Heavy/ABC Abi Carter is told she's the winner of "American Idol" season 22 as host Ryan Seacrest and runner-up Will Moseley cheer her on.
After a three-hour live finale on May 19, 2024, “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest revealed the season 22 winner — 21-year-old Abi Carter of Indio, California. Earlier in the evening, initial voting resulted in 25-year-old Jack Blocker of Dallas getting eliminated from the competition, leaving Carter and 23-year-old Will Moseley of Hazlehurst, Georgia, as the final two.
So what happens next for the winner and runner-up? A whirlwind of media appearances and plotting out their musical careers, beginning with a trip to New York City.
Abi Carter & Will Moseley Will Make National Media Appearances This Week
ABCRyan Seacrest, Abi Carter, and Will Moseley on the season 22 finale of “American Idol”
The days ahead will be a whirlwind of travel and press appearances for Carter and Moseley. Both are scheduled to appear on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on May 21. Later that morning, Carter will perform on “Live With Kelly & Mark,” per TV Lineups. Moseley is scheduled to perform on the show three days later, on May 24, which will likely be pre-recorded from their visit earlier in the week.
As winner of “American Idol,” Carter will receive a sizeable cash prize and a likely record deal with 19 Recordings, the show’s record label partner. ABC executives remain tight-lipped about exact details, but Newsweek reported in 2021 that the winner receives $125,000 upon signing a record contract and another $125,000 when the album is completed, the outlet said.
However, 19 Recordings SVP Elissa Felman told Billboard that same year that it would no longer guarantee record deals for “Idol” winners, preferring instead to provide them with development deals that help them craft their identity as an artist, gain more experience on the road, and work on new music. After that, she said, the company will decide whether a full record deal is appropriate.
In addition to “Idol” winners, 19 Recordings has signed other talent from the show, so it’s possible Moseley will work with the label, too. Though 2023 runner-up Megan Danielle did not get a deal, third place contestant Colin Stough did sign with 19 Recordings and has been touring the U.S. for months to support his first EP, “Promiseland,” which was released in October 2023. The label also signed top 8 finalist Haven Madison, who released her debut five-song EP, “Turn Off All The Lights,” on April 26.
Even before the finale, Carter, Moseley and Blocker had already released music via 19 Entertainment. For being part of the Top 5, they each got to record and release a single on May 17. By the morning after the “Idol” finale, Carter’s single “This Isn’t Over Yet” was number four on iTunes’ most downloaded pop songs, per PopVortex. Meanwhile, Moseley’s “Good Book Bad” was the third most-downloaded country song and Blocker’s “All of Yours (To Give All of Mine)” was at number six.
Abi Carter & Will Moseley Share Reflections on Their ‘Idol’ Journeys
ABCOvercome with emotion upon being named the winner of “American Idol,” Abi Carter gets help from host Ryan Seacrest
Carter and Moseley posted on social media shortly after the finale ended to express immense gratitude for their journeys on “American Idol.”
Posting a photo from the finale, Carter wrote, “HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE!??!?!?!? I couldn’t have imagined winning #americanidol when I started this whole journey. We haven’t had a girl winner in over 4 years and to be the first after so many seasons is the greatest honor.”
“I’m just a girl from Indio,” she continued, “who used to sing on street corners, and now I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to work with some of the most talented people in the industry and be heard by millions of people. This is my dream and I know it’s just the beginning. I love you all so much. #idol”
Southern rocker Moseley, meanwhile, posted three photos of himself performing on the finale and wrote, “Feeling incredibly blessed to have been apart of this amazing journey. Finishing this journey on a high note and this is just the beginning! Get ready America, because this is just the launch pad of my music career. Here comes Will #idol”
Once Carter and Moseley have a chance to catch their breath, they’ll get to take a vacation courtesy of ABC. During the finale, Seacrest surprised them both with Disney cruises for them and several family members.