Abi Carter
Abi Carter | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 31, 2002[1] Indio, California, U.S.[1] |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, piano |
| Years active | 2024–present |
| Website | abicartermusic |
Abigail "Abi" Carter (born July 31, 2002[1]) is an American singer and musician who won season 22 of American Idol in 2024.[2] She is the first female in four years to win the competition.[3]
Early life and education[edit]
Carter was born and raised in Indio, California, where she lives with her family, and is the second oldest of seven children in a Christian family with a single mother, Andrea Carter.[4] She has three sisters and three brothers, one of whom, Daniel, is a YouTube video creator.[5]
Carter said that when she was about 11 while cleaning her house she was listening to "Battle Scars" by Guy Sebastian and Lupe Fiasco. At the time she noticed patterns in music and music theory principles in pop music. Since then she has continued playing by ear and improvising.[6] She went to school at George Washington Charter School in Palm Desert, California until third grade and then was homeschooled. She attended La Quinta High School in La Quinta, California for less than a semester and returned to being homeschooled. About that time, her parents separated. She said that she left high school so that she could also work part-time, help care for her siblings, buy a car, and chauffeur her siblings to school and appointments.[6][7] In May 2023, she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), Palm Desert campus.[8]
Carter says that her mother Andrea has always supported her in music; Andrea bought Abi her first keyboard. Abi began private piano lessons when she was 7 or 8; her former piano teacher spoke to the press and was in the audience for an American Idol show. Referring to her mother's help, Carter told the Coachella Valley Weekly that she "wouldn't be the person I am today without her guiding me along the way".[9] She has busking experience,[6] mainly at Villagefest, a weekly street fair in Palm Springs.[citation needed]
Before Idol[edit]
After graduating from CSUSB, Carter and her mother, who is also a singer, auditioned for Open Call, a singing group. She said it was her dream to be able to make a living using her voice. She tried out for Open Call to help her mother with her stage fright.[10]
Carter has played music and performed at country clubs in the Coachella Valley as well as at the bar at Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar in Palm Springs and at Kitchen 86 + Bar in Palm Desert.[6]
American Idol[edit]
Carter auditioned for American Idol in Santa Barbara, California and was the last audition of the day; she received one of the three platinum tickets given to the top three contestants in the eyes of the judging panel, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Carter sang Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?".[11]
Wide Open Country reported on her audition for American Idol and said she made "What Was I Made For?" personal by adding complex runs to the melody and using her falsetto range.[12] Perry approached Carter and said, "What were you made for? You were made for this, 100%."[11] Bryan said to Richie, "That may be the winner of American Idol.", and Perry replied "Luke, she's Top 10, right?" Richie and Bryan agreed that Carter could win the show. Bryan also mentioned that he had never heard the show's crew clap before.[13]
Carter sang a slowed down version of "Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance making the top 20 of the show.[14] Perry cried a little during the song. Carter's grandfather died in 2021 and her grandmother died after American Idol filmed in Kapolei, Hawaii. Carter sang the song in tribute to them. "Welcome to the Black Parade" is about "The Patient" being visited in flashbacks on his deathbed by an ethereal parade of visitors.[15] Earlier in the American Idol season after she sang "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong United, Perry told Carter, "You're my favorite. I just think you're so gifted."[16]
Carter sang three songs in the season finale of the contest, including an original, "This Isn't Over". On May 20, 2024, she won the show and sang "What Was I Made For?" again.[17] Will Moseley came in second and Jack Blocker finished in third place.[18] Carter is the first recipient of platinum ticket to win.[19]
| American Idol season 22 performances and results | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Theme | Song | Original artist | Order | Result |
| Audition | Contestant's choice | "What Was I Made For?" | Billie Eilish | N/A | Advanced |
| Showstopper | "If I Could Turn Back Time" | Cher | |||
| Top 24 | "Oceans" | Hillsong United | 8 | Safe | |
| Top 20 (April 14) | "Welcome to the Black Parade" | My Chemical Romance | 17 | ||
| Top 20 (April 15) | "My Mind" | Yebba | 12 | ||
| Top 14 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" | Elton John | 14 | |
| Top 12 | Billboard #1 Hits | "All Too Well" | Taylor Swift | 1 | |
| Top 10 | Contestant's Birth Year | "Clocks" | Coldplay | 7 | |
| Top 8 | Judges' Song Contest | "Bring Me to Life" | Evanescence | 5 | |
| Top 7 | Dance Song | "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark" | Fall Out Boy | 3 | |
| Adele | "Hello" | Adele | 14 | ||
| Top 5 | Disney | "Part of Your World" | Jodi Benson | 1 | |
| "The Chain" | Fleetwood Mac | 8 | |||
| Top 3 | Bon Jovi | "Bed of Roses" | Bon Jovi | 3 | Winner |
| Song for Hometown | "Somewhere" | Multiple Artists | 6 | ||
| Original Song | "This Isn't Over" | Abi Carter | 8 | ||
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Bronson, Fred (April 23, 2024). "Meet 2024's 'American Idol' Top 10 Contestants". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ Callahan, Erinn (March 4, 2024). ""End the Contest": 'American Idol' Fans Preemptively Crown Their Season 22 Winner". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Piner, Chris (May 20, 2024). "Abi Carter Breaks Silence on 'American Idol' Win and Being First Female Champion in Over 4 Years". American Songwriter. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ Cohn, Paulette (February 25, 2024). "'American Idol' Judges Award Platinum Ticket to the 'Best Thing We've Ever Heard'". Parade. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Househ, Aysha Ashley (February 26, 2024). "Barbie Cover Secures Platinum Ticket for Abi Carter, Here's What to Know About the American Idol 2024 Contestant". HiddenRemote. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Sasic, Ema (March 5, 2018). "Indio's Abi Carter Was Serenading the Palm Springs Area Long Before "American Idol" Debut". The Desert Sun. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ Anthony, Allie (May 1, 2024). "Abi Carter finds encouragement from Coachella Valley heading into 'American Idol'". KESQ-TV. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ "CSUSB alumna Abi Carter wins 'American Idol'". California State University, San Bernardino. May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ Gutierrez, Noe (March 28, 2018). "Abigail Carter". Coachella Valley Weekly. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ Daye, Julia (February 26, 2024). "American Idol Judges Stunned by 21-Year-Old California Singer: "May be the Winner"". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Robinson, KiMi (February 26, 2024). "American Idol Judges Say Contestant Covering Billie Eilish's "Barbie" Song is "Best We've Ever Heard"". USA Today. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ Vaughn, Grace Lenehan (February 26, 2024). "American Idol: Luke Bryan Says This 21-Year-Old Singer Might be the Winner". Wide Open Country. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ "Abi Carter Stuns With "What Was I Made For?" (From Barbie)". YouTube. American Idol (official account). March 6, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Abi Carter: Slowed Down Ballad Of "Welcome To The Black Parade"". YouTube. American Idol (official account). March 6, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Swift, Andy (April 14, 2024). "American Idol's Top 20 Revealed! Were the Right Four Singers Eliminated?". TVLine. Retrieved April 16, 2024 – via Yahoo.
- ^ Casalena, Em (April 8, 2024). "Katy Perry's Admission Leaves "American Idol" Favorite in Tears: "I Don't Know If I'm Allowed to Say It"". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
- ^ "Abi Carter Wins American Idol 2024". The Music Man. May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ Brandle, Lars (May 20, 2024). "Abi Carter Wins 'American Idol' 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ Freedman, Adrianna (March 31, 2024). "American Idol Fans Will be Shocked to Learn These Platinum Ticket Details". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved May 22, 2024.