‘American Idol’ Contestant Kaya Stewart Quits Show Moments Before Duet With Fire Wilmore
04.04.2023 - 17:55
/ usmagazine.com
She’s out. Kaya Stewart quit American Idol abruptly on Monday, April 3.
The 23-year-old singer, who is the daughter of Eurythmics singer Dave Stewart, got sick during the ABC show’s Hollywood Week. She was paired with Fire Wilmore to sing Adam Lambert‘s “Whataya Want From Me,” but their rehearsal day took a turn for the worse.
“Everything originally was amazing when Kaya and I were rehearsing this morning and kind of just going through things and figuring out our plan,” Wilmore, 22, revealed during the episode. “Then, throughout the day, she just kind of started getting sicker and sicker and she started to get a fever. She couldn’t remember the words or anything. It was less and less progress, we were going in the opposite direction.”
Kaya explained that she couldn’t meet her own performance standards. “I always want to give my best, and I’m not giving my best here,” the singer said. “And I don’t think it’s a fair representation of myself to do that — or for Fire either. I don’t think it’s fair on her to not give one hundred percent when she’s giving one hundred percent.”
As show time drew closer, Kaya hinted that she might not make it through the performance. “Of course I wanted to continue in the show, but I needed to take a break today,” she explained. “I mean, it’s definitely not an easy decision.”
As she and Wilmore took the stage to perform for judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, Kaya revealed she was quitting American Idol.
“I have a little announcement to make,” she said. “I got sick at the beginning of Hollywood week and I have been trying to push myself and keep going. And during this performance, I got to work with Fire and it was such a great experience. She’s so talented and so incredible and we