Trent Harmon Wins ‘American Idol’
Trent Harmon, the American Idol underdog, won Season 15 of the reality show on Thursday night (April 7). In a teary-eyed acceptance speech, he admitted his competition La'Porsha Renae pushed him every step of the way.
"I worked so hard," Harmon said after hugging Renae, tears welling up in his blue eyes. "I know I have a God-given ability but I didn't want to take it for granted."
"And she pushed me to do it."
Idol mentor Scott Borchetta praised Harmon's work ethic throughout the show, saying he'd taken the competition by the throat during the final days and weeks. Once an underdog, Harmon overcame Renae, who seemed liked a sure winner early on in the competition.
Harmon's first single "Falling" will be worked to country radio, according to Big Machine Label Group President Borchetta. During the final weeks of the show Harmon has played more to the country audience, beginning with a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover and continuing through when he performed two songs familiar to Chris Stapleton fans, "Tennessee Whiskey" and "Drink You Away."
Harmon becomes the final winner of American Idol, as the series wrapped on Thursday night (April 7). He's the third country winner, following Carrie Underwood and Scotty McCreery, who won Season 4 and Season 10 respectively. Both appeared earlier during the final episode, as did a dozen or more other country finalists from the show's first 14 seasons.
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