American Idol Final 2021: What The Winner Actually Wins
On 5/23/21 at 1:00 PM EDT
American Idol airs its grand finale on Sunday, May 23, as the last remaining contestants, Willie Spence, Grace Kinstler and Chayce Beckham, each perform three songs in the battle for the top prize on the ABC show.
The winner receives a record deal with Hollywood Records, the record label owned by Disney (also the parent of ABC).
Among the acts previously signed to the label are singers who started their life as Disney Channel stars, including Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and Selena Gomez. Former
Idol contestants still signed up include last year s winner, Just Sam, and Season 17 winner Laine Hardy and runner-up Alejandro Aranda (who records as Scarypoolparty).
A former American Idol contestant was arrested for domestic violence.
Doug Kiker, 28, competed on season 18 of the hit reality competition series in 2020, and impressed the judges as the show s resident singing garbage man.
Now he is in police custody in Alabama after law enforcement officials said he was involved in a domestic violence incident on Thursday, according to TMZ.
Arrested! Doug Kiker, 28, who competed on season 18 of American Idol in 2020 and impressed the judges as the show s resident singing garbage man, was arrested for domestic violence on Thursday
Former Idol contestant: Kiker is in police custody in Alabama after law enforcement officials say he was involved in a domestic violence incident on Thursday, according to TMZ
Luke Bryan missed the first live performance this season on American Idol after being diagnosed with COVID-19, with Paula Abdul stepping in to fill his role as a judge.
And after the live episode took place on Monday, his fellow judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie gave fans an update on the country star. He was texting us. He was blowing up our phones during the whole episode. Some of it we can t even say. Katy, 36, joked to Entertainment Tonight.
Candid: Luke Bryan missed the first live performance this season on American Idol after being diagnosed with COVID-19 , with Paula Abdul stepping in to fill his role as a judge. And after the live episode took place on Monday, his fellow judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie gave fans an update on the country star; Katy on Monday s episode of American Idol
Bryan has been diagnosed with COVID-19 causing him to take break from work
The Georgia native has said that he is doing fine as he recovers at home
Bryan revealed his health condition on social media. I’m sad to say I won’t be a part of tonight’s first live @americanidol show I tested positive for Covid but I’m doing well and look forward to being back at it soon, he added
That means the singer will be missing the first live performance this season
Former Idol judge Paula Abdul, who launched the series with Simon Cowell in 2002, will step in for Bryan