Iam Tongi may have taken home the American Idol title Sunday night (May 21), but his fellow contestants – Colin Stough and Megan Danielle – didn’t go down without a fight. The latter, especially, shone brightly during the finale even when sandwiched between some of the biggest star-powered performances.
The 21-year-old Douglasville, Georgia native kicked off the night with celebrity mentor Keith Urban’s song “God Whispered Your Name.” The grit-filled display only further proved her power, something the judges – Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie – recalled having seen grow throughout the season.
Videos by American Songwriter
Danielle followed up the Urban tune with an homage to her hometown, singing the Journey hit “Faithfully.” She took on to anthemic rock belter with confidence and ease, bringing Perry to tears with the first few notes. The judges shared a moment of pride following her performance, saying they felt like parents at their child’s graduation.
In between contestant performances, the night saw stars like Ellie Goulding, Jazmine Sullivan, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Pitbull, TLC, former Idol contestants Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, and several more take the American Idol stage for their own musical showcases.
The show’s all-star judges also performed their hits with the season’s Top 12 contestants – Wé Ani, Zachariah Smith, Haven Madison, Oliver Steele, Warren Peay, Marybeth Byrd, Tyson Venegas, Lucy Love and Nutsa – joining in on the night’s festivities, as well.
Ahead of her final song, Danielle joined celebrity guest Lauren Daigle for her latest hit, “Thank God I Do.” It was a full circle moment for the Idol hopeful who sang Daigle’s “You Say” during her audition for the judges earlier this year.
Megan then helped close out the night and the season with her new single, “Dream Girl,” a rock-tinged country anthem that saw the runner-up shine. Check out her final American Idol performance below.
Photo by Eric McCandless/ABC
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 02: Ella Langley performs during Stars for Second Harvest with ERNEST & Friends at the Ryman Auditorium on June 02, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) -
Photo by Dingena Mol / ANP / AFP via Getty Images -
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 12: Singer Barry Manilow performs onstage during the "Manilow: The Last Seattle Concert" at Climate Pledge Arena on July 12, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images) -
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 16: Glenn Hughes performs Classic Deep Purple Live at La Riviera on May 16, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Javier Bragado/Redferns) -
THE VOICE — "The Playoffs Premiere" Episode 2815 — Pictured: Carson Daly — (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC via Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 23: Shania Twain performs a special one-night-only performance for SiriusXM to launch exclusive channel at Racket NYC on July 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SiriusXM) -
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 10: Lainey Wilson performs during the Windy City Smokeout on July 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 29: (L-R) Bruce Watson and Luis Maldonado of Foreigner perform onstage during The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis 39th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner on September 29, 2025 at the New York Hilton Midtown raised millions of dollars to support the pioneering work of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a designated Center of Excellence at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine and the world’s premier research center targeting spinal cord and brain injury and other neurological disorders and diseases. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis)