American Idol Judges ‘Heartbroken’ After Kenedi Anderson Quits
Kenedi Anderson, one of the three American Idol season 20 platinum ticket recipients and the former frontrunner to win the competition, broke the judges' hearts when she quit the show before the Top 24 contestants were revealed. When Kenedi auditioned for American Idol, she was just 17 years old, but she impressed judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan with her consistently stunning vocals. Her renditions of songs such as Lady Gaga's "Applause" and Christina Perri's "Human" were some of the most compelling in the competition. However, Kenedi decided that leaving the show was the best choice for her.
In a statement released on Instagram and Twitter, Kenedi explained that she had withdrawn from the American Idol competition due to "personal reasons." She said that it was one of the hardest decisions that she had ever had to make, but she knew that it was "necessary." Kenedi thanked everyone involved with the show for the "amazing opportunity." Host Ryan Seacrest addressed Kenedi's exit on the show in a taped segment, but the judges did not have the chance to share their feelings about Kenedi's withdrawal on air.
In an interview with USA Today at the American Idol 20th-anniversary celebration, Lionel, Katy, and Luke expressed their sadness at the loss of Kenedi from the competition, but were optimistic about the future of the season. Lionel shared, "We were heartbroken," and added that Kenedi's potential was "unbelievable." However, he also expressed that he understood that sometimes the pressure of the show can be too much for the contestants. He said, "Singing is the easy part. If you know what we go through from a pressure point-of-view, most artists can't take it. It's just that simple. And it's not a survivable business...So when you get under pressure that young in life, I get it."
Luke agreed with Lionel about Kenedi saying, "These kids, they got a lot coming at 'em." He also shared that he thought that being a part of the American Idol family would have been a great route to the top for Kenedi and her music career. However, he acknowledged that if she was having "doubts and anxieties and other things," that it would not be the right choice. Luke concluded by saying, "we're heartbroken as a show because she was so dynamic and great," and that they all wish her nothing but the best.
Katy shared similar sentiments, acknowledging that Kenedi was "a great one." However, she added that she believes that the show has "such incredible other voices that have now even stepped forward a little bit more." Katy said that this could be a "career-defining moment" for the other contestants who now have the opportunity to step into the forefront of the competition. The popular American Idol judge wished Kenedi well in true Katy-style saying, "we wish nothing but the best for her. I say #GBHOJ: God bless her on her journey. Oh, I missed an H. But you know what I'm saying."
The judges saw great potential in Kenedi, and her absence has been impactful. Lionel, Katy, and Luke proved why they are excellent judges and mentors by taking the time to understand and respect Kenedi's decision. Although they were disappointed about losing Kenedi, their optimism about the future of season 20 is infectious, and the audience has a great season to watch thanks to the American Idol judges' knack for finding great talent.
American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 pm EDT on ABC.
Source: USA Today, American Idol/YouTube