Candice Glover wins AI season 12

MANILA, Philippines – After 5 seasons of male American Idol winners, America crowned power singer Candice Glover on May 16 (May 17, Manila time) as its latest Idol.

In the stunning finale between Glover and country singer Kree Harrison, it seemed like Glover was upstaging Harrison, receiving standing ovations for all 3 of her performances. 

Winning performance

Both performed their potential singles, a country ballad entitled, “All Cried Out” from Harrison and “I Am Beautiful” from Glover which Hollywood Life‘s Christopher Rogers called “strong, powerful and highly marketable.” It got all 4 judges on their feet.

Watch Candice perform her potential winner’s single “I Am Beautiful”:

Watch Kree Harrison perform her potential winner’s single “All Cried Out”:

But it was Glover’s last performance of the song, “I Who Have Nothing” that convinced judges and many in the audience that, performance-wise, Glover was coming out on top.

AI judge Randy Jackson, who ends his run as a judge this season, exclaimed that Glover “shot the whole night to another level.”

But Harrison wasn’t going without a fight. The large base of country music lovers was a formidable opponent for those who wanted to see Glover crowned.

23-year-old Candice hails from South Carolina and is the eldest of 6 siblings. She had previously auditioned for Seasons 9 and 11 of American Idol. In Season 9, judge Simon Cowell dismissed her, saying he could not see her being anything more than a lounge singer. In Season 11, she was eliminated during the Las Vegas rounds. – Rappler.com