American Idol Finale: Top 3 Perform Carrie Underwood’s Anthem “The Champion”
on May 11, 2026
The Season 24 American Idol Finale Started Off Strong
Monday, May 11th marks the American Idol finale eoisode, and they kicked it off in the best way – with a powerful performance from the final three.
Hannah Harper, Keyla Richardson, and Jordan McCollough made it through the Top 5 episode and were voted into the finale by America after a tough elimination.
Alicia Keys served as a mentor and theme for the first round of performances. All three singers performed one of Keys’ hit songs, and then later in the episode they performed “Lovin’ U” with the songstress!
But before Jordan, Hannah, and Keyla performed “If I Ain’t Got You,” “No One,” and “Unthinkable,” respectively, they opened the show together with an anthem that got the entire studio audience on their feet!
They opened the show with none other than judge Carrie Underwood’s song “The Champion.”
The three finalists walked out on stage in their sparkliest and classiest duds to sing a song that is just as flashy.
Richardson kicked off the song with the few lines of the song. Harper joined in next before McCollough commanded the stage with his powerful take on the song. The three sang the rest of the song together and had the whole audience, and us at home, clapping along to the beat.
If this is how the show is kicking off, we know we’re in for a real treat!
Watch their incredible performance of “The Champion” below.
