Idol Chatter & Voice Views

His arm raised by La’Porsha Renae, Trent Harmon breaks into tears when Ryan Seacrest announces him as the Season 15 winner of American Idol. (FOX Photo)

For weeks, Season 15 of American Idol looked like it would turn into one long victory march for La’Porsha Renae.

The call representative from McComb, Miss., sounded so great in her blind audition that original Idol Kelly Clarkson declared her the favorite to win the night it aired.

Kelly repeated the sentiment when she guest judged American Idol on Top 10 night.

But longtime Idol fans know the show’s early favorite often winds up being overtaken by someone who shows tremendous improvement over the course of the season.

And this season, that someone was La’Porsha’s fellow Mississipian Trent Harmon, who decided to stop singing to cows on his family farm and try out for American Idol at the auditions in Little Rock, Ark.

He served notice that he could go toe-to-toe with La’Porsha when they performed a duet on Top 8 night.

By Top 5 night, he was matching her performance for performance. And all day Thursday, it was his coronation song, “Falling,” that was leading on the iTunes’ singles chart.

It turned out to be an omen. When Ryan Seacrest announced the name of the final American Idol Thursday night, Trent Harmon wound up being the singer holding the trophy.

Trent immediately burst into tears, fell to the stage, got back up and repeated over and over how hard he had worked toward such a moment. He then gave credit to La’Porsha for pushing him to work so hard.

And, finally, he regained his composure to sing “Falling” on the Idol stage for a second time.

His voice soared, and the only thing falling was the confetti all around him.

Trent Harmon reacts to his victory on American Idol. (FOX Photo)

Trent Harmon is swarmed after being named the winner of American Idol. (FOX Photo)

Trent Harmon launches into his coronation song on American Idol as his Season 15 colleagues gather around. (FOX Photo)

Trent Harmon sings his winning single, “Falling,” as his Season 15 colleagues, including Sonika Vaid and La’Porsha Renae, look on. (FOX Photo)

Trent Harmon sings his coronation song as the new winner of American Idol as his name flashes in the background. (FOX Photo)

Confetti falls as Trent Harmon is named the Season 15 winner of American Idol. (FOX Photo)

Earlier in Thursday’s show, Trent Harmon and La’Porsha Renae sing “It Takes Two.” (FOX Photo)

Trent Harmon and La’Porsha Renae sing “It Takes Two” on American Idol Thursday night. (FOX Photo)