A record 132 million votes were cast last night for Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips. In two hours, one of them will be crowned the next American Idol. To kick off the night, the finalists return for the first group number of the night and perform Runaway Baby.
Phillip Phillips performs Have You Ever Seen The Rain with Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty.
There’s a second CCR duet for Phillip with Bad Moon Rising.
And then it’s time to revisit some of the auditions from 2012. Can you remember all the way back then?
Returning to the stage is Joshua Ledet who sings Take Me To The Pilot before introducing the biggest inspiration of his life – Fantasia Barrino.
The Top 12 girls return to perform a medley of songs that includes Ain’t Nobody, Through the Fire and I’m Every Woman before being joined on stage by Chaka Khan. There’s a tribute to the Top 12 by Ford before we get to see them award the biggest music mentors of our finalists with a gift for helping them get to where they are. The keys to a new car! Ford also has a surprise for Jessica and Phillip. They get a car as well.
Rihanna then takes to the stage to perform her single Where Have You Been.
Skylar Laine has her moment on the Idol stage and performs Turn On The Radio with Reba McEntire.
It’s off to Steven Tyler’s lair. It’s a bizarre scene that is complete with a skunk.
Jessica Sanchez brings us back to the music and performs I Will Always Love You again. There is no hologram of Whitney Houston though for the duet.
The Top 12 guys perform their medley of songs that includes Call Me Back Again, Cracklin’ Rosie and I’m a Believer before being joined on stage by Neil Diamond who sings Sweet Caroline with them.
After listening to the number of times Randy Jackson has said “You could sing the phone book”, the Top 12 do just that. They’re all dressed up in gospel robes and hold a thick directory and sing “Sing the Phonebook”. Seacrest tells him to get some new material for 2013.
Randy then intros the return of Jennifer Lopez to the American Idol stage to perform a couple of songs including Follow The Leader.
There are a number of American Idol Alumni in the house tonight including Diana Degarmo and Ace Young. They have some big news – they just moved in together. However, there is more. Ace tells us that this has always been their home and as such, gets down on one knee and proposes! She says yes!
Hollie Cavanagh and Jordin Sparks take to the stage to perform You’ll Never Walk Alone.
The Top 12 guys perform a tribute to the late Robin Gibb who performed at the American Idol finale 2 years ago featuring How Deep Is Your Love and How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.
Jessica and Jennifer Holliday perform And I Am Telling You.
And then Ryan Seacrest tells us he’s about to do something he’s wanted to do for the past 2 years. He introduces Aerosmith as they take to the stage for the performance of the night.
Finally tonight, Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips perform Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong.
Before we know it… we’re at the pointy end of the night.
The Winner of American Idol 2012 is… PHILLIP PHILLIPS!
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