American Idol

27 Mar 2025

Kelly Clarkson Says Stars Who Were ‘Mean’ About Her ‘American Idol’ Win Became ‘Voice’ Coaches

As the first person to ever win American Idol, Kelly Clarkson walked a lonely road for several years as other stars in the music industry had mixed feelings about her then-unorthodox route to success.

On the latest episode of Kylie Kelce’s Not Gonna Lie podcast posted Thursday (March 27), the “Stronger” singer revealed that some of her now peers initially judged her for getting her start on Idol — something that wouldn’t be so ironic if some of those same stars didn’t end up serving as coaches on offshoot competition series The Voice. “I had no one,” Clarkson began. “I was the first winner. It was hard.”

“People were really mean,” she continued without naming names. “People that were really mean have been coaches. You know what I’m saying? Like, hated talent shows, and they ended up being on The Voice.”

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Clarkson won season one of American Idol in 2002, a victory that propelled her to a successful career in music marked by three Billboard Hot 100-topping hits and three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 so far. Ever since the flagship show premiered, numerous other competition series inspired by Idol have sprung up over the years — one of which, The Voice, saw Clarkson stepping into the coaching role for seasons 14-21 and 23.

But while televised talent shows are all the rage now, the three-time Grammy winner added that 20 years ago, “people were really cruel at first.”

“They didn’t like it,” she told Kelce. “It took the industry kind of by storm, the talent shows. It was a very unlikable thing in the industry concerning the populous. Now there’s so many.”

One advantage of starting out on Idol, however, was Clarkson’s ability to empathize with the contestants back when she was a coach on The Voice. The same applied to fellow coach Jennifer Hudson, who competed on Idol in 2004 before joining The Voice panel on seasons 13 and 15.

“People like us who have been there in that audition process, and just being so judged instantaneously, on maybe not your best performance but you know you can do better … it’s a grueling thing,” Clarkson said of herself and the Dream Girls star. “And it’s unforgiving in a lot of ways, and a lot of pressure for these artists that I don’t think a lot of artists that sell tons of records would be able to handle. It’s a different thing.”

Listen to Clarkson reflect on Idol critics on Not Gonna Lie below.

17 Mar 2025

Isaiah Moore Leaves ‘American Idol’ Judges in Tears After Revealing He Cancelled Honeymoon to Audition

Just a few weeks into the latest season of American Idol, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie have made it clear that they think newest judge, and OG Idol season four winner, Carrie Underwood is a bit of a push-over who just wants to help everyone make it to Hollywood.

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But on Sunday night’s episode, 22-year-old Isaiah Moore of Oneonta, AL had all three judges crying in their pink Poppi cups with a life story that was as emotional as the song he chose to cover. The singer/worship pastor revealed that he arrived at the audition after he and his wife of seven days, Abby Grace, agreed to cancel their honeymoon so Isaiah could shoot his shot on the show.m

“We had a cruise to the Caribbean for our honeymoon,” Isaiah said before his audition on Sunday night (March 16). “But ultimately, my wife, she told me that there was no other option but to cancel it and come here to audition in Nashville.”

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Moore told the panel about his rough upbringing, which included his mother’s struggles with drug use and multiple trips to jail, resulting in him and his brother being raised by their grandparents. With a smile on his face, Moore said his mother – who was at the audition with him, along wit his maw-maw and paw-paw — is now three-years sober, though he choked up when he noted that his younger brother could not make it because of his current struggles.

Isaiah then dedicated a moving cover of Luke Combs’ “Where the While Things Are” to his brother, singing with grit and a heart-heavy weariness as he crooned, “Oh, it’s hearts on fire and crazy dreams/ Oh, the nights ignite like gasoline/ And light up those streets that never sleep when the sky goes dark/ Out where the wild things are.” By the end of the song about a brother lost to the wild things, all three judges had a hitch in their voice.

“You’ve got some power in that voice,” Underwood said, with Bryan adding, “I think there’s a story in that voice. That song kind of showcases a lot of parallels in your life and a lot of people’s lives.” Richie said he felt passion and the pain in the performance. “You’re carrying a lot inside but your blessing is that you can actually deliver it in a vocal,” he said. “It’s touching. I enjoyed your performance. It’s was just… smokin’.”

Underwood praised Moore for his powerful voice and storytelling and his ability to connect with the judges. She asked Isaiah to bring his family in and he got emotional as he introduced his family, with the judges passing him through to Hollywood with no reservations.

American Idol airs every Sunday on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.

Watch Isaih Moore’s American Idol audition below.

13 Mar 2025

Doug Kiker, ‘American Idol’ Contestant Known as ‘The Singing Garbage Man,’ Dies at 32

American Idol contestant Doug Kiker has died at age 32.

The singer’s sister, Angela Evans, shared the news with a Facebook post on Wednesday, writing, “It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of my brother Douglas Kiker.”

“He was sooo loved and will be missed by so many!” she continued. “[You’re] singing with the Angel’s now Bubba Please pray for our family as we go [through] this very difficult time.”

Donna Kiker Carrillos-Ramirez, another family member, also posted about Doug’s death on Facebook. “Today I got the call that no one wants to get,” she wrote. “We lost an amazing person today. He had the biggest smile and knew how to make you laugh.”

She added, “Douglas Kiker you will forever be missed. Fly high. Say hey to grandma.”

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Neither post shared Doug’s cause of death.

The Mobile, Alabama, singer competed on season 18 of American Idol in 2020, where he earned the nickname “The Singing Garbage Man” thanks to his day job as a sanitation worker. His audition moved then-judge Katy Perry to tears, with Doug performing Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road.” Though he was eliminated the following round after singing Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Doug was later invited back to virtually perform “Bless the Broken Road” again with the country trio.

In 2021, Doug was arrested and charged with third-degree domestic violence. The next year, an independent film produced in Doug’s home city titled Garbage Man premiered on Vimeo. The project found him portraying a fictionalized version of himself, with his character working as a bouncer at a club hosting a singing competition.

Doug is survived by two daughters, pictures of whom he sometimes posted on Instagram. In his bio on the platform, he described himself as “just regular guy trying to make it who found love in music!!!!!!”

12 Mar 2025

Carrie Underwood Is Exposed as a Major Nu-Metal Fan on ‘American Idol’

Sure, Carrie Underwood is the country star behind hits like “Before He Cheats” and “All-American Girl,” but turns out, she’s also a huge fan of nu-metal.

In a clip from season 23 of American Idol, in which Underwood took over for Katy Perry on the judges panel alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, an 18-year-old musician named Insite auditions. The long-haired Florida native begins his audition by performing “Freak On a Leash” by Korn, much to Underwood’s excitement.

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“You’ve got the hair for it,” she tells the young aspiring star. As he begins to belt the lyrics and head bang along to the beat, Underwood is seen grooving and singing with Insite, which surprised her fellow judges Bryan and Richie. “She knew every word! Who are you?” Richie said to the country star.

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When the judges ask for another “softer” audition song, Insite opts for “Bodies” by Drowning Pool.

“We’re starting to learn about Carrie’s alter egos,” Bryan says as Underwood joins Insite for the “Bodies” performance, as she dances and sings along with the teenager — even inspiring Bryan to head bang at one point.

“That was high school for me,” Underwood explains. “I’ve even crowd surfed, people.”

Ultimately, Insite got three approvals for his auditions, earning his way to the next round of the show. Watch his full audition below. American Idol airs on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Episodes are available to stream on Hulu the next day.

10 Mar 2025

Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell Gets Emotional During Son Baylee’s ‘American Idol’ Audition: ‘We’re Super Proud’

Baylee Littrell proved that talent definitely doesn’t skip a generation. The 22-year-old did not shy away from his famous father on Sunday night (March 9) during his audition on American Idol‘s season 23 premiere. “There’s something about you that looks familiar,” new judge and former champ Carrie Underwood told the handsome Georgia singer who definitely has his dad’s smile.

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Rather than tamp down the connection, the video package introducing Baylee leaned hard into his “nepo baby” status, beginning with a throwback video of the singer as a toddler on stage with his dad, Backstreet Boys legend Brian Littrell, who announces, “this is the new generation of Backstreet Boys.”

“And you look like your dad!” Underwood said, as fellow judge Luke Bryan apologized, “You must forgive me, I didn’t have your dad’s posters in my room.” In a montage of some of his dad’s biggest moments, Baylee said he definitely got his voice from his father. “I guess you could say music runs in our family,” he said while pulling off a clunky spin and admitting, “dance moves-wise that is the one thing genetically that did not pass down.”

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And if you think it would be intimidating to give music a shot when your pops is one of the biggest boy band stars of all time, Baylee agreed. “Following in my dad’s footsteps is scary,” Baylee said. “Because his career to me is one of the most extraordinary in music history.” In one of the most touching moments, Baylee recalled the time when he was eight or nine and he got to open up for the BSB at a huge arena show and play his “two little songs.”

Ramping up the emotion, Brian Littrell said he’s always told everyone that his son is “ten times more talented” that he is, something Baylee proved when he sang an “emotional” original about wanting to give up called “Waiting on Myself to Die.” When Baylee began strumming his acoustic guitar and crooning the song’s turbulent lyrics — “I don’t know what to do anymore/ I seem to be by all alone this war” — the judges leaned forward in rapt attention.

“You’re really good,” Underwood said. “Like, you’re really good. I loved the song,” she added about the risk of playing an original while telling Baylee that she thinks he can go “very, very far” in the competition. Proud papa Brian was near tears after the performance, bragging that he also thinks his son could go far in the family business. “We’re super proud. He’s obviously grown up in the business and He’s cut out for it,” Brian said.

Bryan asked if father and son ever sing together, which got Brian out on the audition stage to harmonize on the original’s chorus with Baylee. “I’m very happy for you and very proud of your son,” said judge Lionel Richie. “He’s got his own lane and I think you can go a long way. Very happy for you.”

Baylee, of course, made it through to Hollywood, leading to waterworks for both him and his dad.

And, for the record, this isn’t his first rodeo. Baylee has released a number of single to date, including the emotional single “Boxes” in 2019, whose video featured father and son together. The song was the follow up to Baylee’s debut track, “Don’t Knock It,” which the then-rising country singer got to work out when he hit the road with Backstreet for their DNA world tour.

Watch Baylee Littrell’s audition below.

06 Mar 2025

Luke Bryan & Lionel Richie Call New ‘American Idol’ Panelist Carrie Underwood a Human ‘Jukebox’: ‘She Knows Every Song’

Though Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan just kicked off their eighth season behind the iconic American Idol judge’s desk, they told Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night (March 5) that newcomer Carrie Underwood is already shaking things up just one week into her tenure.

“She was the number one at the beginning,” Richie said of Underwood, 41, who memorably won the fourth season of the show when she was 21 and said she still has her “14887” contestant sticker from her audition. Asked what it’s like to have an OG Idol on the show, pop icon Richie said their new partner is a “jukebox… she knows every song that the contestants are singing,” joking that Underwood can’t help joining in.

“I go Carrie, ‘they’re competing. It’s not you. You already won,’” Richie joked, as Underwood defended herself by explaining that if a nervous contestant flubs a lyric she is happy to be their human “Teleprompter. I got you. I will help you.”

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As for whether contestants still try to “butter up” the panel by covering their songs, Underwood said they’ve all had it happen so far, for good or ill. “They think it’s to compliment us, but some days we’re just praying, ‘Please God, just let them be able to sing it.’ And sometimes they nail it and sometimes it goes south real fast,” Richie admitted.

Replacing fan favorite Katy Perry, Underwood appears to have slipped into the pump-up pal seat with no hiccups. Richie said the country star immediately said yes to the first singer the panel saw, then again for the second one, only to reach a crossroads for singer number three out of nearly 200. “Luke and I were laughing, ‘well, she’s gotta say no,’” Richie recalled. “And she said, ‘well, she’s so cute… she’s so adorable.’ I said, ‘the answer is no!’”

“I care a lot and it’s people’s hopes and dreams,” Underwood said in her defense. “I’m trying to evaluate, ‘is there more in there,’” she added, as Richie flashed some performative exasperation at his co-star’s gentle nature. “There was not any more in that woman’s [inaudible]… it was a firm ‘no,’” Bryan said.

Asked if some of the singers get nervous in front of the superstar panel, Bryan said he’s basically become an amateur psychologist at this point. “I can read a fainter when they’re about to faint… we had one kid and I went behind him and kind of patted him down and he was 157 degrees, his body temperature,” he said.

The trio kicked off their visit with a competitive, trash-dancing showdown in the “Name That Song Challenge,” during which Bryan and Richie faced off against Underwood and Fallon. Racing to guess which instrumental versions of pop songs house band the Roots were playing while adding one instrument at a time, UnderFallon shot out to an early lead when the host quickly guessed Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

Fallon rubbed in his correct guess with a hip-shaking dance and impromptu duet with Underwood, cheekily asking his rivals, “isn’t this the best game ever?” A not-amused Richie rolled his eyes and shot back sarcastically, “this is so much fun,” with Bryan pointing to the other team and saying, “she’s a jukebox and all you do [Fallon] is listen to music!”

The next one was trickier, with Fallon incorrectly guessing the Commodores’ “Brick House,” as the band’s former singer Richie snagged the obvious answer: the Jackson 5’s “ABC,” which set him and Bryan off on their own touchdown dance routine. They all struggled with the third track, with Fallon finally humming out Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” for the win, then fanning himself theatrically.

After Underwood nailed Huey Lewis & the News’ “Power of Love” to Bryan’s chagrin, Richie rocked back with a correct guess on Heart’s “Barracuda,” setting off a friendly twin air guitar solo with Fallon that lead to a celebratory couple’s waltz for the team that correctly guessed the last song. American Idol airs at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday (March 9) on ABC.

Click below to find out who won the guessing game and to hear Underwood, Bryan and Richie talk about the new season of Idol.

05 Mar 2025

Watch Carrie Underwood Tear Up as She Revisits 20-Year-Old ‘American Idol’ Audition: ‘I Was a Baby’

As Carrie Underwood‘s career is about to come full-circle, the onetime American Idol hopeful is looking back to where she started.

In a new episode of the reality show’s Icon to Idol series posted to YouTube on Tuesday — just days ahead of the season 23 premiere, on which Underwood will make her debut as a judge — the country star rewatches her 2005 audition and gets emotional. In the old footage, a much younger version of herself sings Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” for the O.G. panel comprised of Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, who unanimously push her through to Hollywood.

“I have no idea how that 21-year-old Carrie was able to muster up enough guts to walk into a room and audition in front of Simon, Paula and Randy, and the world,” Underwood says after the footage ends.

“At my audition, I think I was just trying to hold in all my emotions — literally, hold them into my body,” she continues, revealing that she still has her audition number memorized: “It’s tattooed in my brain. I should actually get a tattoo of that somewhere on my body. Because I will always be 14887.”

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A few months after her tryout, Underwood would go on to win the fourth season of Idol and kickstart a long, successful career in country music, complete with four top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. She’ll soon experience what it’s like to be on the other side of the Idol auditions process once the next season of the show officially premieres Sunday (March 9), taking over Katy Perry’s vacant spot on the panel next to co-judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.

She’ll also be the only judge to know exactly what it’s like to go through the show’s wringer. After rewatching her audition on Idol to Icon, Underwood also looked through the two-decade-old journal she kept while she was a contestant on the show and got choked up.

“I don’t even know if I could tell her what she’s about to experience,” she says in the video, fighting back tears. “Seeing myself, 21 years old, the world ahead of you. Obviously, it’s overwhelming, but you’re gonna do fine, kid. You’re gonna be OK. Just hold on.”

Watch Underwood get emotional after rewatching her Idol audition above.

18 Feb 2025

Backstreet Boys Member Brian Littrell’s Son Will Make His Debut on ‘American Idol’ This Season

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Backstreet Boys superstar Brian Littrell revealed on the Today show that his 22-year-old son, Baylee, will appear on the upcoming season of American Idol.

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“He was just texting me last night, going, ‘Dad, dude, how do you do this? Like, it’s hard work,’” Littrell said of his son navigating the music industry. “He’s been busting his butt, and I’m super proud of him. He kind of gets a new sense of reality of what this is.”

Baylee, whom Brian shares with wife Leighanne Littrell, teased his time on Idol via Instagram earlier this month. Well guys recently I had the opportunity to audition for @americanidol Tune in to see the season premiere and what happens on 3/9/25,” he wrote alongside a screenshot of the show’s logo.

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Brian sweetly supported his son in the comments, writing, “Bubba I can’t wait!!!!! Good Luck we’re all counting on you hahaha.”

Baylee released his debut single, a country song called “Don’t Knock It,” back in 2018. “My dad has always been my champion, so he’s always told me to just do what I want to do and follow my dreams, and to do my best and not overthink it,” he told People at the time. “It’s really just taken so much pressure off.”

The newest season of American Idol premieres March 9 on ABC, before it streams the next day on Hulu. This season marks the first with season 4 winner Carrie Underwood on the judges panel — replacing Katy Perry — alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

04 Feb 2025

Jelly Roll Is the First-Ever ‘Artist in Residence’ on ‘American Idol’

Jelly Roll is stepping into a new Jelly role!

The Grammy-nominated country superstar is set to appear on the 23rd season of American Idol, as the show’s first-ever “artist in residence,” according to Variety. Per the publication, Jelly will first appear on the season during the “Hollywood Week” episodes and continue to become “a permanent fixture this season and will work closely with the Idol hopefuls, giving them firsthand advice on how to navigate the journey.”

It’s hardly Jelly’s first time on American Idol. In 2024, he appeared as a guest mentor on the April 8 episode of the show and performed his song “Halfway to Hell” from his 2023 album Whitsitt Chapel.

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Before that, in 2023, he teamed with Lainey Wilson to perform “Save Me” on the American Idol finale. He also performed “Need a Favor” with Idol contestant Oliver Steele.

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Former judge Katy Perry even suggested that the country star be the one to replace her after her departure from the show, before it was announced that Carrie Underwood would be the newest judge on the panel. “I gotta say, Jelly Roll was crazy when he came on the show,” the pop star had told E! News of the country a. “I was convinced at anything he said. He could run for president, he could be my pastor, I might go back to church for him. He could sell me anything.”

The newest season of American Idol premieres on Sunday (March 9) on ABC, before it streams the next day on Hulu.

30 Jan 2025

Here’s How Katy Perry Feels About Carrie Underwood Taking Over as ‘American Idol’ Judge

Katy Perry feels confident in the future of American Idol, even if she’s no longer a part of the show.

The pop star shared how she really feels about Carrie Underwood replacing her as a judge on the long-running competition series, telling People on Thursday (Jan. 30) she thinks her seat is in good hands.

“She was born on that show,” Perry said of the “Before He Cheats” singer. “I think she knows how to steer it.”

The “Woman’s World” singer’s comments come about six months after it was announced that Underwood would be taking over her seat on the judge’s panel, which is also comprised of Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Perry announced her departure a few months prior during a February visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, explaining at the time, “I love the show so much, but I want to go see the world and maybe bring new music.”

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To People, Perry emphasized that Underwood is bringing a new perspective to the show that neither of her co-judges can provide. “She actually truly knows … what it feels like to be in [the contestants’] shoes,” the “Firework” artist said. “We could only metaphorically feel that as judges.”

The country star competed on Idol back in 2005, winning the show’s fourth season. In August, Underwood said that the show “feels like home” in an interview with Good Morning America and said, “I feel like being on both sides of the coin, I’ll be able to hopefully offer some insight and help.”

“I can’t lie. I just can’t,” she added at the time of her judging style. “You can tell. I feel like I’ll be very honest, but hopefully, you know, I can be very constructive and encouraging.”

Perry’s comments about Underwood come shortly after the country drew a mixed reaction for her choice to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony earlier this month, with the “Jesus, Take The Wheel” artist singing “America the Beautiful” a cappella after technical difficulties messed with her background music. Leading up to the event, Underwood defended her decision to perform, saying in a statement: “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event.”

She added, “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”