Season 17

**Season 17** of *American Idol* premiered on ABC on Sunday March 3, 2019 and ended on May 19, 2019. It is the show's second season to air on ABC. There was a prank on the judges by a girl named "Lady Mapo".

Ryan Seacrest returned as the host, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan returned as judges, and Bobby Bones returned as the in house-mentor. Bones even subbed for Ryan Seacrest as host for one episode.

This season was won by 18-year-old Louisiana singer Laine Hardy.

## Auditions

Main article: Season 17 Auditions
Twenty cities were visited by the *Idol* bus beginning with Orlando, Florida and San Diego, California on August 25, 2018. Auditions could also be submitted via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Musical.ly.

Auditions aired from March 3rd 2019 to March 18th 2019.

### Audition Cities

The following cities held auditions for Season 17, dates of the auditions are also shown.

* **Denver, Colorado** - *October 2, 2018*
* **Coeur d'Alene, Idaho** - *October 14–15, 2018*
* **Louisville, Kentucky** - *October 22–24, 2018*
* **New York City, New York** - *October 29–30, 2018*
* **Los Angeles, California** - *November 8–10, 2018*

### Regional Auditions

During the live broadcast of the 2018 Country Music Awards, three contestants didn't enter the competition and didn’t audition initially, were given a chance to enter the competition. The contestants were Cameron Lenz, Natalee Spiroff, and Meghan Woods. The winner of that vote was revealed to be Meghan Woods on *Good Morning America* on November 16, 2018. However, Meghan Woods wasn't shown in any episode.

## Hollywood Week

During Hollywood Week, the contestants must perform in front of the judges in hopes of advancing to the next round. These rounds consist of numerous cuts while the contestants perform in solos and in groups. Only the best contestants will advance.

Hollywood Week aired on March 24 and 25, 2019. Like years prior, the first round consisted of the contestants lining up into groups of ten and each singing one at a time followed by a cut. The contestants who survived the cut would then participate in a group round where three to five contestants must choreograph a performance overnight followed by another cut. Then the remaining contestants perform one last time in front of the judges. At the end of the day, the contestants are placed into three deliberation rooms, two of the room advanced, and one was eliminated.

Forty contestants remained, and won the privilege to travel to Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii and perform in front of a crowd. Following this showcase round, the judges announce which twenty contestants would advance to the semifinals.

### Judgement Round

The first judgement round of Hollywood was known as "Lines of Ten". Numerous groups of contestants lined up in sets of ten to perform a song individually. After a line performed, the judges chose the best to advance on while others were cut from the competition. Those who advanced moved on to the group rounds.

### Group Rounds

The group rounds are the ultimate test of the stability and harmony of an artist within a group. Like previous seasons, contestants were required to assemble into gender neutral groups of three or more. Those who failed to assemble a group of three or more, were instantly disqualified due to the three person rule. Groups who gave a quality performance advanced on to the next round. However, groups or certain group members that didn't perform to a good enough extent were cut from the competition.

### Solo Round

Those who advanced passed the Group Rounds had to perform a solo in front of the judges. After the performances, 40 contestants were chosen to perform in front of a live audience for their Final Judgement.

## Showcase Week

After the Top 40 performed in front of their first full audience, they met with the judges for their Final Judgement. Only 20 were able to advance to the next round while the rest were unfortunately cut from the season.

### Top 20

After the Final Judgement, 20 contestants were chosen to move on to the semifinals.

**Males:**

* Alejandro Aranda
* Walker Burroughs
* Wade Cota
* Dimitrius Graham
* Ryan Hammond
* Laine Hardy
* Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon
* Eddie Island
* Logan Johnson
* Uché
* Shawn Robinson

**Females:**

* Kate Barnette
* Laci Kaye Booth
* Bumbly
* Evelyn Cormier
* Ashley Hess
* Alyssa Raghu
* Raquel Trinidad
* Riley Thompson
* Madison Vandenburg

## Semifinals

During the Semifinals of Season 17, the Top 20 performed in solos and in duets with Idol Alumni. The Top 20 was split into two groups, one group performing one week and the other the following week. After the combination of solos and duets were performed within a group, the judges handpicked only seven out of the twenty to continue to the next round of competition. The remaining three contestants were cut from the season. By the end of the the Top 20's performances, the Top 14 were revealed.

### Celebrity Duets

Instead of *Idol* alumni since Season 16, Celebrity singers were chosen as duet partners for the Top 20 contestants. Jason Mraz, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Brett Young, Shaggy, and Elle King for the first group while Julia Michaels, Lukas Graham, lovelytheband, Cynthia Erivo, Chris Isaak, and Ben Harper were assigned for the second group.

### Top 14

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 14**:

**Males**

* **Alejandro Aranda**
* **Walker Burroughs**
* **Wade Cota**
* **Dimitrius Graham**
* **Laine Hardy**
* **Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon**
* **Eddie Island**
* **Uché**

**Females**

* **Laci Kaye Booth**
* **Evelyn Cormier**
* **Ashley Hess**
* **Alyssa Raghu**
* **Riley Thompson**
* **Madison Vandenburg**

### Semifinal Voting Rounds

On April 8, the Fourteen semifinals compete for America's vote for their places in the Top 10. During tomorrow's live results, the seven contestants who received the highest amount of votes Vandenburg, Burroughs, Lloyd Harmon, Cota, Kaye Booth, Hardy, and Aranda who advanced in the Finals while the seven remaining singers who received the least amount of votes had to sing for three remaining spots to advance. Afterwards, the judges selected Uche, Graham, and Raghu to complete the Top 10.

## Top 10

The following contestants were Season 17's **Top 10:**

* Laine Hardy
* Alejandro Aranda
* Madison Vandenburg
* Laci Kaye Booth
* Wade Cota
* Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon
* Walker Burroughs
* Alyssa Raghu
* Dimitrius Graham
* Uché

## Finals

### Top 10 Perform

During this season's live shows, each performance offered real-time voting before the end of the show until the Finale on March 21. In the first round of the Finals, the contestants performed songs from the Disney films. The first two finalists will be eliminated after the performances.

#### Eliminated Contestants

File:Dimitriusgraham.jpg
**Dimitrius Graham** was one of the two finalists to be eliminated on April 21, 2019 bringing the total down to 8 remaining contestants.

File:Uchéndubizu.jpg
**Uché** was one of the two finalists to be eliminated on April 21, 2019, bringing the total down to 8 remaining contestants.

#### Top 8

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 8**:
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* Alejandro Aranda
* Laci Kaye Booth
* Walker Burroughs
* Wade Cota

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* Laine Hardy
* Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon
* Alyssa Raghu
* Madison Vandenburg

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Uché - "I 2 I" by Tevin Campbell and Rosie Gaines (from *A Goofy Movie*)
* Laci Kaye Booth - "I See the Light" by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi (from *Tangled*)
* Alejandro Aranda - "Remember Me" by Benjamin Bratt, Gael García Bernal, Anthony Gonzalez, and Ana Ofelia Murguía (from *Coco*)
* Alyssa Raghu - "Colors of the Wind" by Judy Kuhn (from *Pocahontas*)
* Wade Cota - "You've Got a Friend in Me" by Randy Newman and Lyle Lovett (from *Toy Story*)
* Dimitrius Graham - "You'll Be in My Heart" by Phil Collins (from *Tarzan*)
* Walker Burroughs - "When She Loved Me" by Sarah McLachlan (from *Toy Story 2*)
* Madison Vandenburg - "How Far I'll Go" by Auli'i Cravalho (from *Moana*)
* Laine Hardy - "Oo-De-Lally" by Roger Miller (from *Robin Hood*)
* Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon - "Candle on the Water" by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn (from *Pete's Dragon*)

Group Performance:

* Group performance: "Part of Your World" with Lea Michele

### Top 8 perform

The eight finalists who survived the first live show participated for the Idol Tour 2019. During this round of the Finals, the contestants performed songs written by Queen and also pair up as duets for singing songs from a movie or movie soundtrack. Afterwards, two contestants were eliminated at the end of the program.

#### Eliminated Contestants

File:Walkerburroughs.jpg
**Walker Burroughs** was one of the two finalists to be eliminated on April 28, 2019 bringing the total down to 6 remaining contestants.

File:Alyssaraghu.jpg
**Alyssa Raghu** was one of the two finalists to be eliminated on April 28, 2019, bringing the total down to 6 remaining contestants.

#### Top 6

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 6**:

* Alejandro Aranda
* Laci Kaye Booth
* Wade Cota
* Laine Hardy
* Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon
* Madison Vandenburg

#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

**Queen Night**

* Walker Burroughs - "Crazy Thing Call Love" by Queen
* Madison Vandenburg - "The Show Must Go On" by Queen
* Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon - "Who Wants to Live Forever" by Queen
* Alejandro Aranda - "Under Pressure" by Queen
* Laine Hardy - "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen
* Laci Kaye Booth - "Love of My Life" by Queen
* Wade Cota - "We Are the Champions" by Queen
* Alyssa Raghu - "Somebody to Love" by Queen

**Duets**

* Laci Kaye Booth & Laine Hardy - "Jackson" by Johnny Cash & June Carter (from *Walk The Line*)
* Alyssa Raghu & Wade Cota - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (from *Guardians Of The Galaxy*)
* Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon & Madison Vandenburg - "A Million Dreams" by Pink (from *The Greatest Showman*)
* Alejandro Aranda & Walker Burroughs - "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel (from *The Graduate*)

Group Performance:

* Group performance: "We Will Rock You" - Top 8

### Top 6 Perform

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon.png
**Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon** was a finalist to be eliminated on May 5, 2019 bringing the total down to 5 remaining contestants.

#### Top 5

The following contestants advanced to the **Top 5**:

* Alejandro Aranda
* Laci Kaye Booth
* Wade Cota
* Laine Hardy
* Madison Vandenburg

#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

**Woodstock**

* Madison Vandenburg - "Piece of My Heart" by Erma Franklin
* Laine Hardy - "I Don't Need No Doctor" by Ray Charles
* Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon - "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" by Wallace Willis
* Laci Kaye Booth - "To Love Somebody" by Bee Gees
* Alejandro Aranda - "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane
* Wade Cota - "With a Little Help from My Friends" by Joe Cocker

**Showstoppers**

* Madison Vandenburg - "I Surrender" by Celine Dion
* Laine Hardy - "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry
* Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon - "Somewhere" by Stephen Sondheim (from *West Side Story*)
* Laci Kaye Booth - "Open Arms" by Journey
* Alejandro Aranda - "Poison" (an original song)
* Wade Cota - "Through The Valley" by Shawn James

### Top 5 Perform

#### Eliminated Contestants

File:Wadecota.jpg
**Wade Cota** was one of the two finalists to be eliminated on May 12, 2019 bringing the total down to 3 remaining contestants.

File:Lacikayebooth.jpg
**Laci Kaye Booth** was one of the two finalists to be eliminated on May 12, 2019 bringing the total down to 3 remaining contestants.

#### Top 3

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 3**:

* Alejandro Aranda
* Laine Hardy
* Madison Vandenburg

#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

**Bobby Bones' Choice**

* Wade Cota - "You Are the Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne
* Laci Kaye Booth - "The House That Built Me" by Miranda Lambert
* Alejandro Aranda - "No Woman, No Cry" by Bob Marley & the Wailers
* Laine Hardy - "Can't You See" by The Marshall Tucker Band
* Madison Vandenburg - "What About Us" by Pink

**Elton John Songs**

* Wade Cota - "Rocket Man" by Elton John
* Laci Kaye Booth - "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" by Elton John
* Alejandro Aranda - "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" by Elton John
* Laine Hardy - "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" by Elton John
* Madison Vandenburg - "Your Song" by Elton John

**Hero Dedication Songs**

* Wade Cota - "Through the Valley" by Shawn James
* Laci Kaye Booth - "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac
* Alejandro Aranda - "Blesser" (an original song)
* Laine Hardy - "Hey Jude" by The Beatles
* Madison Vandenburg - "Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan

### Top 3 Perform

Main article: Season 17 Finale

In the Finale, the final three contestants performed their winner's single, a reprise of their favorite performance and a dedication to their respective hometowns. During the final results, the contestant who finished in third place will be revealed midway of the program followed by the announcement of the winner at the end of the show.

#### Third place

File:Madisonvandenburg.jpg
**Madison Vandenburg** finished in third place on May 19, 2019.

#### Runner-Up

File:Alejandro Aranda.jpg
**Alejandro Aranda** was announced as the Runner-Up on May 19, 2019.

#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Laine Hardy - "Home" by Marc Broussard
* Madison Vandenburg - "Shallow" by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
* Alejandro Aranda - "Millennial Love" (original)
* Laine Hardy - "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" by Hank Williams
* Madison Vandenburg - "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson
* Alejandro Aranda - "Tonight" (original)
* Laine Hardy - "Bring It on Home to Me" by Sam Cooke
* Alejandro Aranda - "Out Loud" (original)

#### Winner

File:Lainehardy.jpg
**Laine Hardy** was declared the winner of second revival season of *American Idol* on May 19, 2019.

#### Group Performances

* **Lionel Richie** with the **Top 10** - "Dancing on the Ceiling"
* **Kool & the Gang** with the **Top 10** - "Hollywood Swinging", "Ladies Night", and "Celebration"

#### Guest Performances

* **Carrie Underwood** - "Southbound" (May 19, 2019)
* **Montell Jordan** with **Margie Mays**, **Austin Michael Robinson** & **VoKillz** - "This is How We Do It" (May 19, 2019)
* **Katy Perry** & **Daddy Yankee** - "Con Calma" (May 19, 2019)
* **Adam Lambert** & **Dimitrius Graham** - "Bohemian Rhapsody" (May 19, 2019)
* **Jon Pardi** & **Laine Hardy** - "Dirt on My Boots" & "Night Shift" (May 19, 2019)
* **Weezer** with **Walker Burroughs** and **Wade Cota** - "Africa", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", and "Take on Me" (May 19, 2019)
* **Laine Hardy** - "Flame" (May 19, 2019)

## Trivia

* The Final Showcase episode in which the Top 20 is revealed, as well as the Grand Finale, are the longest *American Idol* episodes to date, at three hours long.

## Gallery

Main article: Season 17/Gallery

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