‘American Idol’ Finale Recap: Trent Harmon Is Show’s Final Winner

American Idol held its fifteenth and final live finale, which revealed that Trent Harmon had beaten La’Porsha Renae for the title.

American Idol Finale

Ryan Seacrest, holding the results card for the last time, built up the drama before announcing that Harmon was Idol’s last winner. After falling to the ground in shock, Harmon, through tears, said, “I worked so hard, and I know that I have a God-given ability, but I didn’t want to take it for granted. I wanted to work so hard. And [La’Porsha] pushed me to do it.”

Following the show, Renae didn’t seem to hold any hard feelings towards Harmon and is happy with how she performed throughout her run on American Idol despite not winning the final vote tally.

“I think I did my best and Trent did his best and at the end of the day it is about what America wanted,” Renae told HollywoodLife.“My kind of singing is not really popular here so it is understandable why they prefer Trent, and that is completely fine. But do I feel like I didn’t win the competition because I didn’t put my best foot forward or I didn’t deserve it? I don’t think that is the case!”

Scott Borchetta, the founder of Big Machine Music, has signed both Harmon and Renae to his record label. He wants to make Harmon “the country Justin Timberlake,” and plans to make a “killer diva-soul-R&B-pop record” with Renae.

Prior to the announcement of the winner, Idol staged an elaborate reunion of the year’s past winners and contestants. After a group number, the likes of Tamyra Gray, Colton Dixon, Justin Guarini, Jordin Sparks and Pia Toscano delivered a medley. Kelly Clarkson, who was too close to her due date to participate, had recorded a medley of her hits that were played to much applause.

Former winner Carrie Underwood did a duet with Keith Urban and sang her single “Something in the Water” later on in the show.

Jennifer Lopez hit the stage for a pair of songs.

The Three Divas – LaToya London, Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson – got together again for “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Even William Hung got to do “She Bangs” one more time.

Towards the end, the original American Idol judges panel reunited as well, with Simon Cowell making a delayed entrance onto the stage to join Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.