The “at home” version of American Idol crowned its winner Sunday, with the 21-year-old subway performer from Harlem Just Sam beating out Arthur Gunn in the final moments of the episode.

The episode began with six finalists, Julia Gargano, Dillon James, Louis Knight, Francisco Martin, Johnny West, Gunn and Sam. All of the singers had been performing from their homes since the pandemic disrupted on set filming at the Top 20 stage of the season.

The Top Six contestants joined Lionel Richie for a performance of “We Are The World,” and the Top 11 contestants joined Cynthia Erivo for an Aretha Frankling tribute, as Erivo will be starring in a National Geographic Channel series Genius: Aretha.

Judges Katy Perry and Luke Bryan performed new songs; Perry sang “Dasies” off of her up-coming album, and Bryan sang his recently released “One Margarita.”

Ryan Seacrest announced the winner live as viewers watched reactions from Sam and Gunn. Gunn was surrounded by his family, and Sam was alone, but holding a tablet with a video chat of her grandmother. When Sam was announced as winner, she seemed surprised shouting “What?” over and over again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn00CVhDOp4&feature=emb_title

The judges congratulated the new American Idol on Twitter:

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Article by Marie Fiero

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