New York, June 17 : “American Idol‘s” executive producer and showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick just wrapped up one of the strongest seasons yet of ABC‘s reality TV show, which ended with Abi Carter claiming victory on finale night. “It’s exciting to have a girl winner, and someone that really brought it from her first audition,” she tells us about the 21-year-old pop ballad singer from California. “She really had a magic moment when she first auditioned with ‘What Was I Made For?’ in L.A. for the judges, and I think she only grew from there.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.

Speaking about the longevity of “American Idol,” Michaels Wolflick proclaims, “This show is a brand. It is a trusted brand. I do feel like it is, in my mind, the NFL of singing shows as far as you come to us because you trust in the process. It’s a show about the finalists. It’s not a show about celebrities. It’s a show about the Cinderella story.” She adds, “It’s never boring. It’s never old. It’s never hacking. And if it was that, then it’d probably be time to hang up the hat. But until then, I am more excited now than I ever was about the show.”