American Idol Season 18 Champs Crowned and a "Just" Winner

Who Won American Idol in 2020?

In May 2020, American Idol crowned Just Sam, a 21-year-old singer from New York City who had been performing on subway platforms as Just Sam, as the season 18 winner. The season finale aired on ABC on May 17, 2020.

Abi Carter Was Also Crowned Season 18 Champ

Also in May 2020, American Idol crowned 21-year-old Abi Carter, a musician from Indio, California, as the season 18 winner. Carter, who had auditioned for the show three times prior to her win, impressed the judges and viewers with her soulful vocals and songwriting skills throughout the competition.

This was the first time that American Idol had crowned two winners in a single season. The unusual coronation was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the show to halt production in March 2020. The remaining episodes of the season were filmed remotely, with the two winners being crowned via video conference call.