American Idol: Maddie Poppe wins beating Caleb Lee Hutchinson

Maddie Poppe won American Idol on Monday beating her boyfriend Caleb Lee Hutchinson.

Maddie, 20, from Iowa, and Caleb, 18, from Georgia, were the last two finalists. 

Gabby Barrett, an 18-year-old from Pennsylvania finished in third place after being eliminated earlier in the episode.

Season finale: Maddie Poppe and new boyfriend Caleb Lee Hutchinson waited to learn if they would be named as the winner of American Idol on Monday on ABC

Maddie and Caleb announced that they’ve been dating near the end of the show – a two-hour finale that followed over 200,000 auditions and a nationwide vote.

The happy couple did one performance together, a duet of Over The Rainbow that had Ryan Seacrest in tears.

They were given a vacation in Hawaii for making it to the final two.

Maddie then sang her new single Going, Going, Gone to close the show.

The winner: The two-hour finale concluded with Maddie being named the winner

The winner: The two-hour finale concluded with Maddie being named the winner

New song: Maddie after being named the winner performed her new single Going, Going, Gone

New song: Maddie after being named the winner performed her new single Going, Going, Gone

Idol judge Lionel Richie opened the night with a performance of his 1983 hit All Night Long.

Katy Perry was sorry to see all the contestants go.

‘My babies are leaving the nest!’ exclaimed the 33-year-old pop star.

Music legend: Idol judge Lionel Richie opened the show with his 1983 hit All Night Long

Music legend: Idol judge Lionel Richie opened the show with his 1983 hit All Night Long

The host: Ryan Seacrest kept the two-hour finale moving

The host: Ryan Seacrest kept the two-hour finale moving

The judges: Lionel, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan received a warm welcome from the Los Angeles audience

The judges: Lionel, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan received a warm welcome from the Los Angeles audience

Lionel, a 68-year-old funk/soul/R&B legend, was given an apron saying ‘Hello is it me you’re cooking for?’ as a gift.

Nick Jonas performed his single, Jealous, with Idol runner up 18-year-old Jurnee, from Colorado.

Luke Bryan performed his song Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset with Gabby.

She's back: Jurnee returned after being eliminated earlier during the season and performed with Nick Jonas

She’s back: Jurnee returned after being eliminated earlier during the season and performed with Nick Jonas

Country star: Luke Bryan performed his song Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset with finalist Gabby

Country star: Luke Bryan performed his song Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset with finalist Gabby

‘I’ve been such a big fan of what she’s been doing this season,’ remarked Luke, a 41-year-old country star/Idol judge.

Rock star Gary Clark Jr. then teamed with runners up Cade Foehner and Dennis Lorenzo for Bright Lights.

The new Bachelorette Becca Kufrin swung by to plug the upcoming season.

Group effort: Cade Foehner, Catie Turner, Dennis Lorenzo and Gabby teamed up for a song

Group effort: Cade Foehner, Catie Turner, Dennis Lorenzo and Gabby teamed up for a song

Fan favorite: Becca Kufrin looking stunning in a red dress plugged her upcoming season of The Bachelorette

Fan favorite: Becca Kufrin looking stunning in a red dress plugged her upcoming season of The Bachelorette

Hand kiss: Katy rushed over and kissed Becca's hand

Hand kiss: Katy rushed over and kissed Becca’s hand

‘Can I be in the running?’ begged Katy, before kissing Becca’s hand.

‘I’m not single but I still like you…and she has the scripture on her arm,’ she bellowed.

Katy then pretended to faint theatrically, so Luke dragged her back to the judging desk.

Lost balance: The pop superstar pretended to faint after meeting Becca

Lost balance: The pop superstar pretended to faint after meeting Becca

Dragged away: Luke dragged Katy away from Becca

Dragged away: Luke dragged Katy away from Becca

Maddie, returned to the stage with Kermit the Frog, which was her audition song.

Former contestant Noah Davis was given an adopted alpaca as a gift to fulfill his lifelong dream.

Caleb then hit the stage with Darius Rucker for Wagon Wheel.

Hit song: Caleb hit the stage with Darius Rucker for Wagon Wheel

Hit song: Caleb hit the stage with Darius Rucker for Wagon Wheel

Sweet duet: Kermit The Frog joined Maddie for a duet

Sweet duet: Kermit The Frog joined Maddie for a duet

Jimmy Kimmel made an appearance to unveil an ‘American Idol time capsule.’

The talk show comic produced a tiny black t-shirt saying: ‘This is the black t-shirt that Simon Cowell wore for the entire first season, look at that, little nipples built into the thing.’

He also showed off ‘Ryan’s frosted hair tips from season one’; Steven Tyler’s ‘scarves and dream catchers’ and Adam Lambert’s fingerless gloves.

Sanjaya Malakar, from season six, also jumped out.

Time capsule: Jimmy Kimmel opened an American Idol time capsule that included season six contestant Sanjaya Malakar

Time capsule: Jimmy Kimmel opened an American Idol time capsule that included season six contestant Sanjaya Malakar

Lionel got a little teary near the end, saying: ‘I am so proud of these kids.’

He compared working with Katy to: ‘Raising Nicole Richie all over again.’

Pop star Bebe Rexha, 28, performed Meant To Be with Caleb, Maddie and Gabby.

Good times: Lionel smiled as Caleb and Maddie received trips to Hawaii

Good times: Lionel smiled as Caleb and Maddie received trips to Hawaii

Final three: Maddie, Caleb and Gabby performed with Bebe Rexha

Final three: Maddie, Caleb and Gabby performed with Bebe Rexha

Country star LeAnn Rimes then joined former contestants Layla Spring and her adorable little sister Dyxie for Blue.

‘These two are so precious,’ cooed LeAnn, 35.

Katy then hit the stage with runner up, 17-year-old Pennsylvanian Catie Turner, for a duet of Part Of Me.

Hit song: Layla Spring and her little sister Dyxie sang Blue and were surprised by Leann Rimes

Hit song: Layla Spring and her little sister Dyxie sang Blue and were surprised by Leann Rimes

Group hug: Leann hugged the girls after performing her hit song Blue with them

Group hug: Leann hugged the girls after performing her hit song Blue with them

Blonde wig: Katy donned a blonde wig for her duet with Catie Turner to Part Of Me

Blonde wig: Katy donned a blonde wig for her duet with Catie Turner to Part Of Me

The pop superstar wore a blonde wig for the performance, which she later ripped off.

Gospel star Yolanda Adams joined Michael J. Woodard, a 20-year-old runner up from Baltimore, for What The World Needs Now Is Love.

Drag star Adam Sanders aka Ada Vox, a 24-year-old Texan, sang Lady Marmalade with 73-year-old Patti Labelle.

American Idol debuted on ABC for its 16th season after being on Fox for 15 seasons and has been renewed for another season with Lionel, Katy and Luke returning as judges.

Timely song: Gospel star Yolanda Adams joined Michael J. Woodard, a 20-year-old runner up from Baltimore, for What The World Needs Now Is Love

Timely song: Gospel star Yolanda Adams joined Michael J. Woodard, a 20-year-old runner up from Baltimore, for What The World Needs Now Is Love

Grand finale: Ada Vox also returned to perform during the grand finale

Grand finale: Ada Vox also returned to perform during the grand finale

 

 



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