Abi Carter

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Abi Carter
Carter at her American Idol "Hometown Visit" parade in Indio, California in May 2024.
Carter at her American Idol "Hometown Visit" parade in Indio, California in May 2024.
Background information
Born (2002-07-31) July 31, 2002 (age 21)[1]
Indio, California, U.S.[1]
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, piano
Years active2024–present
Websiteabicartermusic.com

Abigail "Abi" Carter (born July 31, 2002) is an American singer and musician who won season 22 of American Idol in 2024.[2] She is the first woman in four years to win the competition.[3] She is from Indio, California, and a graduate of California State University, San Bernardino, Palm Desert campus, with a degree in Marriage & Family Therapy.

Early life and education[edit]

Carter was born and raised in Indio, California,[1] and is the second oldest of seven children in a "very religious family"[4] living with a single mother,[5] Andrea Engel Carter.[6] She has three sisters and three brothers, one of whom, Daniel, is a YouTube video creator.[7]

Carter says that her mother 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".[8]

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.[9]

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.[9][10]

She finished high school early[11] and studied psychology at California State University, San Bernardino, Palm Desert campus.[12] In May 2023, she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Marriage & Family Therapy.[11]

Before Idol[edit]

In 2016, Carter and her mother, who is also a singer, performed for the McCallum Theatre's Open Call Talent Competition, an annual event in Palm Desert. Abi was 13 and her mother 35, and they won "Best Vocal Act" that year. She tried out for Open Call to help her mother overcome her stage fright.[6] Abi has been an Open Call finalist five times.[13][14]

When Carter was 19, she decided to devote more time to her passion for music, so she quit her job as a gymnastics instructor and started busking.[15][9][11] She gained valuable experience performing 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.[9] She also performed at Villagefest, a weekly street fair in Palm Springs.[16][17][18] Her goal was to earn a living by singing, and when local restaurant owners encouraged her to sing in their restaurants, she thought she had reached her goal.[15]

When some social media videos of her playing were well-received, she was pleasantly surprised and encouraged, so she decided to post cover videos to see what would happen. When she posted a video of her singing the 2023 song "Vampire", by Olivia Rodrigo, American Idol casting producer Ariel Panzer saw the video and invited her to audition for the show. After a couple Zoom meetings with American Idol producers, she decided to audition in Santa Barbara, and, as she puts it, "The rest is history."[15]

Her music is inspired by the following female artists: Taylor Swift, Sara Bareilles, Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McAlpine,[19] and Billie Eilish.[20] She has been a fan of Billie Eilish since she was a young teenager.[21]

American Idol[edit]

In late 2023, Carter auditioned for American Idol in Santa Barbara, and was the last audition of the day. Carter sang Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?".[22] Wide Open Country reported that she made the song personal by adding complex runs to the melody and using her falsetto range.[23] When she finished the song, Katy Perry approached her and said, "What were you made for? You were made for this, 100%."[22] Luke Bryan said to Lionel Richie, "That may be the winner of American Idol." Perry had not heard them, and she turned around and said to Bryan: "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.[24] In a deviation from usual practice, she was awarded a golden ticket without the judges voting,[22] and a week later her golden ticket was upgraded to a platinum ticket.[5]

Carter later sang a slowed-down version of "Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance and made it into the "Top 20" of the show.[25] 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.[26] 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."[27]

Billie Eilish expressed her love and support for Carter in a prerecorded video message that was aired during the show when Carter ended up in the "Top 3":[20]

Hi Abi, it's Billie. I wanted to say congratulations for making the 'Top 3' on American Idol. This is such a big deal. I'm so happy for you. It's so amazing to see you in the finale after you sang my song, 'What Was I Made For?' in your audition. I love you so much. I wish you nothing but the best, and I just can't wait to see what happens tonight. I'm here to support you forever, and I love ya. Have fun.

In an interview when she had made it into the "Top 3", she was asked "Is there a particular performance you are most proud of?" She mentioned two: The first was her audition performance of "What Was I Made For?" by Billie Eilish, because the song relates to her true identity as a performer: Will she adopt a persona or be herself? She decided to continue "to be myself" at home and as a performer. "That's who I am at my core." The second was "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence, because it helped her to perform outside her normal comfort zone and discover many layers of herself, and that she could also be those things.[15]

Carter sang three songs in the season finale of the contest, including her original song, "This Isn't Over". On May 20, 2024, Carter became the season 22 winner and sang "What Was I Made For?" again.[28] Will Moseley came in second and Jack Blocker finished in third place.[29] Carter is the first recipient of a platinum ticket to win.[30] Immediately after her win, Bryan said to Carter: "I think this is the first time the person that we thought was gonna be the winner actually was."[31]

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 (Where Feet May Fail)" Hillsong United 8 Safe
Top 20 "Welcome to the Black Parade" My Chemical Romance 17
"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

After Idol[edit]

One of her first public activities after her win will be at a local event at the Acrisure Arena in the Coachella Valley. On May 31, 2024, she will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" and drop the ceremonial puck at the opening of a hockey game between the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the Milwaukee Admirals.[32]

Public image[edit]

Katy Perry has compared Carter to Ariana Grande, whom Perry considers "the best singer of our generation":[33]

"I think she was authentic, I think she was humble, I think she was singing with an angelic frequency," Perry said of Carter, calling her a "whole 'nother voice."
"The voice is unlike anything I've heard in pop music," the "Dark Horse" singer continued. "I mean, the last time I said that, I said that about Ariana Grande when she went on 'The Ellen [DeGeneres] Show.'"

Personal life[edit]

Carter is in a relationship with boyfriend Cooper McCollum from Allen, Texas. He is "an environmental sustainability professional and a project manager at UL Solutions in LA, California".[34][7]

Discography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Bronson, Fred (April 23, 2024). "Meet 2024's 'American Idol' Top 10 Contestants". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Callahan, Erinn (March 4, 2024). ""End the Contest": 'American Idol' Fans Preemptively Crown Their Season 22 Winner". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Norwin, Alyssa (April 22, 2024). "Who Is Abi Carter? The Talented Singer Is the Winner of 'American Idol' Season 22". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Cohn, Paulette (February 25, 2024). "'American Idol' Judges Award Platinum Ticket to the 'Best Thing We've Ever Heard'". Parade. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  6. ^ a b 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.
  7. ^ a b 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.
  8. ^ Gutierrez, Noe (March 28, 2018). "Abigail Carter". Coachella Valley Weekly. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Anthony, Allie (May 1, 2024). "Abi Carter finds encouragement from Coachella Valley heading into 'American Idol'". KESQ-TV. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c Lane, Liv (May 23, 2024). "'Idol' Winner Abi Carter Reveals Heartbreaking Story Behind Her New Song (Exclusive)". Heavy. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "CSUSB alumna Abi Carter wins 'American Idol'". California State University, San Bernardino. May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  13. ^ Norman, Jeffrey (May 10, 2024). "'Love is' ... Open Call 2024 at the McCallum Theatre". The Desert Sun. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Sasic, Ema (April 16, 2024). "Local finalists discuss McCallum Theatre 'passion project' Open Call". The Desert Sun. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d "Exclusive: One-on-one interview with American Idol's Abi Carter". YouTube. Forest Park Studios (official account). March 6, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  16. ^ Albani-Burgio, Paul (May 14, 2024). "'American Idol' finalist Abi Carter returns to Palm Springs". The Desert Sun. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  17. ^ Karcher, Carmela (May 21, 2024). "The Valley's Voice: Abi Carter's Inspiring Journey To Being Crowned The American Idol". NBC Palm Springs. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  18. ^ Gray, Eric (May 14, 2024). "Local American Idol Contestant Abi Carter Gives A Shout Out To Palm Springs Village Fest". Palm Springs Tribune. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  19. ^ Casalena, Em (May 19, 2024). "3 Quick Facts About 'American Idol' Finalist Abi Carter". American Songwriter. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "That's her Idol!!! Billie Eilish supports Abi Carter on #AmericanIdol!". YouTube. American Idol (official account). March 6, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  21. ^ "'American Idol' Winner Abi Carter REACTS To Billie Eilish Message & Viral Audition". YouTube. Access Hollywood (official account). March 6, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c 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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ "Abi Carter Stuns With "What Was I Made For?" (From Barbie)". YouTube. American Idol (official account). March 6, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  25. ^ "Abi Carter: Slowed Down Ballad Of "Welcome To The Black Parade"". YouTube. American Idol (official account). March 6, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  26. ^ Swift, Andy (April 14, 2024). "American Idol's Top 20 Revealed! Were the Right Four Singers Eliminated?". TVLine. Retrieved April 16, 2024 – via Yahoo.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ "Abi Carter Wins American Idol 2024". The Music Man. May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  29. ^ Brandle, Lars (May 20, 2024). "Abi Carter Wins 'American Idol' 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  30. ^ Freedman, Adrianna (March 31, 2024). "American Idol Fans Will be Shocked to Learn These Platinum Ticket Details". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  31. ^ Casalena, Em (May 21, 2024). "Abi Carter Dishes on Luke Bryan's Eye-Opening First Words to Her After Winning 'American Idol'". American Songwriter. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  32. ^ "Abi Carter To Appear At Friday's Firebirds Game". Acrisure Arena. May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  33. ^ Ledbetter, Carly (May 23, 2024). "Katy Perry Praises The 'Best Singer Of Our Generation'". HuffPost. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  34. ^ Parajuli, Rovik (May 20, 2024). "Abi Carter's Boyfriend Has Supported Her Long-Before Her Idol Journey". amy-movie.com. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  35. ^ Carter, Abi (March 6, 2024). "It's All Love (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. Abi Carter (official account). Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  36. ^ Carter, Abi (May 18, 2024). "This Isn't Over (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Abi Carter (official account). Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  37. ^ Daye, Julia (May 17, 2024). "'American Idol' finalist Abi Carter sings of resilience in new single 'This Isn't Over'". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  38. ^ Gutierrez, Noe (May 22, 2024). "Congratulations Abi Carter – American Idol 2024!". Coachella Valley Weekly. Retrieved May 23, 2024.

External links[edit]

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