CeCe Winans Sings ‘Goodness of God’ on ‘American Idol’ Finale

Abi Carter Sings ‘Oceans’ by Hillsong and Wins ‘American Idol’

According to the Desert Sun, contestant Abi Carter was homeschooled for most of her life. When her parents divorced, she worked in order to pay for a car and transport her six siblings to daily activities while her mom went back to school. Carter ended up following in her mother’s footsteps and earned a psychology degree.

Carter credits much of her love of music to her piano teacher, Marta Basham. Basham continued giving piano lessons at no charge when Carter’s single mom could no longer afford the lessons.

For years, Carter has performed on the street and at VillageFest in Palm Springs, California—taking requests and quickly and effortlessly playing songs because, she said, “I can understand the formula.”

For her “American Idol” audition, Carter chose to sing “What Was I Made For?,” written by Billie Eilish. The 21-year-old had only performed at local festivals, on street corners, and in small restaurants in and around Palm Springs. She was used to passersby stopping and taking notice of her incredible voice, and the same happened at her audition.

Carter isn’t the first contestant with a Christian background. She shared that she was the second oldest of seven kids and grew up in a “very religious family.”

“That may be the winner of ‘American Idol,'” judge Luke Bryan said immediately after Carter’s audition. Lionel Richie agreed, “We don’t have to vote.” The judges even commented that the crew applauded her audition. Katy Perry hugged Carter and asked, “What were you made for?”

Perry quickly answered her own question, “You were made for this. 100%.” Carter received one of three platinum tickets, advancing her straight to Hollywood.

When the Desert Sun asked Carter about her audition, she replied, “I thought I was dreaming. It absolutely could not have possibly been the actual audition that I was doing, but it was amazing and it was incredible.”

Carter sang Hillsong’s “Oceans” at Disney Aulani as part of the Season 22 finale of “American Idol.” With her family singing along in the audience, Carter gave yet another stellar performance. At the end of the three-hour finale, Carter was announced as the season’s winner.