Kayleigh Clark competed via Zoom because Covid, advanced to Showstoppers anyway.
American Idol will go to great lengths to help a contestant who falls ill continue in the competition. Especially if production believes a contestant can go far.
Mississippi native Kayleigh Clark advanced to the Showstopper Round, despite Idol not givinnot being seen at all during Hollywood week. But there is a good reason for that. She came down with COVID-19 and conducted both the solo and duet rounds over Zoom.
“Now that performance and duet rounds have come to an end, I can fill you all in on my situation,” the 17 year old singer wrote on Instagram. “My Hollywood week experience was just a little different than what my friends were able to experience. I was diagnosed with Covid and got really sick, so my auditions were held from my room virtually.”
I was still able to make it through the performance AND the duet round (alone lol)”
She got pretty sick, but worked through it. She participated in the Duet round, but sang solo She continues, “Staying in my room fighting fever, chills, cough and body aches…… I was still able to make it through the performance AND the duet round (alone lol).”
Kayleigh’s absence and solo Duets round performance COULD explain why the round wound up with a trio. Producers probably try to make the number even in the end. But things happen!
She reveals that she made it to the Showstoppers round and that by the time Idol filmed the round, she was over COVID and able to perform on the big stage. “So get ready for Showstopper round!!!!” she writes. “It will be the first time I actually get to hit the big stage, but I am so excited!!! Thank you so much to the ones who have reached out and for your continued support!”
Katy said NO to Kayleigh after “coaching” her through her audition
Kayleigh’s audition aired on the Auditions 4 episode. The teenager lives with her family on a chicken farm in Mississippi. In front of the judges, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, she shared that she loves hunting and fishing and had killed her first buck last year with a crossbow.
Luke was immediately smitten with her, calling her “Top 10” material. However, Kayleigh’s performance did not convince Katy. While Lionel and Luke gave her yeses, believing they could work to help her improve, Katy said no, feeling she needed more time to develop.
She performed Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” first. The judges wanted to hear another song, and she sang “I Surrender” by Hillsong Worship. Katy did that thing where she yells at a contestant to get them to give “MORE GIVE US MORE!” Kayleigh sings with a forceful tone, but she hasn’t learned how to phrase or use dynamics quite yet.
American Idol did NOT upload her full performance to Youtube, so I went right ahead and did that. Watch below.
