The show must go on and it did at Sunday’s “American Idol” finale. Chayce Beckham was announced as the 2021 winner of the competition. Willie Spence was the runner up and Grace Kinstler finished in third. The Top 9 contestants returned to the finale and performed with celebrity guests.
Arthur Gunn returned this season after placing second on Season 18 as the winner of this season’s comeback competition. He was eliminated after the top 7 show.
Gunn was announced by the show as a duet partner to perform two songs with Sheryl Crow.
A photo of Gunn and Crow was posted on the show’s social media page from their rehearsals.
At show time, instead of Gunn, top 16 contestant Graham DeFranco took the stage with Crow for a medley of “Everyday Is a Winding Road” and “If It Makes You Happy.” No explanation was given during the finale of why Gunn was absent from the entire finale.
TVMusic Network spoke with the judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan during a virtual Q&A with reporters after the finale.
Lionel Richie stated that they “don’t even know what happened.” Luke Byran added “He literally came to cheer on Chayce.{ Beckham} “He was there to support Chayce, and we’re pulling him out of the crowd going, ‘You’re gonna sing with Sheryl Crow.’ And he’s like, ‘Hell yeah!'”
A rep for the show told reporters after the show, that Gunn decided at the last minute that he didn’t want to perform, so DeFranco stepped in to perform.
Gunn has now addressed the situation today on his Instagram page.
“American Idol” will return for Season 5 in the Spring of 2022 on ABC.
