Pensacola-born-and-raised gospel singer Keyla Richardson received a coveted golden ticket on “American Idol” after an emotional audition on the Season 24 premiere on Monday night.
Richardson was able to audition before a celebrity panel of judges—Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood—even bringing Bryan to tears with her soulful rendition of “Glitter in the Air” by P!nk. After three unanimous “yes” votes, the judges gave her the green light, clearing her way to Hollywood week.
“I had a long musical journey, but I never give up, so I just want to keep going and give it one more try,” Richardson told the judges before her audition.
Richardson, 29, has been singing almost her entire life, but she didn’t always see the talent that others saw, she said. She started singing gospel at age 5, and went on to become a music teacher at Life Shifting Learning Academy on Pensacola Boulevard, where she’s been for about six years. She knows what it’s like to need someone to believe in you, and also importantly, to learn to believe in yourself. Now, she works to help young people develop their voices and gets to be the one who believes in them.
“Music wasn’t a natural passion for me. I knew I could sing; everybody around me believed in me, but me. I wanted to play basketball,” Richardson said in the episode. “When those kids step into the class, I see myself a lot of times.”
“I grew up in the church, I grew up singing. I just felt like I wasn’t good enough,” Richardson said.
Richardson has showcased her voice on television before. She landed in the top four of BET’s “Sunday Best,” which allows aspiring gospel artists to learn from the artists they grew up listening to, to meet peers, and share their talent with a vast new audience.
Opportunities only continued to open from there, leading her to claim her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay for her single “So Good.” She would go on to earn the role of Vicky Waters in the 2022 film “Due Season,” starring alongside actress Vivica A. Fox.
However, auditioning for IDOL was a long-awaited dream of hers, and she felt it was time to pursue it.
It’s a good thing she did, because her audition was well-received, wowing judges with her musical licks and wide range of vocals.
“I can’t believe you’re 29 and you haven’t been in our lives yet,” Bryan said. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“I can imagine you on some songs where you would just blow the roof off this place because of the range,” Richie added.
Richardson received the special moment of earning the golden ticket, but even rivaling that moment would be bringing her son, Drew, out to meet the judges. For Richardson, her son was the reason she auditioned, she said,
“Did you hear your mom?” Underwood asked him. “Did you hear how great she did?… We love her.”
“See what your mom made me do?” Bryan said to Drew through tears. “You (Richardson) have a voice that will make people stop in their tracks.”
Drew knew his mother’s song by heart, mouthing the words as she performed. Then, he was even able to “audition” himself, with a rendition of “God Only Knows” by For King & Country, melting the hearts of viewers.
Pensacola is highlighted in Richardson’s audition
Back in December, Richardson was spotted being filmed on Pensacola Beach by Casino Beach Bar & Grille.
On Monday, that audition came to fruition, as Richardson was recorded completing her interview on the Pensacola Beach Gulf Fishing Pier with the turquoise waters behind her.
“American Idol vibes at Casino Beach Bar & Grille today,” Casino Beach Bar & Grille shared on social media in December. “Huge shoutout to Pensacola’s own Keyla Richardson — the talent is real. Keep your eyes up, ears open and be ready to vote when it’s her time. The City is behind you Keyla.”
What’s next for Richardson?
Richardson will proceed to the Hollywood Week round of “American Idol,” which this year is reported to take place at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, for “American Idol University.”
Viewers can tune in to ABC at 7 p.m. Central every Monday, or watch the next day on Hulu.
What is “American Idol” about?
“American Idol” is a series known for “pioneering the music competition genre,” according to the American Idol website. The show features celebrity judges, including Carrie Underwood, a fourth-season American Idol winner. This year, Underwood joined judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie to listen to auditions across all genres as they assemble a group of competitors to move forward, with America determining their fate. The show is hosted by Ryan Seacrest, and while judges have come and gone, Seacrest has been with Idol since its 2002 debut.