After disappearing from airwaves for only about a year, American Idol returned this spring with much the same format, but a new crew of judges and all new contestants, of course. This time around, the show featured a much more positive vibe, and the focus wasn’t about drama or the worst of the worst when it came to auditions, but rather those who exhibited real talent and who had a real shot of going somewhere after the sixteenth season wrapped.
In mid-May, Maddie Poppe defeated fellow singer Caleb Lee Hutchinson (who also happens to be her boyfriend) to claim the first title since the show returned, and while it’s only been a short while since the season concluded, Poppe is already hard at work on the next phase of her burgeoning career. She’s got the talent and widespread appeal, and while she’s claimed she’s not necessarily looking to become the next major pop star, there’s no reason to believe she won’t find a fan base interested in her and what she has to offer.