As America decides the winner of “American Idol” season 24 on May 11, 2026, the three-hour finale will be jam-packed with celebrity guests, performances by the Top 3 contestants, heartwarming segments about their hometown visits, and — of course — the final results.
Judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie will also provide their usual insights and critiques, but that’s not all they’ll be doing. According to a press release from ABC, they’re planning their own surprise performances.
Carrie Underwood Will Rock Out With Mötley Crüe on ‘American Idol’ Finale
GettyOne of the surprises in the works is that Underwood will perform with 90s rockers Mötley Crüe — Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, and Mick Mars. They have not revealed which song or songs they’ll take on together.
Though she’s a country superstar, Underwood has made it known that she’s also a rock and heavy metal fan. She has opened for Guns ‘n Roses, shocked her fellow judges by singing heavy metal tunes with contestants, and she took the stage with Billy Idol during the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame episode of “American Idol.”
Luke Bryan Has Multiple Performances Planned for ‘American Idol’ Finale
DisneyMeanwhile, Bryan will also have a busy night of performing. According to ABC, finalist Julián Kalel — whose elimination came as a shock to many after he made it into the Top 14 — will return for the finale. He and Bryan will perform Dwight Yoakam’s “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere” together.
Bryan will also perform his newest song, “Fish Hunt Golf Drink,” which is not yet released. But on May 6, he gave fans a taste of the lyrics on social media in a preview, singing: “If I could have it my own way you know/ Let me tell you how every day would go/ Wake up, coffee/ Camo, climb tree/ Wet line, eighteen/ Fish, hunt, golf, drink/ All fall, all spring, all summer long/ I’ll be living it up and living it on/ A country boy’s dream/ Fish, hunt, golf, drink.”
Fellow judge Lionel Richie doesn’t have any of his own performances planned, per ABC, but he will join his fellow judges to sing his hit “Deep River Woman.”
The night will be jam-packed with other celebrity artists, too. Alicia Keys will mentor the Top 3 contestants — Keyla Richardson, Hannah Harper, and Jordan McCullough — and will also perform.
Also expected to hit the stage are Brad Paisley, who mentored the Top 20 contestants in Hawaii, as well as Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms, Cameron Whitcomb, En Vogue, Jason Mraz, Lee Ann Womack, Mötley Crue, Nelly, Shinedown and “Idol” alums Tori Kelly and Clay Aiken.
Many fan-favorite contestants from the season are expected to return, too. Braden Rumfelt, who made it into the Top 5, will perform with Aiken. His fellow Top 5 finalist Chris Tungseth is also expected to perform with a special guest. Top 9 finalist Kyndal Inskeep has teased her return on social media, too.
The “American Idol” finale starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time on May 11, on ABC and Disney+.
