Chayce Beckham was named the winner of “American Idol 2021 on Sunday, May 23rd. Beckham was announced the winner at the end of the three hour live finale. Competing with Beckham for the title was Grace Kinstler who finished in third and Willie Spence who was the runner up.
Beckham took the stage after being announced the winner and performed his original single “23′. The song climbed to the top of the Top 100 and the Country I tune charts.
The 24 year old singer from Apple Valley, California is the first winner from California and the first to write his hit coronation song. Beckham first impressed the judges at his audition. He auditioned for the show not long after surviving a near fatal car crash due to his prior alcohol use.
At the live finale, Beckham joined country singer Luke Combs for a performance of Combs hit song “Forever After All”. The two sang in harmony and Beckham played acoustic guitar.
When asked what it was like to perform with Combs. “That’s a dream come true” Beckham said to TVMusic Network and reporters in a virtual Q & A backstage right after his win. “When I first started singing all these songs, I was doing Luke Combs covers and I was posting them on my Instagram. So to see him come here, and give him a big hug and sing that song with him. That is what dreams are made of right there. To be able to look up to somebody that much and actually get to go sing a song with them. What a dream come true. I feel more than blessed. I think I might be the most grateful person in the world right now”.
Beckham plans to move to Nashville, Tennessee and plans to record his album and tour.
American Idol will return in the Spring of 2022 for Season 5 on ABC.
Click below to see Chayce Beckham and Luke Combs’ performance.
