Kenedi Anderson from American Idol season 20 received a platinum ticket from judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie. The platinum tickets were introduced in honor of season 20, and they allow recipients to bypass a round of Hollywood Week, a notoriously challenging and grueling part of the competition. Only three platinum tickets will be awarded this season. Kenedi joins country singer HunterGirl in the elite group of competitors who have the distinction of being platinum ticket recipients. There is only one ticket left.
Kenedi impressed the judges with her stunning rendition of Lady Gaga's "Applause." As Kenedi played the piano and sang, Katy, Luke, and Lionel smiled. They seemed thrilled to be in the presence of someone so talented and gave Kenedi a standing ovation. Luke said that his head was spinning, and Katy joked that she was feeling threatened by the talents of the younger competitors. Katy marveled at the fact that AI's Kenedi has not yet been recruited, and Luke called her a "five-star recruit."
Lionel said "Hallelujah" and told Kenedi that she had answered their prayers, as they wanted to find the next big thing in the music business. Luke said that he believed that she might be "the biggest star we've ever seen. No doubt I believe Top 10." Katy said that Kenedi was born to be a star, and Luke declared that he truly believed that her musical journey for the rest of her life started right there. They called Kenedi's mother Anne into the audition room and gave Kenedi the platinum ticket.
Age, Hometown, & Family
Kenedi is a 17-year-old high school senior who currently resides in Crozet, Virginia with her parents Justin and Anne and her siblings. During her audition, she revealed that she has lived all over the country due to Justin's football career. The sibling of the American Idol star is a former college football player and coach and is currently the East Carolina University (ECU) Director of Player Personnel/Recruiting. Kenedi has five siblings, Dakota, Rubee, Peyton, Jayce, and Jackson, and she is the second-oldest.
Social Media
Kenedi has a loyal fan following on social media because she shares her music on various platforms. Kenedi has 52,400 followers on TikTok and 1.2 million likes. She has two Instagram accounts, Kenedi Anderson with 32,500 followers and Kenedi Sings For U with 4,018 followers. On her YouTube channel, fans can also find Kenedi's cover songs and original songs, including "This Way," a song that she wrote shortly after she turned 17. It's about growing up and wanting to stay true to herself.
Musical Influences
Kenedi's musical influences range from pop to country to R&B. In an interview with ABC 8News, the AI star said that her strong country music background came from her childhood in Louisiana, but shared that her sound has changed over the years. She stated that when she was younger, she sang a lot of old Taylor Swift songs, revealing that she was "absolutely obsessed with her." However, she said that as she has grown up, she has "developed kind of my own style and I've gotten more into pop and writing my own music and also soul." She has posted songs from artists such as Etta James, Sam Smith, Jack Johnson, Olivia Rodrigo, and American Idol alums, Tori Kelly and Lauren Daigle.
Career Goals
Kenedi plays piano and guitar and her dream is to pursue a career in music. She wants to be able to write and record an album and collaborate with other artists. She hopes to sell her own music and play in sold-out stadiums. Kenedi shared, "I want a career in this so badly." Kenedi from AI also recognizes that music can bring so much happiness to the world. She said, "Music gives me personally so much joy, and if I could just share that with others - that's really all I want."
American Idol season 20 platinum ticket recipient Kenedi has a bright future ahead of her on the show. Her captivating audition is one that will be remembered as one of the best ever. Kenedi is on her way to claiming the title of the next American Idol.
American Idol airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Source: ABC 8News