Hannah Harper was named the winner of season 24 during Monday’s finale.

American Idol finalist’s mom says daughter was robbed: ‘She did not fail’

Hannah Harper was named the winner of season 24 during Monday's finale.

By Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American *Journalism Review* and *The Shreveport Times*.

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May 12, 2026 8:57 p.m. ET

'American Idol' finalist Keyla Richardson performs. Credit:

Disney/Eric McCandless

- Keyla Richardson came in third on the 24th season of *American Idol*, which ended Monday.

- Her mother posted on facebook that her "baby was robbed."

- Richardson herself posted, "We are just getting started."

The mother of *American Idol* finalist Keyla Richardson, who was eliminated in Monday night's finale, couldn't hide her displeasure at the news.

"My baby was robbed," Katja Richardson wrote on Facebook, not long after hearing the vote totals. "She did not fail. She was robbed. I'm sorry. I'm gonna say it."

Richardson came in third in the competition, behind second-place finisher Jordan McCullough and Hannah Harper, who was named the champion of season 24.

The younger Richardson had been a favorite among the judges all season.

The gospel singer from Pensacola, Fla., brought along with her a powerhouse voice and an adorable young son, Drew, who could regularly be seen mouthing the words to her songs as she sang.

Her final performances on the *American Idol *stage — at least for now — were Alicia Keys' "Un-Thinkable" and "I Love the Lord" by Whitney Houston, as well as a duet of Jason Mraz's "I Won't Give Up."

Judge Luke Bryan applauded her efforts all season long.

"This whole year I just watched you focus with drive and determination," Bryan said. "We've seen you just give it your all for your family and your crew and your people, and you've won in our eyes. Just watching you seize every moment has been so inspiring to me. Congratulations, great job."

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In her own post on social media, Richardson showed no sign of disappointment, just multiple photos of herself performing on the show's stage: "The journey has been amazing, we are just getting started."

The singer received a lot of praise from her fans.

"My 8 year old sobbed on the couch when they called your name," one said. "I assured her you're gonna be JUST FINE!!!"

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Others wrote, "You did an amazing job, and you had my vote all the time God got you" and "you are my winner."

Someone also added, "This is the beginning of a beautiful future.'

The former contestant herself also shared a video with Breanna Nix, the contestant who came in third on *Idol*'s season 23.

"Season 23 & Season 24 3rd place finalist! It’s NOT BAD AT ALL, it's actually GREAT," she wrote in the caption. "I'm excited about what's coming, It's only up from here!"

Keyla Richardson on 'American Idol' in February.

Connie Chornuk/Disney via Getty

More than one person brought up the name of Jennifer Hudson, who competed on the third season of *American Idol*, which aired in 2004. She famously came in seventh place on the reality series, but she now holds an EGOT.

The *Dreamgirls* star, who served as a guest mentor this season, was especially impressed with Keyla when they worked together on Richardson's take on "The Circle of Life" for Disney night. Afterward, Hudson, who performed the song herself when she was competing, gave a glowing evaluation.

"This song, it's a testimony, and you just performed it like your testimony," Hudson said. "And I want to say, I was looking at your baby over there singing this song as his mother was singing it, and it takes me back to the first time I took my son, who's somewhere around here right now, watching 'Circle of Life,' and I was bawling in tears. And to think the full circle of my life, that I'm sitting here watching you sing this song. I hope it does the same for you as it did for me. But you just did that!"

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Source: “EW Reality”