# American Idol season 22
The twenty-second season of *American Idol* was the seventh season of the singing competition on ABC, airing from February 18 to May 19, 2024, and won by [Abi Carter](https://www.edgepedia.org/abi-carter), a 21-year-old musician from [Indio, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/indio-california)[1](https://encoreindex.com/seasons/22) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-05-20/american-idol-says-goodbye-to-judge-katy-perry-as-it-crowns-another-winner). The season finale was also the last episode for judge [Katy Perry](https://www.edgepedia.org/katy-perry) after seven seasons on the panel[3](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/abi-carter-wins-season-22-of-american-idol-during-finale/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Network and run | ABC, February 18 to May 19, 2024[1](https://encoreindex.com/seasons/22) |
| Judges and host | Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie; host Ryan Seacrest[4](https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2024/02/20/charlotte-native-blake-proehl-american-idol) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-05-20/american-idol-says-goodbye-to-judge-katy-perry-as-it-crowns-another-winner) |
| Winner | Abi Carter, 21, of Indio, California[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-05-20/american-idol-says-goodbye-to-judge-katy-perry-as-it-crowns-another-winner) |
| Runner-up | Will Moseley of Hazlehurst, Georgia; Jack Blocker came third[5](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/american-idol-crowns-season-22-winner-how-did-georgia-native-will-moseley-finish/F2Y2O3RPPRCYXDI6NCHV3ZAUS4/?outputType=amp) • [6](https://www.etonline.com/american-idol-crowns-new-champion-for-season-22-find-out-who-won-225752) |
| Televised auditions | February 18 to March 24, 2024[7](https://americanidol.fandom.com/wiki/Season_22_Auditions) |
| Finale ratings | Season highs of 5.64 million viewers and a 0.65 Adults 18-49 rating, up 8% and 3% from the prior week[8](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/AMERICAN-IDOL-Wraps-Season-22-Delivering-Season-Highs-in-Both-Total-Viewers-and-Adults-20240524) |
| Perry's departure | Her final episode as judge after seven seasons[3](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/abi-carter-wins-season-22-of-american-idol-during-finale/) |
## Auditions and early rounds
The audition rounds for the season took place between August 2 and October 11, 2023, before the televised episodes began[9](https://www.serialupdates.me/american-idol-2024-day-1-contestants-season-22/). Televised auditions ran from the February 18, 2024 premiere through March 24, 2024[7](https://americanidol.fandom.com/wiki/Season_22_Auditions). The first episode, "Auditions 1", aired on February 18 on ABC[10](https://thetvdb.com/series/american-idol/seasons/official/22).
Among the auditioners shown was Blake Proehl, a former professional football player from [Charlotte, North Carolina](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlotte-north-carolina), whose performance of [Brett Young](https://www.edgepedia.org/brett-young-singer)'s "In Case You Didn't Know" impressed the judges on the season premiere and earned a golden ticket to the Hollywood rounds[4](https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2024/02/20/charlotte-native-blake-proehl-american-idol). Proehl had played for the [Minnesota Vikings](https://www.edgepedia.org/minnesota-vikings) before a knee injury sidelined his NFL career, and he used music as an outlet during his recovery[4](https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2024/02/20/charlotte-native-blake-proehl-american-idol).
Hollywood Week included an "Idol Arena" episode that aired March 31, 2024[10](https://thetvdb.com/series/american-idol/seasons/official/22). The top 24 then traveled to Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawaii, where the first twelve performed for America's first vote of the season; [Tori Kelly](https://www.edgepedia.org/tori-kelly) mentored, performed, and joined the judges on the panel, and reigning winner [Iam Tongi](https://www.edgepedia.org/iam-tongi) performed[11](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/american_idol/s22).
## Voting
Viewers could vote online, in the official app, or by texting a contestant's assigned number to 21523[12](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/how-to-vote-for-american-idol-season-22-contestants-2024/).
## Finale
The three-hour finale aired Sunday, May 19, 2024, with the top three of Jack Blocker, Abi Carter, and Will Moseley competing for the title[6](https://www.etonline.com/american-idol-crowns-new-champion-for-season-22-find-out-who-won-225752). [Jon Bon Jovi](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-bon-jovi) served as guest mentor and performer[5](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/american-idol-crowns-season-22-winner-how-did-georgia-native-will-moseley-finish/F2Y2O3RPPRCYXDI6NCHV3ZAUS4/?outputType=amp). After the first two rounds, Moseley and Carter advanced over Blocker; Moseley, a Hazlehurst, Georgia native and Georgia Southern graduate, performed [Bon Jovi](https://www.edgepedia.org/bon-jovi)'s "It's My Life" with Jon Bon Jovi and later his single "Good Book Bad"[5](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/american-idol-crowns-season-22-winner-how-did-georgia-native-will-moseley-finish/F2Y2O3RPPRCYXDI6NCHV3ZAUS4/?outputType=amp).
**Abi Carter won.** In the finale she performed several times, cementing her win with her original song and a rendition of Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses"[6](https://www.etonline.com/american-idol-crowns-new-champion-for-season-22-find-out-who-won-225752). Moseley finished runner-up and Blocker third[6](https://www.etonline.com/american-idol-crowns-new-champion-for-season-22-find-out-who-won-225752). The finale delivered season highs for the show, growing from the previous week by 8% in total viewers (5.64 million versus 5.22 million) and 3% among Adults 18-49 (a 0.65 rating)[8](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/AMERICAN-IDOL-Wraps-Season-22-Delivering-Season-Highs-in-Both-Total-Viewers-and-Adults-20240524).
The episode was also Perry's last as a judge after seven seasons alongside [Luke Bryan](https://www.edgepedia.org/luke-bryan) and [Lionel Richie](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionel-richie); she had announced her exit ahead of the season premiere, and on the finale she performed "What Makes a Woman" while Bryan and Richie also performed[3](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/abi-carter-wins-season-22-of-american-idol-during-finale/) • [13](https://www.tvline.com/lists/american-idol-finale-results-abi-carter-wins-season-22-recap/).
## After the season
Carter released the song "ghosts in the backyard" after her win[1](https://encoreindex.com/seasons/22). On June 6, 2024, Blocker sang with other top 10 finalists at the 19 Takeover at CMA Fest in Nashville[1](https://encoreindex.com/seasons/22).
## References
1. [American Idol season 22 contestants: winner and careers after the show, Encore Index](https://encoreindex.com/seasons/22)
2. ['American Idol' says bye to Katy Perry as it crowns winner, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-05-20/american-idol-says-goodbye-to-judge-katy-perry-as-it-crowns-another-winner)
3. [Abi Carter Wins Season 22 of 'American Idol' During Finale, Us Weekly](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/abi-carter-wins-season-22-of-american-idol-during-finale/)
4. [Charlottean and former NFL player receives "American Idol" golden ticket, Axios Charlotte](https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2024/02/20/charlotte-native-blake-proehl-american-idol)
5. ['American Idol' crowns season 22 winner. How did Georgia native Will Moseley finish?, WSB-TV](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/american-idol-crowns-season-22-winner-how-did-georgia-native-will-moseley-finish/F2Y2O3RPPRCYXDI6NCHV3ZAUS4/?outputType=amp)
6. ['American Idol' Crowns New Champion for Season 22 -- Find Out Who Won!, Entertainment Tonight](https://www.etonline.com/american-idol-crowns-new-champion-for-season-22-find-out-who-won-225752)
7. [Season 22 Auditions, American Idol Wiki (Fandom)](https://americanidol.fandom.com/wiki/Season_22_Auditions)
8. [AMERICAN IDOL Wraps Season 22 Delivering Season Highs in Both Total Viewers and Adults, Broadway World](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/AMERICAN-IDOL-Wraps-Season-22-Delivering-Season-Highs-in-Both-Total-Viewers-and-Adults-20240524)
9. [American Idol 2024 Day 1 Contestants - Season 22, SerialUpdates](https://www.serialupdates.me/american-idol-2024-day-1-contestants-season-22/)
10. [American Idol - Season 22, TheTVDB.com](https://thetvdb.com/series/american-idol/seasons/official/22)
11. [American Idol: Season 22, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/american_idol/s22)
12. [How to Vote for American Idol Season 22: 2024 Methods, DocumentaryTube](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/how-to-vote-for-american-idol-season-22-contestants-2024/)
13. [American Idol Finale Results: Abi Carter Wins Season 22, TVLine](https://www.tvline.com/lists/american-idol-finale-results-abi-carter-wins-season-22-recap/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Screen seasons › Singing and talent competition seasons*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license