Ticket on American Idol with Benson Boone’s In the Stars. The season premiered on January 26, 2026. He graduated from Massapequa High School in 2023, played musical theater there, and was a biology major at Binghamton University. By April 19, 2026 he had reached the top 12. In the week before that date he sang the national anthem at the New York Islanders’ season finale at UBS Arena. He said his goal is to learn guitar and write his own songs.
Braden Rumfelt
Eliminated (4th–5th)May 4, 2026Braden Rumfelt is from Murphy, North Carolina. His commercial recordings are American Idol performances on 19 Recordings and Atlantic, beginning with Love On The Brain on March 17, 2026. On April 27, 2026, in the Top 7 round, he sang Cardigan and This Love. He was eliminated in the Top 5 round on May 4, 2026, and at the May 11 finale he sang Rewind and Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me with Clay Aiken.
Chris Tungseth
Eliminated (4th–5th)May 4, 2026Chris Tungseth is a construction worker from Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He graduated from Grand Canyon University in spring 2025 with a degree in exercise science. He wrote Lonely Road after his father died in 2023 and sang it at his American Idol audition. Idol recordings on 19 Recordings and Atlantic begin with Apologize on March 23, 2026. He was eliminated in the Top 5 round on May 4, 2026, and at the May 11 finale he sang Cruise with Nelly. Lonely Road came out on June 5, 2026.
Brooks
Eliminated (6th–7th)April 27, 2026Brooks, also known as Brooks Rosser, is from Bel Air, Maryland. Before his fall 2025 American Idol audition he had never sung in public, he had played guitar at a couple of gigs, and he worked as a dementia care technician. A back injury in his freshman year of high school ended a plan to play soccer professionally, and he later took up the guitar. Idol recordings on 19 Recordings and Atlantic begin with Dancing On My Own on March 17, 2026. Knockin' On Heaven's Door came out on July 24, 2026. By September 2, 2026 the Harford County Council had presented him a proclamation.
Daniel Stallworth
Eliminated (6th–7th)April 27, 2026Daniel Stallworth is from Moss Point, Mississippi. His American Idol performance recordings on 19 Recordings and Atlantic begin with All Night Long (All Night) on March 17, 2026. A free concert at Jerry D. Alexander Stadium was scheduled for May 5, 2026. On May 31, 2026 he sang as a guest artist at a church anniversary in Hattiesburg and said to stay tuned on new projects. A homecoming concert at Riverfront Park in Moss Point was scheduled for September 19, 2026.
Kyndal Inskeep
Eliminated (8th–9th)April 20, 2026Kyndal Inskeep, from Indiana, is a singer and songwriter based in Nashville. In 2019 she was on The Voice season 17, joined Team Gwen, and reached the Top 20 before elimination. She then released the single Letter on January 10, 2020. Honest, with Song House, came out on April 8, 2022, and Parachute on July 8, 2022. On American Idol season 24 she received a platinum ticket.
Lucas Leon
Eliminated (8th–9th)April 20, 2026Lucas Leon, from Gallatin, Tennessee, left American Idol season 24 in the top 9 round on April 20, 2026. On May 11 he sang with Brad Paisley at the finale, and Paisley invited him to the Grand Ole Opry. 19 Recordings released The Crazy Kind that day and Fall In Love Someday on July 24. He was scheduled to play in Nashville on October 8 and October 17, 2026.
Philmon Lee
Eliminated (10th–11th)April 13, 2026Philmon Lee, from LaGrange, Georgia, was eliminated from American Idol season 24 on April 13, 2026, after singing Hot Blooded. On May 11 he sang with Shinedown at the finale. Epic Records has released his music since 2020, including the EP 706 in 2021 and Baby Don't Cry, featuring Young Thug, in 2023.
Rae
Eliminated (10th–11th)April 13, 2026Rae Boyd, who performs as Rae, is from Frederick, Maryland, and lives in Towson. She was eliminated from American Idol season 24 on April 13, 2026, then sang with En Vogue at the May 11 finale. She headlined the music slate of the SilverVox Film and Music Festival in Frederick, June 18–21, 2026.
Jake Thistle
Eliminated (13th–14th)April 6, 2026Jake Thistle self-released Down the Line in late 2020 and released the 7-track album The Half Left Out on November 17, 2023. Joe Riccitelli signed him to Gold’n Retriever Entertainment, a subsidiary of Red Light Management. Sessions with Butch Walker yielded the 2025 singles The City Whispers and Alone, Together. He reached the Top 14 of American Idol in 2026, had graduated from Rutgers University by July 6, 2026, and released the 13-song album A Stranger By Design on September 25, 2026. The Half Left Out and A Stranger By Design are each described as his sophomore album.
Julián Kalel
Eliminated (13th–14th)April 6, 2026Julián Kalel Almanzán performs as Julián Kalel. He received a golden ticket on American Idol season 23 and did not continue to Hollywood Week while he was struggling with his mental health. He returned for season 24, reached the top 14, and was eliminated with Jake Thistle during Songs of Faith. He released Surrender on August 23, 2024 and Lone Guitar on September 1, 2025. In 2025 he partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness around Lone Guitar. On May 11, 2026 he performed at the season 24 finale and released Heartstrings.
  • Winner
  • Runner-up
  • Other finalists

Semifinalists

Semifinal round: the Top 20 picked after the 'Ohana Round in Hawaii, two groups of ten, who sang on March 16 and March 23.

SemifinalistShow resultAfter the show
Abayomi
Eliminated in the Top 20 (15th–20th)March 23, 2026No career summary yet.
Madison Moon
Eliminated in the Top 20 (15th–20th)March 23, 2026No career summary yet.
Ruby Rae
Eliminated in the Top 20 (15th–20th)March 23, 2026No career summary yet.
Genevieve Hayward
Eliminated in the Top 20 (15th–20th)March 16, 2026No career summary yet.
Kutter Bradley
Eliminated in the Top 20 (15th–20th)March 16, 2026No career summary yet.
Makiyah
Eliminated in the Top 20 (15th–20th)March 16, 2026No career summary yet.

Sources