American Idol 2025 Finale Poll – Vote for the Winner
The 23rd season of American Idol concludes with a three-hour live Grand Finale on Sunday, May 18. The Top 3—John Foster, Breanna Nix and Jamal Roberts—will each perform for America’s votes, and by the end of the night one contestant will be crowned the winner. This is the moment fans have been waiting for all season: performances, special guests, judges on stage, and the final tally that determines the next American Idol.
Host Ryan Seacrest revealed the Top 3 after the Top 5 performed for viewer votes. For several weeks the industry and viewers have been watching closely, and the final three reflect consistent favorites throughout the season. Still, there are passionate fans who believed other finalists—like Thunderstorm Artis and Slater Nalley—deserved to stay in the competition. Each artist brought something unique: Thunderstorm took artistic risks, performing original material that expanded his catalog, while Slater, still in high school, showed impressive growth, songwriting potential and coachability.
Ahead of the finale, the Top 3 returned to their hometowns on Wednesday, May 14, to film emotional hometown-visit segments. Those visits gave viewers a closer look at each contestant’s roots, their families and how their communities greeted them as hometown heroes.
The Grand Finale lineup features a wide range of guest performers and highlights. Confirmed to appear are artists spanning multiple genres, along with the show’s judges—Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie—and the Artist in Residence, Jelly Roll. The finale will showcase big performances intended to create a memorable send-off for the season.
Air time: The American Idol 2025 Grand Finale airs on ABC at 8 PM EDT across all U.S. time zones and streams the next day on Hulu.
VOTE in the American Idol 2025 Finale Polls
Now is the time to make your voice heard. We’re running several polls to capture fan sentiment and predictions about the finale. Below are the poll questions; share your choice in the comments or on the platform where you found this story. Results and a breakdown of responses will be published later this week.
Who WILL Win?
Cast your prediction for who you think will take the title based on performance track record, fan support and momentum heading into the finale. Consider vocal consistency, song choices, emotional connection with the audience and past voting trends when making your pick.
Who SHOULD Win?
This poll asks which finalist you believe deserves the crown on artistic merit alone. Evaluate artistry, originality, growth over the season and overall impact on viewers when deciding who should win the season.
Top 5 Contestant Robbed? Or Not?
A common conversation every season: were any contestants eliminated too soon? Tell us whether you think a Top 5 contestant was robbed and which performer you wished had advanced further. Explain your reasoning when you comment—were they eliminated because of song choice, lack of exposure, or simply an upset in viewer votes?
Grade the Season
Rate this season overall. Consider the talent pool, production quality, guest performers, judges’ chemistry and memorable moments. Was this one of the stronger seasons in recent years, or did it fall short of expectations? Share a letter grade and a sentence explaining your score.
After the finale, we will publish poll results, viewer reactions and a ranking based on collective feedback. Whether you’re voting for a favorite or making a prediction, your input helps capture the pulse of this season’s audience.
Reminder: The live Grand Finale starts at 8 PM EDT and will stream on Hulu the following day. Tune in to watch the final performances, special guest appearances and the announcement of the 2025 American Idol winner.