The top 12 finalists of Fox’s American Idol XIV reunited to perform and judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr also took the stage during the season 14 two hour finale aired on May 13, 2015. Other performers taking the stage leading up to the reveal of the winner included Echosmith, Fall Out Boy, Jamie Foxx, Ricky Martin, Janelle Monae, Pitbull, Steven Tyler, and New Kids on the Block. The finale comes hot on the heels of the announcement by Fox that the singing competition series will be ending after the upcoming season 15, and the season 14 finale marked the lowest rated finale yet for the show.
This season came down to a battle between 29 year old Nick Fradiani from Guilford, CT and 22 year old Clark Beckham from White House, TN. Fradiani performed “Bright Lights,” “I Won’t Give Up, and “Beautiful Life” on the series finale, and Beckham sang “Georgia On My Mind,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “Champion” during the season 14 final episode. And when all the performances were finished and the voting tabulated, Fradiani emerged as the new winner and claimed the title of American Idol. Fradiani’s the 14th to hold the title following previous seasons winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, Scott McCreery, Phillip Phillips, Candace Glover and Caleb Johnson.
Auditions for season 15 will begin in Denver, CO on Friday, July 10th. Additional audition cities include Savannah, GA, on Wednesday, July 22; Philadelphia, PA, on Sunday, August 2; Little Rock, AR, on Saturday, August 8; and San Francisco, CA, date TBA. The audition bus tour will be stopping in Seattle, WA (6/18); Providence, RI (6/18); Baltimore, MD (6/20); San Diego, CA (6/22); Pittsburgh, PA (6/22); Tucson, AZ (6/24); Indianapolis, IN (6/25); Santa Fe, NM (6/26); Athens, GA (6/28); Tulsa, OK (6/29) and Oxford, MS (6/20).
-By Rebecca Murray
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