Noah Thompson Clinches ‘American Idol’ Win With Bruce Springsteen Cover

variety.com:

Michele Amabile Angermiller “American Idol” crowned a new winner last night (May 22). Twenty-year old Louisa, Kentucky native Noah Thompson sealed the deal with a sultry performance of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” and his original song, “One Day Tonight.” He beat out fellow country artist, HunterGirl.After Thompson’s rendition of “I’m on Fire” — from Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” album — judge Katy Perry foreshadowed his victory. “So many people have fallen in love during that song, used it as their first-dance song,” she said. “I think you just swooped in and grabbed every heart in America by singing that song.”Thompson also performed Rihanna’s “Stay,” his out-of-the-box pick from early in the season, and delivered a perfect duet with powerhouse Melissa Etheridge for her hit, “I’m The Only One.”“Oh my God … my heart is beating out of my chest, this is crazy,” a stunned Thompson said after being announced the winner.

Thompson’s victory caps an incredible journey that began while he was laying down sheetrock on a construction job, and his friend Arthur signed him up for the show’s virtual “Idol Across America” online auditions.“As a kid, all I thought about was just playing music, being famous,” Thompson said in his initial “American Idol” audition. “But where I’m from, you don’t really get much opportunities.

My family, they believe in me. The guys I work with believe in me. But I’ve just never believed in myself … I would have never signed myself up for nothing like this.