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'American Idol' Season 22 accused of 'trying to skew the results' for Abi Carter with message from Billie Eilish

Abi Carter was left in awe as Billie Eilish appeared on screen following her closing performance

KAPOLEI, HAWAII: Abi Carter, winner of 'American Idol,' couldn't hold back tears during the finale on Tuesday, May 19, after receiving a video message from Billie Eilish. The 21-year-old from Indio, California, was left in awe as the global sensation appeared on screen following her closing performance.

After captivating Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry with her singing, Abi received praise from Billie via video message. The moment was particularly poignant as Abi had initially auditioned with a soul-stirring rendition of Billie's "What Was I Made For?".

In the video, Billie said, "Hi Abi, it's Billie Eilish. I wanted to say congrats on making the top 3 on American Idol. This is such a big deal, and I'm happy for you. It's so amazing to see you in the final after you sang my song in the audition. I wish you nothing but the best, and I can't wait to see what happens. I'm here to support you forever, and I love ya."

Overwhelmed by emotion, Abi dropped to her knees on stage and needed to be assisted by emcee Ryan Seacrest. Excited fans took to X, with one writing, "I can’t believe how they’re trying to skew the results for Abi. First with the screaming audience but then with a taped message from Billie Eilish. Thats so unfair! Its going to get Billie’s fans to vote for her!."

Another person wrote, "Let the conspiracy theories start how it was rigged & Billie’s message to Abi was a tell tell sign."

While some suggested, "As someone said, i don't think Marc Cuban doing a tape for Jack Blocker is going to get the amount of fans voting for him that Billie Eilish‘s did. But they had to TRY to disguise the favoritism and antics to ensure Abi’s win." One fan noted, "Abi just Won that Billie Eilish co-sign for sure."

Another fan said, "Abi got that Billie edge over Jack, not fair." One fan added, "Well I hope in 2 years when #AmericanIdol finally puts out an Abi record, all of you who voted for her because she had a Billie Eilish endorsement will remember who she is and fork out some ca$h."

Who is 'American Idol' Season 22 winner Abi Carter?

Abi is an Indio, California-based singer who participated in season 22 of 'American Idol'. She was 21 years old when she entered the singing competition.

On March 29, 2024, during her 'American Idol' journey, Abi released her first original song, "It's All Love." The singer shared that she began playing the piano at around 7 years old, which sparked her interest in music and eventually led her to start composing her songs.

Abi obtained a golden ticket during her 'American Idol' audition, allowing her to skip the first round of Hollywood Week and move directly to round two. She continued to impress the judges, advancing to the live events where Americans began voting for their favorites.

'American Idol' Season 22 winner Abi Carter comes from a huge family

During her Idol audition, Abi stated that she is the "second oldest of seven kids." She grew up with a single mother, who she claims "practically" raised all seven children herself.

'American Idol' Season 22 winner Abi Carter was homeschooled

Abi studied at San Bernardino's California State University. According to the school website, she received her summa cum laude bachelor's degree in psychology in May 2023. 

Since she was homeschooled throughout her high school years, Abi was able to secure employment to support her huge family.