# Maddie Poppe
**Maddie Poppe** (born Madeline Mae Poppe, 1997) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Clarksville, Iowa, who rose to national prominence by winning season 16 of *American Idol* in May 2018, the first Iowan to win the competition[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457) • [2](https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Maddie-Poppe-becomes-first-Iowan-to-win-American-Idol-483282491.html). Her style blends singer-songwriter pop with country and folk, and she plays guitar, piano, and ukulele[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457) • [3](https://www.hollywoodrecords.com/press/maddiepoppe/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / origin | Madeline Mae Poppe, born 1997 in Clarksville, Iowa[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457) |
| *American Idol* | Winner of season 16, announced May 21, 2018, over runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Gabby Barrett[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457) |
| Coronation single | "Going Going Gone" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457) |
| Albums | *Songs from the Basement* (2016, independent), *Whirlwind* (2019, Hollywood Records), *Christmas from Home* (2020)[3](https://www.hollywoodrecords.com/press/maddiepoppe/) • [4](https://fliphtml5.com/amcii/nwxp/Her%3A_November_2024/) • [5](https://www.cedarbasinmusic.org/maddie-poppe/) |
| Chart peaks | *Whirlwind* reached number 2 on the iTunes Pop charts; "Made You Miss" reached number 19 on the Hot AC Radio charts[5](https://www.cedarbasinmusic.org/maddie-poppe/) |
| Recognition | People's Choice Award for her turn on *American Idol*[6](https://maddiepoppe.com/about) |
| Current status | Independent artist since parting with Hollywood Records; touring nationally, including a recurring Christmas run[7](https://kdat.com/maddie-poppe-new-music/) • [6](https://maddiepoppe.com/about) |
## Early life and start in music
Poppe grew up in Clarksville, Iowa, in a musical family; her father, Trent, played guitar and performed in bands, and she gained early stage experience in his band[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457). She and her sister joined their father each year in recording a Christmas album for their grandparents, and over time she learned guitar, piano, and ukulele[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457) • [3](https://www.hollywoodrecords.com/press/maddiepoppe/). After high school she attended Iowa Central Community College and Hawkeye Community College in [Waterloo, Iowa](https://www.edgepedia.org/waterloo-iowa), studying digital mass media[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457).
In 2015 she auditioned for *The Voice* and did not make the cut[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457). She used the time to record *Songs from the Basement*, an independent album written, produced, and recorded with her father in her basement, released in 2016[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457) • [3](https://www.hollywoodrecords.com/press/maddiepoppe/). She had been performing locally in Iowa for over five years when she auditioned for *American Idol*[3](https://www.hollywoodrecords.com/press/maddiepoppe/).
## American Idol
Poppe auditioned for the show's sixteenth season, singing "The Rainbow Connection" from *The Muppet Movie* for judges [Katy Perry](https://www.edgepedia.org/katy-perry), Luke Bryan, and [Lionel Richie](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionel-richie)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457) • [8](https://talentrecap.com/contestants/maddie-poppe/). She sang an original song, "Don't Ever Let Your Children Grow Up," during the finale, and on May 21, 2018 she was named the winner over Caleb Lee Hutchinson and [Gabby Barrett](https://www.edgepedia.org/gabby-barrett)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457). The KCRG report noted she made history as the first Iowan to become an *American Idol*[2](https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Maddie-Poppe-becomes-first-Iowan-to-win-American-Idol-483282491.html). Her coronation single, "Going Going Gone," followed immediately[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457).
During the season, a romance with runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson became public. The two later separated; Poppe began dating the musician Gabe Burdulis in 2023, posting her first photo with him on July 23 of that year, and as of 2025 the two were still together[9](https://www.tvinsider.com/swooon/1187556/american-idol-maddie-poppe-caleb-lee-hutchinson-relationship-update/).
## Recording career
**Whirlwind.** Her major-label debut, *Whirlwind*, arrived in May 2019 on [Hollywood Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-records), produced with songwriters including Johan Carlsson and Drew Pearson, building on her [Americana](https://www.edgepedia.org/americana) roots with indie-rock and pop elements[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457) • [3](https://www.hollywoodrecords.com/press/maddiepoppe/). The album reached number 2 on the iTunes Pop charts, the single "Made You Miss" reached number 19 on the Hot AC Radio charts, and the ballad "Not Losing You" reached number 17[5](https://www.cedarbasinmusic.org/maddie-poppe/). AllMusic separately lists "Made You Miss" as peaking at number 22 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457).
**Independence.** In April 2022 she released "One That Got Away," her first new music in three years, a change of sound drawing comparisons to [Bruno Mars](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruno-mars) and [Maroon 5](https://www.edgepedia.org/maroon-5); she said she had been given 42 days to make *Whirlwind* and had since parted ways with Hollywood Records to release music independently[7](https://kdat.com/maddie-poppe-new-music/) • [10](https://www.philthymag.com/maddie-poppe-im-kinda-getting-rid-of-the-old-brand-6-7-at-city-winery/). She told an interviewer that on her new music she had a hand in every song, unlike the label album, so she could tell her own story[10](https://www.philthymag.com/maddie-poppe-im-kinda-getting-rid-of-the-old-brand-6-7-at-city-winery/).
**Holiday music.** In November 2020 she released the holiday EP *Christmas From Home* and embarked on a near-sold-out acoustic Christmas tour; the Christmas run has since become a seasonal fixture for her fans[5](https://www.cedarbasinmusic.org/maddie-poppe/) • [6](https://maddiepoppe.com/about).
## Touring and television
After her win, Poppe appeared on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, *Live! with Kelly & Ryan*, *The Kelly Clarkson Show*, and *Good Morning America*, and performed at the [Hollywood Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-bowl), the [Radio Disney Music Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/radio-disney-music-awards), and CMA Fest[3](https://www.hollywoodrecords.com/press/maddiepoppe/) • [6](https://maddiepoppe.com/about). In fall 2019 she supported [Ingrid Michaelson](https://www.edgepedia.org/ingrid-michaelson) on The Dramatic Tour[5](https://www.cedarbasinmusic.org/maddie-poppe/). In October 2023 she joined Nick Carter's 14-city Who I Am tour on all stops, from Lexington, Kentucky on October 4 to Las Vegas, Nevada on October 25[11](https://q985.fm/maddie-poppe-goes-out-on-tour-with-90s-icon/). She continues to headline her own tours, with upcoming dates listed on her website[6](https://maddiepoppe.com/about) • [12](https://maddiepoppe.com/tour).
## References
1. [Maddie Poppe Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/maddie-poppe-mn0003744457)
2. [Maddie Poppe becomes first Iowan to win American Idol, KCRG](https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Maddie-Poppe-becomes-first-Iowan-to-win-American-Idol-483282491.html)
3. [Maddie Poppe bio and press releases, Hollywood Records](https://www.hollywoodrecords.com/press/maddiepoppe/)
4. [Iowa Musician Maddie Poppe: Home, Music & Holiday Gift Guides, Chamber Quarterly](https://fliphtml5.com/amcii/nwxp/Her%3A_November_2024/)
5. [Maddie Poppe, Cedar Basin Music Festival](https://www.cedarbasinmusic.org/maddie-poppe/)
6. [About Maddie Poppe, maddiepoppe.com](https://maddiepoppe.com/about)
7. [Maddie Poppe Is Back With A New Sound, KDAT](https://kdat.com/maddie-poppe-new-music/)
8. [Maddie Poppe contestant archive, Talent Recap](https://talentrecap.com/contestants/maddie-poppe/)
9. [Are Maddie Poppe and Caleb Lee Hutchinson Still Together?, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/swooon/1187556/american-idol-maddie-poppe-caleb-lee-hutchinson-relationship-update/)
10. [Maddie Poppe: I'm kinda getting rid of the old brand, Philthy Mag](https://www.philthymag.com/maddie-poppe-im-kinda-getting-rid-of-the-old-brand-6-7-at-city-winery/)
11. [Maddie Poppe Goes Out On Tour With '90s Icon, Q98.5](https://q985.fm/maddie-poppe-goes-out-on-tour-with-90s-icon/)
12. [Shows, maddiepoppe.com](https://maddiepoppe.com/tour)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › Pop singers, 2000s to present*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 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