(Abi Carter With Fans In Palm Springs Last Week, Picture by Andrew Knox)

Indio, CA

After a three-hour finale, Indio’s own Abi Carter, emerged as the latest American Idol victor!

In the season 22 climax on Sunday, May 19, Carter clinched the title with a mesmerizing rendition of her original track “This Isn’t Over” and a soulful performance of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”

Competing against Will Moseley and Jack Blocker, who secured second and third positions respectively, Carter triumphed as the season’s standout talent.

Her journey began with a standout audition, where she captivated the judges with her rendition of Eilish’s song from the Barbie movie.

Abi Carter in Palm Springs Last Week. Picture by Andrew Knox

From the moment the audience erupted into applause after her initial performance, it was evident that Abi was on the brink of victory. The thunderous applause, which left her in tears and Bryan struggling to interject, was only the beginning. The ultimate seal of approval came from none other than Billie Eilish herself.

Hailing from Indio, California, Carter revealed that participating in the show was a lifelong dream, and winning it all was simply her seizing the moment.