Several contestants have dropped out of American Idol over the years for various reasons, including personal issues and health concerns. Marlea Stroman was the first musician to leave the competition series during season 4 in 2005 due to her son’s health, while Kenedi Anderson, who was dubbed “the biggest star we’ve ever seen” by judge Luke Bryan, left for personal reasons during season 20 in 2022. The judges expressed disappointment over Anderson’s early exit, but also noted that it will give other contestants a chance to shine.
Several American Idol contestants, including Kenedi Anderson, have dropped out of the competition for personal reasons, with judges expressing disappointment but also seeing it as an opportunity for other contestants to shine.
American Idol has had its fair share of contestants dropping out of the competition for various reasons over the years. Despite winning over judges and fans at home, some singers have decided to leave the show early. Let’s take a closer look at some of them.
One of the first notable contestants who left American Idol on her own was Marlea Stroman. She appeared on season 4 of the show in 2005 but left during the second round due to her son’s health. She told The Post-Standard that her then-12-month-old son had a minor cold, but she needed to be with him as babies need their mommies during such times.
More recently, Kenedi Anderson, who was dubbed “the biggest star we’ve ever seen” by judge Luke Bryan during a March 2022 episode, removed herself from the show early for personal reasons. In a statement released in April 2022, she expressed gratitude and thanked American Idol, the judges, producers, fellow contestants, and fans for their support. Bryan and fellow judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie were heartbroken but wished her the best.
While American Idol was disappointed to see Anderson leave, Perry saw it as an opportunity for other contestants to shine. She said that they had “such incredible other voices that have now even stepped forward a little bit more.”
It seems that American Idol is not for everyone, and sometimes, personal or health reasons can cause contestants to drop out of the competition. However, those who do participate in the show have a chance to showcase their talent, pursue their dreams, make lifelong friends, and potentially achieve success in the music industry.
