American Idol Finale Recap: Did The Right Singer Win Season 20?

By decree of Ryan Seacrest, a new American Idol has been crowned.

Sunday's three-hour finale brought back Season 20's most popular finalists, pairing them with some of the biggest names in music for a series of special performances, before revealing which of the three remaining contestants — HunterGirl, Leah Marlene or Noah Thompson — would take home the ultimate title.

Thompson was the frontrunner heading into this finale, with 50 percent of TVLine readers expecting him to win. HunterGirl followed closely in our poll with 30 percent of readers' votes, while Marlene trailed behind with 19.

But enough math, let's talk about the music. After a legitimately vertigo-inducing performance from Flo Rida and friends, the finale kicked off with a round entirely devoted to Bruce Springsteen, followed by performances of the finalists' official singles. The first elimination came midway through the night, preceding several all-star duets, including an unforgettable rendition of "Smile" courtesy of Michael Bublé and Christian Guardino. (Click here to watch.)

The final round gave us encore performances of the Top 2's favorite songs from the season, before Seacrest revealed the long-awaited results — all of which you can find below.

Read on for a breakdown of the biggest moments and performances from Sunday's finale, then drop a comment with your thoughts on this season's winner. Did the voters get it right?

Guitar in hand, a fully focused Marlene kicked off the finale's first round with Springsteen's "Cover Me," bringing plenty of the attitude and vocals we've come to expect from this rock star in the making.

"You turned that into your song," Lionel Richie told her, with Katy Perry commending Marlene for being "the whole package."

We were promised a "smoldering" Springsteen tribute from Thompson, who gave us a taste of his falsetto during a sweet-then-strong performance of "I'm on Fire." As for the smolder, that'd be a big ol' check.

"You are the king of 'aw shucks,'" Luke Bryan told Thompson, with Richie complimenting him on the artistry he has honed throughout the season.

Next up, HunterGirl delivered a polished, professional rendition of Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark," connecting to the audience with a performance that felt like a true celebration.

"This is your stage," Perry told her. "I don't think you're a star. I think you're a supernova."

Marlene began Round 2 with her single "Flowers," which she wrote as a letter to her younger self. A visibly emotional Marlene managed to power through the performance with nary a flaw, but tears of joy and gratitude began flowing the moment she nailed her final note.

"Props to your songwriter side," Richie told Marlene, whom Perry called a "brilliant messenger" whose music is going to change lives.

This performance of "One Day Tonight" wasn't particularly electrifying, but it was extremely Thompson is — charming, chill and effortless. (Side note: The moment I saw him holding his little baby during his hometown visit, I told myself he was going to win.)

"Yes, we strive for hit records, but what makes your career last forever is when people fall in love with you," Richie told him. "You're on to something fabulous."

I thought Thompson's reunion with his baby was a tug-at-the-heartstrings moment, but it didn't hold a candle to HunterGirl speaking with the veterans she helps heal through music. The emotions! The gratitude! The sheer, unadulterated patriotism! I feel like the show should have paused for Seacrest to recite the Pledge of Allegience.

As for HunterGirl's beautiful home-inspired single "Red Bird," Perry and Bryan's tears said it all. You could feel the emotions in this performance, but in the hands of a pro like HunterGirl, they never impaired her powerhouse vocals.

"God bless you," Richie told her, speaking for all of us. "Your heart is in the right place, may you thrive as long as possible."

As far as I'm concerned, HunterGirl gave the strongest showing of Round 2.

Thompson was the first finalist sent to safety, followed by HunterGirl.

"That's my girl," Marlene said to a dazed HunterGirl, who was clearly in disbelief as she processed her good news in real time. Marlene then exited the Idol stage, shooting a heart sign to the fans cheering her on from the studio audience.

Thompson and Etheridge is not a pair I would have put together on my own, so I'm sure glad Idol took care of that for me. Sharing the stage with a rock legend pushed Thompson a little out of his comfort zone, inspiring the kind of gnarly (in a good way!) performance we aren't used to seeing from the soft-spoken Kentucky gentleman.

HunterGirl and Bryan, on the other hand, was a no-brainer pairing, one that resulted in a solid (if not terribly exciting) performance of Randy Travis' "I Told You So."

Look, I understand that Marlene was already eliminated and that this performance didn't technically "count" towards anything. But come on, it's still Perry and Marlene and "Firework." And those are all very good things, so let's just enjoy it.

Thompson surprised the judges by revisiting his performance of Rihanna's "Stay," which first wowed the panel back during the Showstopper Round — a distant memory, if a memory at all.

And what's there to say about Thompson's final solo performance of the season? It was fantastic, full of heart, and proved beyond a doubt that Thompson has earned his place in this finale.

For her encore performance, HunterGirl gave us even more of a throwback, performing an even more polished version of her audition song, Rascal Flatts' "Riot."

HunterGirl was the final elimination of the season, which means...

...Thompson is officially the winner of American Idol!