Congratulations, Maddie Poppe!
The 19-year-old Iowa native — known for her soothing voice and strong artistic ability — was crowned winner of American Idol‘s 16th season during Monday night’s finale.
“There were definitely so many moments where I was going to give up,” she said at the semifinals on Sunday. “I wish I could go back and tell myself, ‘It’s going to be alright, you just wait!’”
Throughout the season, Poppe won the hearts of millions — including judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.
After her last performance on Sunday night, instead of critiquing her rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” Perry pulled out her phone and said, “I’m voting for you.”
“No one said I couldn’t,” Perry told reporters after the show.
Maddie Poppe.
The star wowed the audience week after week with her highly-anticipated and entertaining performances of classics including Simon & Garfunkel’s “Homeward Bound,” Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” and Carrie Underwood’s “I Told You So.”
Monday’s finale included performances from the three judges, as well as Bebe Rexha, Darius Rucker, Gary Clark Jr., Nick Jonas and Mustard, Patti LaBelle, Yolanda Adams, Kermit the Frog, and the top 10 finalists.
With the Idol revival guaranteed a second season, the judges previously opened up to PEOPLE about what fans can expect this time around.
“It’s very constructive criticism,” Perry, 33, told PEOPLE of their judging styles. “Personally, I’m a straight shooter. I’m very cut and dry sometimes. You know, it seems a little not soft — I do try and watch myself because I do know how it feels to be in their shoes. I was in their shoes 10 years ago… I’m inspired by all of their stories. I know it wasn’t an overnight success for me; it’s not going to be for them. They still have a long way to go. We’re really real with them.”
“We really encourage them,” she added. “There’s no dismissing and just sending off and saying, ‘You suck.’ That’s not how we roll. I think in the past there was some of that and maybe taking advantage of people [and] their actual skill sets for comedy. We don’t do that anymore but we still laugh just as much.”
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