Three teenage "American Idol" talents, who joined forces behind the scenes while filming 20 Seasons, got together to make and do a photo shoot for the magazine together. The trio included 18-year-old Kenedi Anderson, who abruptly quit the competition despite being one of the judges' favorites. Here's the latest on the youth agenda and conference show...
On Anderson's Unexpected Journey on "Idol"
During the first preview for the 20th season of "Idol," Anderson was one of three contestants who impressed the judges so much that they received a platinum ticket, which gave all three obstacles to the first round of the competition. Other platinum ticket winners were Jay Copeland, who made it to the Top 7, and HunterGirl, who ran to victory over Noah Thompson.
Anderson, who was a high school student when she auditioned, made it through the first competition, but after entering the Top 24, she abruptly left the show, shocking judges and fans alike. On April 11, 2022, she shared via Instagram that she felt she couldn't go on anymore. "For whatever reason, I can't continue on 'American Idol,'" he wrote. “It's one of the hardest decisions I've ever made, but I know it's important. I am thankful for American Idol, the judges, the producers, the amazing contestants and all of my supporters.
She added, "Thank you for giving me such an incredible opportunity to share my voice, pursue my dreams, have so much joy and happiness doing what I love, and make lifelong friends along the way."
Anderson's first hearing drew more than six million viewers and judge Lionel Richie told USA Today his decision to leave was "heartbreaking".
Anderson later graduated from Western Albemarle High School in Cozet, Va., sharing Instagram photos from the milestone event in June. He has also posted videos of himself playing covers and original songs, as well as tours in Los Angeles and Nashville. In early September, Anderson was reunited with two of her best friends from the show, who joined her for a long day of rehearsals: 17-year-old Emerson Flora, who reached the Top 10, and 16-year-old Paige Fish, who . was eliminated after the Showstopper show.
The three met with their mothers in Provo, Utah, where Fish and his family lived. On September 8, they had a nearly sold-out show at the Velor in downtown Provo. Emyrson posted a video on his Instagram Story of the three of them interacting on stage and Fish shared photos from the crowded concert venue on his Instagram feed. The friends also posed for photos and a brief interview with Our Era magazine, which revealed that the girls quickly bonded as they spent long days together practicing and doing school work while they were all still at school.
"It's really rare to see people in your everyday life who see music like you do," Anderson said. Flora, the youngest contestant to make Idol's Top 10, said the back-to-back interactions with other young people kept her grounded. "I felt at home for the first time when I was with Kennedy and Paige," she said.
According to the Akron Beacon, Flora just started her senior year at Walsh Jesuit, a Catholic charter school in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He returned to Hollywood for the big game "Idol" and told Our Time that he is working on new music and networking with people in the industry.
Anderson also said that he hopes to release new music in the near future. "I'm really excited to release music," he told Our Era. "I've written some of my favorite songs that I've ever made and can't wait to share them with the world."
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