Contestant Emmy Russell Surprises 'American Idol' Judges By Revealing Connection to Country Music Legend

American Idol star Debra Byrd has sadly passed away at the age of 72, with Jennifer Hudson leading the tributes to the singer and professional music coach. Debra was a familiar face on TV, known for her role as a vocal coach on American Idol, The Voice, Canadian Idol and Military Idol. She passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles, but the cause of her death is yet to be confirmed.

Debra Byrd, a vocal coach for such shows as American Idol, Canadian Idol, Military Idol, The Voice, Majors and Minors, and others, died in Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 5. She was 72 and no cause or location was given.

The X Factor 2018 finalist Scarlett Lee has only gone and auditioned for American Idol. Six years after finishing as runner-up in Simon Cowell's UK singing competition, which saw Dalton Harris showered with confetti at the time, 26-year-old Scarlett looked a different person while covering 'Clown' by Emeli Sandé infront of judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan recently. Gone was her dark fake tan, but she did once again opt for a red dress for the occasion.

“American Idol” judge Perry appeared to cringe after one contestant took a massive gamble and sang the pop star’s 2008 hit “I Kissed a Girl” during Sunday night’s episode. The bold and rather theatrical cover of Perry’s debut single came when Massachusetts native Madaí ChaKell strutted into the audition room and declared to Perry, 39, and co-judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan that she planned to “get into your bag today.” ChaKell’s comment surprised Perry, who went on to watch the singer — who said she’d been part of an unnamed Broadway musical’s touring company — give a very active performance. At one point, the “Hot N Cold” songstress could be seen raising her eyebrows in disbelief and covering her mouth with her hand as the “Idol” hopeful continued to dance around.

country music legend Loretta Lynn, auditioned for “American Idol” on Sunday’s episode of the ABC music competition show, surprising the judges. Judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan seemed to be in the dark about her impressive family tree — at first. “Growing up, I sang music my entire life,” Russell said.

“Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” earlier this month and announcing an entire upcoming country album to be released in March. The “Daddy Lessons” singer — who just became the first Black woman artist with a number one song on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart — has been leaning into the western aesthetic, sporting diamond-encrusted bolo ties and cowboy hats, inspiring her Beyhive to follow suit.Isha Nicole, the creative director and senior vice president of marketing for the western wear company, Boot Barn, told Women’s Wear Daily that Queen Bey will “catapult Western influence into the limelight” by “inviting the masses to participate in the romanticism of the American spirit.”“With this, we’ll see a spike in traditional felt cowboy hats in colors such as stark white or red, donned recently by the queen herself,” she said.

Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, Foo Fighters, SZA and literally thousands more will stop into festival grounds all over North America.To find the fest that makes the most sense for your schedule, our team went ahead and created a list of the 57 (!) biggest festivals — with tickets available — you won’t want to miss this year.From Tempe, AZ’s February Innings Festival all the way to kick off the year to Orlando, FL’s EDC in November, here are the 62 biggest North American music festivals in 2024.Feb. 23-24 at Tempe Beach Park in Tempe, AZRed Hot Chili Peppers, Hozier, Greta Van Fleet, Jimmy Eat World, Third Eye BlindMarch 1-2 at Tempe Beach Park in Tempe, AZNoah Kahan, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews Band, Sheryl Crow, Gin BlossomsMarch 14-17 at The Lot at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, CANicki Minaj, Post Malone, Lil Uzi Vert, Don Toliver, $uicide Boy$April 5-7 at the Fort Lauderdale Beach Park in Fort Lauderdale, FLLainey Wilson, Hardy, Old Dominion, Jason Aldean, Bret MichaelsApril 6-7 at the Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, NCJ. ColeApril 12-13 at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJSaves The Day, Goldfinger, Hot Mulligan April 12-14, 19-21 at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, CALana Del Rey, No Doubt, Blur, J Balvin, Tyler The CreatorApril 18-21 at the Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach, FLNoah Kahan, Lake Street Dive, The Revivalists, Marcus King, DawesApril 20-21 at the Riverfront Park in North Charleston, SCNoah Kahan, Hozier, The Flaming Lips, Shovels and Rope, Grace PotterApril 25-28 and May 2-5 at the New Orleans Fairgrounds in New Orleans, LARolling Stones, Neil Young, The Killers, Foo Fighters, Chris StapletonApril 26-28 at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, CAEric Church, Miranda Lambert,

American Idol returned Sunday night, and it’s a big one — Katy Perry‘s last first episode ever after announcing she was leaving the show. And she’s making the most of it!

Listen up, KatyCats! The reason Katy Perry left American Idol might not be what you think…

Katy Perry announced she’s leaving her role on the judging panel later this year. “Oh hiiii @AmericanIdol,” Sparks, 34, tweeted on Friday. “I hear a seat opened up at the judges table! I’m putting my name in the hat!” Sparks’ public plea comes days after Perry, 39, told Jimmy Kimmel last week that the current Season 22 will be her last after seven years on the show.

Now that Katy Perry has announced plans to leave American Idol behind, who do you want to see fill her seat at the judges table?

unconditionally moved by this meeting. Katy Perry got emotional during Sunday’s “American Idol” premiere as a contestant met her biological family for the first time following her live audition. Arizona native McKenna Breinholt stepped into the audition room and revealed to Perry and her fellow “Idol” judges, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, that she was adopted.According to Breinholt, 25, her adoptive family struggled to conceive a child before ultimately going through the adoptive process.“I have the best family in the world they’ve always supported me,” Breinholt said, adding that when she had turned 21, her parents revealed that she had inherited her musical talent from her biological mother, Amy Ross Lopez, who was in a band called Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl before she sadly passed away.

A past American Idol winner is throwing their hat in the ring to join the show’s judges panel!

Lionel Richie was surprised when news reached him about Katy Perry‘s imminent departure from American Idol. But “I’m not mad,” he said while visiting Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday.

Maren Morris marveling at Beyoncé.

American Idol Season 22 premieres this weekend!

American Idol is one of the biggest shows on TV!

It’s hard to believe American Idol first premiered more than two decades ago!

country music genre to focus on pop-rock tunes.“I realize every genre has problematic people in it,” Pope noted in a recent interview with Rolling Stone that was published on Thursday.“The Voice” alum continued: “I’m not saying there’s not a frontman in a band who hasn’t been accused of something in rock music. But I guess rock is in my bones more.

Jimmy Kimmel Live, Richie, 74, said, “It just made me run off the road when I first heard about it. My phone blew up.”But, he added, “I’m not mad.” On Monday night, during her own appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Perry, 39, announced that she was leaving “American Idol.” The upcoming Season 22 will be her last.