American Idol’s Rae Boyd, Brooks Rosser Share Sweet Moment at Finale

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Rae Boyd and Brooks Rosser’s chemistry reached a high note during American Idol’s season 24 finale.

The former contestants showed their affection for each other with a slow dance on the May 11th episode.

While Lucas Leon and Brad Paisley performed “I’m Gonna Miss Her,” the cameras captured a sweet moment of Rae and Brooks dancing to the song near the stage.

Even though Rae and her partner were eliminated from the singing competition earlier in the season, Rae recently shared that they still felt like winners. The top prize ultimately went to Hannah Harper.

Rae publicly revealed she was dating Brooks during the Disney Night episode on April 20th. After Brooks sang Miley Cyrus’s song “The Climb,” host Ryan Seacrest hinted at a surprise for Rae.

Ryan commented that one of the best parts of the show is getting to know people and building connections, leading to unforgettable experiences. He then playfully asked Brooks if he’d made any connections, teasing him by calling him ‘Prince Charming’.

Ryan shared that Brooks’ biggest fan, Rae, had returned to support the 22-year-old.

Okay, so everyone’s been buzzing about this! After a super sweet moment – I actually ran onstage to give Brooks a hug – I finally confirmed what everyone suspected: Brooks is my person! I said it best, I think, when I joked that ‘the princess is here to claim her prince.’ It feels amazing to be able to share that with the world!

After the surprising news, Rae confirmed their relationship on Instagram with adorable photos taken backstage, including a cute picture of her kissing her partner’s cheek.

She revealed on social media that they were brainstorming fun ways to publicly announce their relationship, and decided to do it with a little help from Ryan Seacrest and American Idol!

She said it was the most wonderful night, and she was thrilled that the secret was finally revealed. She ended her message with a loving message to her fans.

While you’re waiting for the next season of American Idol, read on to discover what goes on behind the scenes.

According to former contestants, you don’t start earning money on American Idol until you reach the live shows. Margie Mays, who competed in seasons 17 and 18, explained in a 2020 TikTok that payment begins at that stage. She also clarified that contestants are paid for things like appearing in commercials or returning for finale performances. While American Idol covers expenses like travel and meals during trips (like to Hawaii) and provides a daily allowance, contestants aren’t paid a salary just for competing – it’s a sacrifice made in pursuit of winning.

If you do win, there’s a $250,000 prize, but it’s not a straightforward payment. Maddie Poppe, the winner of season 16, told Business Insider in 2022 that half the prize money is given upfront, before the winner finishes their record, and the other half comes after. She described it as an advance on a record deal that she would likely need to earn back.

No, that’s not how it works.

David Cook, winner of season seven, explained to Business Insider that his initial audition wasn’t the very first step – it was actually his fifth round of auditions!

There are several ways to try out for American Idol, including open calls, virtual auditions, and through social media. However, the show’s rules say that if the producers ask you to come back for another audition, you’re responsible for covering your own travel expenses.

David added, “Once you make it to Hollywood Week, they take care of everything – your hotel and flights. But for the initial city auditions, you’re on your own.”

So you’ve gotten a golden ticket on shows like American Idol or similar—what happens next? Once the judges—currently Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan—send you to Hollywood Week, do they cover the cost of getting you there?

According to a former contestant, the answer is yes. In a TikTok video, she explained that the show flies contestants to Hollywood, books their flights, and covers the cost of their hotel and meals.

However, she clarified that they don’t give contestants spending money—they only cover necessary expenses like travel, lodging, and food.

In the beginning of the competition, contestants choose their own outfits. As Margie explained in a 2020 TikTok video, once they reach the live rounds – typically the Top 14 and beyond – the show provides stylists to handle their wardrobe, hair, and makeup. The goal is to transform them from everyday people into stars throughout the season.

However, stylists have a budget to work with. Soyon An, a former costume designer, told The Hollywood Reporter in 2013 that contestants were given $400 per episode for clothing. If a contestant wanted an outfit that cost more than $400, they had to pay the difference themselves, as the show focuses on helping them build their personal brand and image.

When Ryan Seacrest announces the results on the show and contestants are eliminated, it’s time for them to go home. According to a former contestant, Margie, those cut during Hollywood Week are often sent home almost immediately – as soon as a flight can be booked.

Things change later in the competition. During the Hawaii round, everyone flies back to Los Angeles together, regardless of whether they made it to the Top 20. And if a contestant is eliminated between the Top 20 and Top 10, they usually leave pretty quickly. However, those who reach the Top 10 and are then eliminated are likely to stay in the competition apartments until the finale, as they’ll be brought back to perform.

Oh my gosh, it’s SO interesting learning about what it’s really like for the younger contestants on American Idol! I mean, can you believe some of them are still in school?! I was reading about how Danielle Finn, who made it to the Top 24, had to have school on set when she was 17! She said they had rules about only filming for 10 hours a day, and if they went over, they’d get pulled aside. And if they had any downtime? Straight to school! It’s crazy! Victoria Johnson, who was only 16 when she got to the Showstopper round, had the same thing happen to her. Even though it was spring break during Hollywood Week, they still made her do schoolwork! She said she just did puzzles because she was already ahead in her classes. She’s taking all her classes online now because of Idol and all the filming. It’s amazing how they balance it all – seriously, total dedication!

Throughout its run, American Idol contestants have enjoyed a variety of living arrangements, from apartments and hotels to luxurious mansions. One house, used during season eight, was particularly impressive, boasting amenities like a basketball court, bowling alley, movie theater, and both indoor and outdoor pools. Contestant Lil Rounds recalled the mansion from her season fondly in a February 2024 Instagram post, calling it “soo awesome,” but also noting how little sleep everyone got. More recently, contestants seem to be staying in hotels. For example, Abi Carter, the winner of season 22, and Julia Gagnon, a top seven finalist, shared a room together.

Life was incredibly hectic for contestants on ‘American Idol.’ Season two winner Ruben Studdard described a whirlwind schedule that included choosing songs, rehearsing, recording vocals, and filming promotional material. He recalled receiving songs on Thursday, making final selections by Sunday, and spending all night in the studio perfecting tracks. By Tuesday morning, they’d do a complete rehearsal of the show, and the promotional packages urging viewers to vote were already filmed. Then, the cycle would begin again with Wednesday’s elimination show. As the number of contestants decreased, the workload didn’t – it actually increased. Season thirteen runner-up Jena Irene Asciutto echoed this sentiment, explaining that remaining contestants had to fill the time previously occupied by those eliminated. She noted that by the top eight, they were filming Ford commercials every Sunday.

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2026-05-12 18:17