Seasons · ABC

Season 16 (2018)

Aired on ABC from March 11, 2018 to May 21, 2018. The 10 finalists (Top 10): the contestants listed for season 16 in the Contestants table of Wikipedia's List of American Idol finalists, the same group as the season's Top 10. Contestants cut at the Top 24 and Top 14 stages are not finalists.^⁠[1][2]

Finalists

• Winner
• Runner-up
• Other finalists

Season 16 finalists: show result, then career after the show

Finalist	Show result	After the show
Maddie Poppe	Winner⁠[1][2] Last competed May 21, 2018	Latest documented update (2025): Maddie Poppe released the independent album Songs from the Basement on June 20, 2016, and Whirlwind with Hollywood Records and 19 Recordings on May 17, 2019. In 2025 she released a cover of Rainbow Connection.⁠[3]
Caleb Lee Hutchinson	Runner-up⁠[1][2] Last competed May 21, 2018	Caleb Lee Hutchinson released a self-titled EP on June 28, 2019, the album Southern Galactic in 2023, and the non-album single One Trick Pony in 2025.⁠[4]
Gabby Barrett	Third place⁠[1][2] Last competed May 21, 2018	Gabby Barrett records for Warner Records Nashville, the name Warner Music Nashville took in November 2025. On June 26, 2026 she released the single "In On It", her first new music of 2026, after the 2025 singles "The Easy Part" and "Ain't Supposed to Be". Her plans for summer 2026 included a headline run and dates on Parker McCollum's tour from July 24. Her latest albums are Chapter & Verse and Carols and Candlelight, both released in 2024.⁠[5][6][7]
CFCade Foehner	Eliminated (4th–5th)⁠[1][2] Last competed May 13, 2018	Latest documented update (April 28, 2022): By May 25, 2019, Gabby Barrett and Cade Foehner had shared a YouTube cover of Fleetwood Mac's Sara, with Barrett singing the first lead lines. As of that day, his Southern Hallelujah Tour was scheduled to start on May 30, 2019, in Baton Rouge, and an EP was planned for the fall. By April 28, 2022 he was Gabby Barrett's guitarist. He wrote the unreleased song I Love You and sang it during her set at SeaWorld Orlando's Seven Seas Food Festival.⁠[8][9]
Michael J. Woodard	Eliminated (4th–5th)⁠[1][2] Last competed May 13, 2018	Michael J. Woodard voiced Arlo in Arlo the Alligator Boy in 2021, signed with Unsub Records in May 2021, and released the EP MJW1 on January 12, 2024.⁠[10]
Catie Turner	Eliminated (6th–7th)⁠[1][2] Last competed May 6, 2018	Catie Turner released the independent EP The Sad Vegan on June 14, 2019, signed with Atlantic Records on April 29, 2020, and released Grow out of You on October 10, 2025. Audiotree Live followed on March 12, 2026.⁠[11][12]
JJurnee	Eliminated (6th–7th)⁠[1][2] Last competed May 6, 2018	Latest documented update (April 7, 2022): Jurnee, also known as Jurnee Siani, joined the American Idol Live tour after season 16. As of April 2022, she had kept new music private.⁠[13][14]
Ada Vox	Eliminated (8th–10th)⁠[1][2] Last competed April 29, 2018	Latest documented update (March 29, 2022): Ada Vox, the stage name of Adam Sanders, finished as runner-up on Queen of the Universe season 1. The season premiered on Paramount+ on December 2, 2021, and the finale was December 30, 2021. By February 14, 2022, three original songs were available to stream: Burn, Because of You, and Tea Time. A March 3, 2022 performance at the Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles was scheduled. In 2018 she was the first drag performer in the American Idol top 10.⁠[15][16][17][18]
DLDennis Lorenzo	Eliminated (8th–10th)⁠[1][2] Last competed April 29, 2018	Dennis Lorenzo performs as Renzo. He released the single Doin the Most in 2021 and, as RENZØ, a song called Black King. On The Voice season 27 he joined John Legend and finished third on May 20, 2025.⁠[19][20][21]
MSMichelle Sussett	Eliminated (8th–10th)⁠[1][2] Last competed April 29, 2018	Latest documented update (February 9, 2024): Sussett released the single Déjalo Ir in 2022, Ten Cuidao in 2023, and Que Significa in 2024, with Sonder House named on each single.⁠[22][23]

Sources

26 sources

1. List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
   Cited parts (8) of source 1

   • Contestants table, the 10 rows with Season 16
   • Contestants table, row Maddie Poppe: Season 16, Place finish Winner
   • Contestants table, row Caleb Lee Hutchinson: Season 16, Place finish Runner-up
   • Contestants table, row Gabby Barrett: Season 16, Place finish 3rd
   • Contestants table, row Cade Foehner: Season 16, Place finish 4th-5th
   • Contestants table, row Michael J. Woodard: Season 16, Place finish 4th-5th
   • Contestants table, row Catie Turner: Season 16, Place finish 6th-7th
   • Contestants table, row Jurnee: Season 16, Place finish 6th-7th
2. American Idol season 16 — Wikipedia, updated July 21, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
   Cited parts (8) of source 2

   • Top 10 contestants section; Top 10 section; Elimination chart
   • Lead section: “Maddie Poppe won the season on May 21, 2018, while Caleb Lee Hutchinson was the runner-up, and Gabby Barrett finished in third place.”
   • Lead section; Top 3 – Finale (May 21) table; Elimination chart, row Maddie Poppe: Pl. 1, Finale (5/21) Winner; ratings table, episode 19 Grand Finale, May 21, 2018: “Maddie Poppe won the season on May 21, 2018”
   • Lead section; Elimination chart, row Caleb Lee Hutchinson: Pl. 2, Finale (5/21) Runner-up: “Caleb Lee Hutchinson was the runner-up”
   • Lead section; Top 3 – Finale (May 21) table (Third place); Elimination chart, row Gabby Barrett: Pl. 3, Finale (5/21) Third place: “Gabby Barrett finished in third place”
   • Top 5 – Carrie Underwood & Mother's Day (May 13) table (Eliminated); Elimination chart, row Cade Foehner: Pl. 4, Top 5 column (5/13)
   • Top 5 – Carrie Underwood & Mother's Day (May 13) table (Eliminated); Elimination chart, row Michael J. Woodard: Pl. 4 (shared), Top 5 column (5/13)
   • Top 7 – Prince & contestants' birth year (May 6) table (Eliminated); Elimination chart, row Catie Turner: Pl. 6, Top 7 column (5/6)
3. Maddie Poppe — Wikipedia, updated August 24, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
   Cited parts (5) of source 3

   • 2015-2016: “on June 20, 2016.”
   • 2019-present: “On May 17, 2019, Poppe released her second studio album, ''Whirlwind''.”
   • Discography, Albums: “* Label: [[Hollywood Records|Hollywood]], [[19 Recordings|19]]”
   • Discography, Singles: “"[[Rainbow Connection]]"”
   • Discography, Singles, 2025 row: “| 2025”
4. Caleb Lee Hutchinson — Wikipedia, updated August 24, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
   Cited parts (5) of source 4

   • Music career: “On 28 June 2019, Hutchinson released a self-titled EP, produced by [[Kristian Bush]]”
   • Discography, Albums: “|2023”
   • Discography, Albums: “|Southern Galactic{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}”
   • Discography, Singles: “|2025”
   • Discography, Singles: “|"One Trick Pony"”
5. Gabby Barrett's new single "In On It" turns life's biggest questions into an anthem of hope — Music Matters Magazine, published June 27, 2026. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
   Cited parts (2) of source 5

   • Press release, paragraphs 1 and 4: “returns with her stunning new song “In On It,” out now via Warner Records Nashville. Her first new music of 2026”
   • Press release, touring paragraph: “she’ll also hit the road with Parker McCollum next month, beginning on July 24 at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.”
6. Cris Lacy Named Chair & President of Newly Rebranded Warner Records Nashville — PR Newswire (Warner Records Group), published November 11, 2025. Label or artist. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
   Cited parts (1) of source 6

   • Paragraph 1: “Cris Lacy has been named Chair & President of the newly rebranded Warner Records Nashville, formerly known as Warner Music Nashville.”
7. Gabby Barrett — Wikipedia, updated July 24, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
   Cited parts (1) of source 7

   • Discography, Albums table: “Release date: November 8, 2024”
8. Watch Gabby Barrett, Cade Foehner Cover Fleetwood Mac Classic — Taste of Country, published May 25, 2019. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
   Cited parts (4) of source 8

   • Byline: “Published: May 25, 2019”
   • Body: “turned to YouTube to share a letter-perfect cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic, "Sara."”
   • Body: “Barrett takes the first lead lines, followed by Foehner”
   • Body: “Foehner will kick off his 2019 Southern Hallelujah Tour on May 30 in Baton Rouge, La.”
9. Cade Foehner Honors Wife Gabby Barrett With Beautiful Song, I Love You — Wide Open Country, published April 28, 2022. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
   Cited parts (2) of source 9

   • Byline: “By Silke Jasso | April 28, 2022”
   • Body: “Foehner, who is the singer's guitarist, joined her on stage at SeaWorld in Orlando”
10. Michael J. Woodard — Wikipedia, updated November 28, 2025. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
    Cited parts (3) of source 10

    • Career: “his voice acting debut in 2021, starring as the titular character in the animated musical film ''[[Arlo the Alligator Boy]]''.”
    • Career: “In May 2021, Woodard was signed to [[Unsub Records]]”
    • Career: “On January 12 2024 he released his debut E.P, ''MJW1'' on Unsub Records/Capitol Records.”
11. Catie Turner — Wikipedia, updated July 5, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
    Cited parts (3) of source 11

    • Discography, Extended plays: “* Released: June 14, 2019”
    • 2020-2022: “On April 29, 2020, Turner signed to [[Atlantic Records]]”
    • Discography, Extended plays: “* Released: October 10, 2025”
12. MusicBrainz release groups for Catie Turner — MusicBrainz. Release database. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 12

    • Release group Audiotree Live: "first-release-date":"2026-03-12"
13. American Idol Live! 2018 Tour Kicks Off July 11 – Interview with Jurnee — Music Existence, published July 6, 2018. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 13

    • Introduction: “Jurnee Siani , a budding Denver, Colorado-based singer-songwriter best known by her mononym.”
14. What Ever Happened to American Idol Standout Jurnee? — Talent Recap, published April 7, 2022. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (2) of source 14

    • Jurnee on Tour: “After her season Jurnee joined the American Idol Live Tour.”
    • Closing: “These days Jurnee has been secretive when it comes to new music.”
15. Ada Vox — Wikipedia, updated September 11, 2025. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 15

    • Lead: “'''Ada Vox''' is the stage name of '''Adam Sanders'''”
16. Queen of the Universe season 1 (Wikipedia revision 1352320698) — Wikipedia, updated May 3, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (3) of source 16

    • Lead: “with [[Ada Vox]] from the [[United States]] finishing as the runner-up.”
    • Lead: “is premiered on December 2, 2021, through streaming service [[Paramount+]].”
    • Round 5: “===Round 5: Holi-Gay Finale (December 30)===”
17. Ada Vox is our Queen of the Universe — Socialite Life, published February 14, 2022, updated July 6, 2025. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 17

    • Interview: “three original songs available right now, “Burn”, “Because of You” and “Tea Time.””
18. The Queen with the Golden Voice — OutClique, published March 29, 2022. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 18

    • Lead: “she became the first drag performer to land a spot in the Top 10 on American Idol”
19. The Voice (American TV series) season 27 — Wikipedia, updated September 24, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (2) of source 19

    • Episode 1 (Feb. 3); Elimination chart, Finale column: “who previously competed under his real name, Dennis Lorenzo”
    • Elimination chart, Renzo, Finale: “Third place”
20. American Idol's Dennis Lorenzo Bounces Back After Controversial Elimination — Talent Recap, published March 30, 2022. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 20

    • After the show: “In 2021 Dennis released his single "Doin the Most."”
21. Former Homeless American Idol Contestant Gets A New Outlook On Life After Becoming A Dad — Talent Recap, published January 1, 2021. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 21

    • Where Is Dennis Lorenzo Now: “He also recently put out a song called "Black King" under the name RENZØ.”
22. Apple album lookup for artist 1352848303 — Apple. Release database. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (6) of source 22

    • Déjalo Ir collection: "releaseDate":"2022-10-14T07:00:00Z"
    • Déjalo Ir collection: "copyright":"℗ 2022 Sonder House"
    • Ten Cuidao collection: "releaseDate":"2023-04-21T07:00:00Z"
    • Ten Cuidao collection: "copyright":"℗ 2023 Sonder House"
    • Que Significa collection: "releaseDate":"2024-02-09T08:00:00Z"
    • Que Significa collection: "copyright":"℗ 2024 Sonder House"
23. Michelle Sussett Presenta Ten Cuidao — El Fiesta. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 23

    • Opening paragraph: “la única refugiada hispana durante la temporada de American Idol de 2018 en alcanzar el Top 10”
24. American Idol season 17 — Wikipedia, updated October 3, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (2) of source 24

    • Top 10 contestants section, Alyssa Raghu biography: “She had auditioned for the sixteenth season, but cut at the top 24.”
    • Top 10 contestants: “She took several classes to improve her skills and then auditioned again this season”
25. “American Idol” Contestant Alyssa Raghu Doesn't Make Top 24 in Second Chance on the Show: 'Incredible Journey' — Yahoo News Australia (People), published April 2, 2024. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (3) of source 25

    • Photo caption: “Alyssa Raghu on the April 1, 2024 episode of 'American Idol'”
    • Body: “nearly made it into the top 24 contestants of season 22”
    • Body: “who appeared on the show for a third time this season, after previously making the top 8 in 2019 and top 24 in 2018”
26. 'I sang for my life': Utah singer wins sing-off to advance to 'American Idol' top 24 — Deseret News, published April 2, 2024. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 26

    • Body: “Richins found herself in a sing-off with contestant Alyssa Raghu, who made it to the top eight on Season 17.”