‘American Idol’ Season 12 Has a Winner

'American Idol' finalists Candice Glover and Kree Harrison
'American Idol' finalists Candice Glover and Kree Harrison (Photo Credi: Michael Becker / FOX)

And the American Idol winner is…not so fast. We wouldn’t put a spoiler in the first sentence before you’ve had a chance to look away. We’re not that cruel.

Bucking the trend, the winner of season 12 of American Idol wasn’t a white guy with a guitar. The guys were all booted way before the season finale making it a sure thing this year’s title holder would be a woman. And after months of heartbreak and hard work, it came down to a battle between Candice Glover and Kree Harrison. The 23-year-old Glover and the 22-year-old Harrison presented fans with a chance to award one of the ‘dueling divas’ with the American Idol win, but not until after a series of guest stars and former American Idol contestants took to the stage to entertain.

Former American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez performed with Pitbull while current AI judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, and Randy Jackson all got the opportunity to vacate their judges’ chairs to hit the stage. Also performing on the season finale were Jennifer Hudson, Adam Lambert, Jessie J, Travis Barker, The Band Perry, Psy, Frankie Valli, and Aretha Franklin.

And without further ado the season 12 winner is…drumroll, please…Candice Glover. Glover joined the list of AI winners that includes Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, Scotty McCreery and Phillip Phillips.

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Do you think you have what it takes to be the next American Idol? The audition dates for season 13 have been announced and they include:

Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 10
San Francisco, CA, on Tuesday, July 16
Detroit, MI, on Sunday, July 21
Atlanta, GA, on Friday, July 26
Boston, MA, on Friday, Aug. 2
Austin, TX, on Wednesday, Aug. 7
Omaha, NE, on Sunday, Aug. 11

If you can’t make it to one of the audition cities, you can submit your audition online at americanidol.com.