LOS ANGELES — The City of Indio Tuesday is celebrating one of its own, the winner of "American Idol."
Abi Carter won Season 22 of the popular singing competition television series Sunday night. She became the first female "Idol" winner since 2020.
The 21-year-old Carter took the crown over runners-up Will Moseley from Hazelhurst, Ga. and Jack Blocker from Dallas, Texas.
During the three-hour runtime, "Idol" contestants performed with artists such as Jason Mraz, Fantasia Barrino, Seal and Jon Bon Jovi, as well as judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
Carter, who previously sang hits from Taylor Swift and Fall Out Boy throughout the season, also took the stage multiple times Sunday night. She performed Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses" and "Somewhere" from "West Side Story" as part of the competition, the latter as a tribute to Indio, as well as an original single, "This Isn't Over."
Carter also joined forces with singer Bishop Briggs on her track "River," and gave a rendition of the Oscar-winning song "What Was I Made For" from "Barbie" after the voting results were announced.
Prior to the finale, Carter returned for a hometown visit last week, including a parade, concert and key to the city presentation.
"It was crazy to go back to my hometown," Carter told a media outlet Tuesday evening after the show. "If I was a little kid looking up to somebody from my hometown that came back on 'American Idol,' I would have been so driven to do what I wanted to do, it would have made me feel like it was achievable."
City of Indio public information officer Jessica Mediano told City News Service that Indio is "definitely going to host something" to celebrate the victory, but still needs to coordinate with Carter's management team.