American Idol 2022 Auditions 3: Meet The Contestants (Photos)

American Idol’s landmark season 20 continues on ABC Sunday March 13. The third audition episode includes hopefuls who sang in front of judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan in Austin, Los Angeles and Nashville. Host Ryan Seacrest is on hand to help, as always.

Sunday’s American Idol “auditions 3” episode includes a few returnees who didn’t make it to the judges last season and a couple of Tik Tok stars.

Meet the contestants and click through the photo gallery at the bottom of the page.

*Contestant research by Blake Busch

American Idol Auditions 3 Contestants List

Cadence Baker – The 19 year old from Muscle Shoals, Alabama brought her father Shane Baker along to accompany her audition. Previously, he fronted a Christian rock band called “Cadence.” He has also been signed as a recording artist and songwriter for other Christian publishing companies in both Nashville and Alabama. Additionally, her grandfather Gary Baker co-wrote the hit song “I Swear” by All-4-One. He’s also written song for Lonestar and John Michael Montgromery. Young Cadence is also a songwriter. Check out her original, Hell to Earth HERE. ABC leaked her audition. Watch it HERE. – Instagram Tik Tok
Taniya Boatwright – Taniya, who goes by Taniya Nicole on socials, is a senior in high school in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Her resume includes starring in theater productions and winning the Miss Myrtle Beach High School pageant. She sings light pop & R&B. – Instagram Tik Tok
Dontrell Briggs – In his audition, Dontrell, from Maxton, North Carolina, brings a rug with him that features his recently-passed godmother Betty on it. He sings at weddings, funerals, church and other events. A cover of “Dancing in the Sky” dedicated to Betty earned 107.5K likes on Tik Tok. ABC leaked his audition. Watch it HERE. – Instagram Tik Tok
Abigail Brooks – The Castle Rock, Colorado native is also known as Abigail Lehrer. She looks wacky weilding a broom in her audition photo. But Abigail graduated from from the Institute for American Musical Theater in 2021. Actually, the broom is a Tik Tok thing, where she has 107K followers. She was nominated for an award in high school. – Instagram Tik Tok
Rachel Chiu – Currently a student at the University of British Columbia in Canada where she co-directs an a capella group, Rachel has had several Tik Tok videos go viral (500K followers overall). Several feature her imitating a trumpet with her singing voice. Typically, however, she’s a soulful pop vocalist with jazz influences. A cover of Billie Eilish’s “Lovely” got 4 million likes and 15 million views WATCH. She garnered 2.1 million likes on this mouth trumpet Tik Tok.- Instagram Tik Tok
D3vine – Actual name is Devin. The singer is also a hoop artist, dancer, and has original Trap style music on Spotify. – Instagram Tik Tok
Donavan Diaz – 20 year old from Hereford, Texas has his own talent agency and has been a booking agent for season 16 alum, Ada Vox. He also works at a funeral home in his hometown, and faced the devastation of COVID-19 first hand. – Instagram Tik Tok
Emily Faith – 21 year old Oklahoma native sings Country music with Christian roots. At 5 years old, she sang at the Texas Opry. She opened for CCM stars Newsboys and For King and Country at 16. She also swerved as Miss Tulsa 2022. Check out her website. – Instagram Tik Tok
Sam Finelli – This 28 year old pop balladeer is autistic and appears to have a moving back story. He becomes very emotional talking about his audition in an Instagram clip. He also has appeared in a few promos. Sam is a 2020 graduate of Beacon College in Leesburg FL. – Instagram Tik Tok
Tristen Gressett – The Pell, Alabama native has appeared in every promo. The 17 year old attends high school while playing gigs around town. Wearing a harmonica and a cowboy hat, Tristen exudes a 60s/70s folk’blues style. Check out his cover of Neil Young’s Heart of Gold HERE. – Instagram Tik Tok
Dakota Hayden – 17 year old from Fordsville, Kentucky sings a mix of old and new Country music. He’s been gigging constantly since 13 years old. He won Brandon TV’s The Shine season 2 in 2020. Layla Spring (Season 16 & 18) was a mentor and Ashton Jones (Season 13) served as a judge. Watch the winning video HERE. Check out his website. – Instagram Tik Tok
Ryleigh Madison – 16 year old Country singer from Whiteville, North Carolina, leans more traditional with Christian influences. She plays shows with her uncle Dustin Chapman who auditioned last season (it didn’t air). He has a rare disease that doesn’t allow him to swallow food. He compares Ryleigh’s style to Patsy Cline. She released a single, “Stranger” in 2020. – Instagram Tik Tok
Mark Osborne – Mark appears in the latest promo saying to the judges “You know this is nerve wracking!” The singer is from Vinton, Virginia and used to play in an Americana/Blues band called the Smokehouse Crickets.- Instagram
Ry – Big-voiced Chapel Hill, Tennessee native auditioned for Idol last season, but didn’t quite make it to the judges audition rounds. – Instagram Tik Tok

Meet more contestants

For more on American Idol contestants, check out our 31 contestant mega-guide HERE. The Voice, AGT, and returning Idol alums are profiled HERE. And meet the contestants featured in television promos HERE.

American Idol 2022 Season 20 SPOILERS are here! But please keep spoiler talk in the spoiler posts. Thank you.

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Top 24 Season 20 Contestant List
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