During the nail-biting conclusion of “American Idol” Season 21, viewers were treated to yet another unexpected development.

During the three-hour event that aired live from coast to coast on ABC on Sunday, the final three candidates, Megan Danielle, Colin Stough, and Iam Tongi, each took the stage for the very last time in an effort to gain votes from viewers. As is customary, the judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie offered their comments and criticisms, but in this last round of the competition, all they could do was offer praise and best wishes to the contestants as they prepared to leave the program to pursue their careers in music.

The top three contestants each performed two songs, one written by special guest mentor Keith Urban and another paying homage to their respective hometowns. After that, the host Ryan Seacrest announced which contestants had made it to the Top 2, and the two remaining singers then competed against one another singing original compositions. Danielle soared to the heavens with a classic by Journey, Tongi got the crowd yelling his name after singing Urban’s “Making Memories of Us,” and Stough brought his good ‘ol country boy charm to a smash by Chris Stapleton.

Danielle began the evening by performing a cover of Urban’s “God Whispered Your Name,” drawing inspiration from her religious upbringing.

Danielle explained that she made her decision based on the song’s message, which is that “God is always reaching out to you and sending people to help.” She went on to say that her objective for the evening was to “turn off all the negative things in my head and just have fun.”