Leah Marlene, the fan-favorite singer who placed third on American Idol season 20, has had an exciting time since the finale aired in May. Leah, a 20-year-old musician from Normal, Illinois, burst into her audition with an energy and personality that was anything but "normal." Her enthusiastic and quirky demeanor and incredible musical talent impressed the American Idol judges, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, and she earned her golden ticket to Hollywood after singing "Steal My Girl" by One Direction and her original song "Wisher to the Well."
Throughout the American Idol competition, Leah delivered magical performances that captivated the audience. Her full circle moment of singing "Firework" with Katy Perry, after revealing that she had sung the song in a talent show when she was 9 years old, was one of the highlights of the American Idol finale. Leah showed a tremendous amount of growth and proved that she was a true artist. She is not only an outstanding singer, but a talented songwriter. Her single, "Flowers," climbed the charts after it was released on May 13 and Leah performed it on the finale. The song uses the metaphor of flowers growing through the pavement to represent how people can rise up through difficult times. It was inspired by Leah's own struggles with depression and anxiety, and how she found her way back to herself. She has since used her platform to help other people who are experiencing similar situations.
In a June 24 post on Instagram, Leah updated her fans about what she has been doing since the American Idol finale. She posted two pictures with her dogs, and wrote, "After a wonderful few weeks in Nashville, I’m back HOME with my beloved doggos for a few days!!!" Leah said that she wrote some tunes, met some people, and "started to get some pieces organized of this crazy post-Idol puzzle." Leah also revealed that she is going to Europe next week, and moving to Los Angeles the week after that. She is also "working on some show dates."
The American Idol finalist went on to say that she will turn 21 on June 25. She wrote, "What a wild time to be alive. It has been an incredibly bizarre, exciting, frustrating, roller coaster of a month filled with all the growing pains." Leah continued by expressing her hopes for the future, saying, "I know that this chapter is laying the foundation for something so beautiful to come and I am leaning into every moment of it." She concluded the post by addressing her followers. Leah has been so appreciative of her fans throughout her American Idol experience, and has used Instagram as a way to stay connected to them through her posts, Instagram stories, and Instagram Live. She said, "Thanks for being patient with me as I sort out LYFE. I love you guys so much! I CANNOT WAIT TO PLAY SOME SHOWS FOR YOU IN PERSON SOON!!!!"
Leah has some exciting adventures planned for her future. She has been keeping busy since American Idol, writing and performing new music, and sharing life updates with her fans. She is an inspiring musician who always shares her complete, authentic self with the world. Leah is sure to have a very successful music career for years to come.
Source: Leah Marlene/Instagram