Less than two months after the Season 24 finale of “American Idol,” the season’s winner Hannah Harper and Pensacola native and standout finalist Keyla Richardson are still on the go.
Recently, Harper shared a big move in her musical career amid her “String Cheese” tour, which began with a June 2 debut at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
Meanwhile, we spoke to Richardson last month about where her career might take her next, including the already scheduled concert at Pensacola’s Saenger Theatre slated for the end of next month.
Here’s what fans can expect.
Who won ‘American Idol’ 2026?
Hannah Harper was announced as the winner of Season 24 of “American Idol” in the show’s three-hour finale on Monday, May 11, 2026.
Runner-up was Jordan McCullough and Pensacola native Keyla Richardson’s journey ended as a Top 3 finalist.
What’s next for Hannah Harper?
Hannah Harper announced June 23 that she signed with WME for global representation in collaborative social posts with Music Row Magazine and Country Credits.
Harper will be represented by agents Alex Sera, Carlile Willett and Morgan Kenney, according to the post.
Harper recently embarked on her “String Cheese Tour,” which kicked off June 2 in Nashville, Tennessee.
In October, Harper will join Season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina‘s ‘Stages’ tour as the opening act. The recent “Idol” winner can be seen at tour dates in Springfield, Missouri, Little Rock, Arkansas, Columbia, Missouri, Lexington, Kentucky, and Cleveland, Ohio, according to TV Insider.
What is the prize for winning ‘American Idol?’
“American Idol” awards a recording contract and cash prize to the winner of each season, although the amount has fluctuated throughout the show’s decades-long run.
Kelly Clarkson, the competition show’s first-ever winner, reportedly earned a $1 million recording contract with RCA Records, according to Parade. However, on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in March 2026, over 20 years after her “Idol” win in 2002, the three-time Grammy-winning singer set the record straight.
“…I was literally on the show and they were like ‘Oh, you win a million dollars or whatever.’ No you didn’t. They lied, you did not. It was like a million dollars worth of investment in you,” Clarkson said.
Since the show’s 2018 reboot, winners reportedly receive $250,000.
Season 16 winner Maddie Poppe told Business Insider in 2022 that the cash prize doesn’t exactly amount to that number, though.
“You do get $250,000, but not really because of taxes,” Poppe said. “And you get half of it before you complete your record, and then the second half you get after you complete the record. So it’s just like an advance from the record deal, but I’m pretty sure I have to recoup it.”
Do 2nd and 3rd place win anything on ‘American Idol?’
Though no winnings earned by the runner-up and second runner-up on “American Idol” have been confirmed, The New York Times previously reported in 2010 that finalists who reached the Top 5 at the time were “likely to earn close to $100,000 from the show…The Top 12 contestants are guaranteed several thousand dollars for their efforts,” according to copies of contracts obtained by the outlet.
However, the report refers to details during the show’s heyday on Fox, which aired its last episode in April 2016 amid dwindling ratings, according to Billboard, and prior to the series’ return on ABC in 2018.
The exposure artists receive on the show is also a benefit that has led to the success stories of runner-up contestants such as David Archuleta (Season 7) and Adam Lambert (Season 8).
What’s next for Keyla Richardson? When is Pensacola concert?
Keyla Richardson will perform a concert at Pensacola’s Saenger Theatre at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 25.
Buy ‘Keyla Richardson’ tickets at Ticketmaster
The Pensacola News Journal spoke with Richardson nearly two weeks after the show’s finale in May. She said she had been back in the studio working on music, with lots of opportunities for both her and her son, Drew, hinting that they’re “going to be on the road a lot” and maybe even seeing her face on some talk shows.
While she can’t say yet what her plans are for the next few months, she doesn’t think her schedule will allow her to continue teaching at Life Shifting Academy next school year.
She also expressed her openness to other genres outside of gospel.
Richardson had previously grown her career as a gospel artist, climbing the charts with original songs like “So Good,” which placed No. 1 on Billboard Gospel Airplay in 2020 and was Richardson’s soulful account of praise for God’s goodness, rescuing her from even the darkest moments of life.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: ‘American Idol’ winner Hannah Harper gets signed in big career update
Reporting by Ashley Ferrer and Brittany Misencik, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ashley Ferrer and Brittany Misencik, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
