American Idol finalist Maddie Poppe of Clarksville, Iowa, visits her hometown to film segments for the finale of the competition. Rodney White,


Iowa's singing sensation takes the stage again on Sunday in a competition to see who will be the winner of "American Idol."

Throughout the show, American Idol judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan smothered Poppe with praise — starting when she first won them over with Kermit the Frog's infamous "Rainbow Connection" and continuing with her growth and stylistic evolution to "Brand New Key" in the top 24 solos.

Check out her journey as a musician in a selection of judges comments below:


"Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie

Lionel Richie: "You have a storyteller voice. Storytelling is the best thing in the world. We need you in this show."

Katy Perry: "You definitely have your own distinctive quality in your voice. I think that's pretty dope."

Luke Bryan: "I'm not critiquing ya, I'm just saying yes, you got me."

Hollywood Week:

Original song: "Don't Let your Children Grow Up"

Katy Perry: "She reminds me of myself. We write a little bit of the same style."

Top 24

"Brand New Key" by Melanie

Luke Bryan: "I don't know that song, but I wanted to go skipping down a beach."

"You're all-American and that song got me caught up in that little artistry thing that you've got going on."

Katy Perry: "You're like, 'I am Maddie Poppe and no one else. Whether I go top five or No. 1, I'm Maddie Poppe,' and actually, that's a star."

Lionel Richie: "Just know that where you are right now is the road you need to be on."

Top 14

"Homeward Bound" by Simon & Garfunkle

Katy Perry: "I closed my eyes and I thought I was listening to Joni Mitchell. You're so special and you have incredible musical taste and it's really showing. A lot of people can sing, but a lot of people don't have taste and you have it, honey."

Luke Bryan: "The way you interweave from your normal voice to your falsetto, it is so seasoned, it is so big-time pro — big time 'I know the hell what I'm doing.'" 


Disney performance

"Bare Necessities" from "The Jungle Book"

Katy Perry: "I'm so proud of you and I appreciated your bravery today taking on all those new notes. It was so magical."

Luke Bryan: "Your voice feels timeless to me."

"You've had it since the audition and you just keep getting better and better each step of the way. "

Top 7 performance:

"If It Makes You Happy" by Sheryl Crow

Lionel Richie: "It is amazing to watch what a hairstyle will do, a jacket change, a pair of trousers."

"I'm telling you, you're owning yourself."

Katy Perry: "It's so exciting to see you play like a girl. And you know what I mean by that, meaning you hold your own every time you pick up an instrument."

Top 5 performance:

"I Told You So" by Carrie Underwood

Katy Perry: "I had no idea where I was, all I know was I was just in your world and I thought maybe I was at your concert."

"You definitely have a lot of strengths and you're great with all the instrumentation, I just want to hear a record of yours real quick, so whatever happens, put it out."

"God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys

Lionel Richie: "You have grown so much."

"I'm so proud of you. The journey has been an amazing one."

Katy Perry: "It's my top three favorite songs."

"You're so incredible and your taste is impeccable. Trust it always."

Luke Bryan: "That is such a tough song to sing to. We watched you do that time and time again. We still go back to the Kermit the Frog moment the first time we ever saw you."

"What I love most about your performance is that you got choked up at your own emotional singing, which was very endearing."


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