(Spoiler alert: Do not read on if you’ve not yet seen the season finale of “American Idol,” which has completed its broadcast on the East Coast)
After a long season of competition on “American Idol,” it came down to 17-year-old Jena Irene and 23-year-old Caleb Johnson. All season long, the teenager had impressed with her poise and vocal prowess. She was able to pour emotion and soul into her music that belied her young age.
As for Caleb Johnson, he was an absolute powerhouse. A singer with a vocal range to be envied, he never stepped away from his rock-and-roll passion. Along the way, though, he did prove he had a tenderness to his voice to balance out his powerful classic rock vocals.
Also read: Harry Connick Jr. Confirms Return to ‘American Idol’
With America’s vote, they decided it was a year for rock-and-roll on “American Idol.” Caleb Johnson, who had previously tried out for the show on Seasons 10 and 11, came back in Season 13 and took home the title. His winner’s single, “As Long as You Love Me,” is appropriately a rock ballad.