‘American Idol’ Contestants Who Have Quit the Show Over the Years: Kenedi Anderson and More

Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless

'American Idol' Contestants Who Have Quit the Show Over the Years: Kenedi Anderson and More

Not for everyone? After winning over the judges — and viewers at home — Kenedi Anderson, Wyatt Pike and more contestants have dropped out of American Idol for various reasons over the years. The first notable musician to leave the competition series on her own early was Marlea Stroman, who appeared on season 4 of American Idol in 2005. Her second round departure was due to her son's health. “It wasn’t that big [of a cold], but I wasn’t there, and when babies are sick, they need their mommies,” Marlea told The Post-Standard at the time of her then-12-month-old son. More recently, standout Kenedi Anderson, who judge Luke Bryan dubbed “the biggest star we’ve ever seen” during a March 2022 episode, removed herself from the show early. “For personal reasons, I’m unable to continue on American Idol. This has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I know it’s necessary,” she wrote in a statement in April 2022. ”I’m so grateful to American Idol, the judges, the producers, the amazing contestants, and all the fans who have supported me.” The high school senior added: “Thank you for giving me such an amazing opportunity to share my voice, chase my dreams, feel so much joy and happiness doing what I love, and make lifelong friends along the way.” [sendtonews type="float" key="IeyGH8Xyjb-2832908-14453"] A source close to production subsequently told Us Weekly that the series was “disappointed to see Kenedi leave.” Bryan, who judged season 20 with Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, told USA Today that the trio was “heartbroken” by Anderson’s decision. “These kids, they got a lot coming at ’em. I think, potentially for her career, her being a part of our family is as good as the route or the way to the top can be,” he told the newspaper at the time. “But, if you’re having doubts and anxieties and other things … we’re heartbroken as a show because she was so dynamic and great.” Perry added that Anderson “was a great one,” but noted her early exit will give other contestants a chance to shine. “I do think that we have such incredible other voices that have now even stepped forward a little bit more,” the “Roar” songstress told the outlet. “It’s just really another opportunity for one of these incredible contestants, and we wish nothing but the best for her. …” Scroll through for a list of reasons why contestants have quit the competition over the years:

Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless

'American Idol' Contestants Who Have Quit the Show Over the Years: Kenedi Anderson and More

Not for everyone? After winning over the judges — and viewers at home — Kenedi Anderson, Wyatt Pike and more contestants have dropped out of American Idol for various reasons over the years. The first notable musician to leave the competition series on her own early was Marlea Stroman, who appeared on season 4 of American Idol in 2005. Her second round departure was due to her son's health. “It wasn’t that big [of a cold], but I wasn’t there, and when babies are sick, they need their mommies,” Marlea told The Post-Standard at the time of her then-12-month-old son. More recently, standout Kenedi Anderson, who judge Luke Bryan dubbed “the biggest star we’ve ever seen” during a March 2022 episode, removed herself from the show early. “For personal reasons, I’m unable to continue on American Idol. This has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I know it’s necessary,” she wrote in a statement in April 2022. ”I’m so grateful to American Idol, the judges, the producers, the amazing contestants, and all the fans who have supported me.” The high school senior added: “Thank you for giving me such an amazing opportunity to share my voice, chase my dreams, feel so much joy and happiness doing what I love, and make lifelong friends along the way.” [sendtonews type="float" key="IeyGH8Xyjb-2832908-14453"] A source close to production subsequently told Us Weekly that the series was “disappointed to see Kenedi leave.” Bryan, who judged season 20 with Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, told USA Today that the trio was “heartbroken” by Anderson’s decision. “These kids, they got a lot coming at ’em. I think, potentially for her career, her being a part of our family is as good as the route or the way to the top can be,” he told the newspaper at the time. “But, if you’re having doubts and anxieties and other things … we’re heartbroken as a show because she was so dynamic and great.” Perry added that Anderson “was a great one,” but noted her early exit will give other contestants a chance to shine. “I do think that we have such incredible other voices that have now even stepped forward a little bit more,” the “Roar” songstress told the outlet. “It’s just really another opportunity for one of these incredible contestants, and we wish nothing but the best for her. …” Scroll through for a list of reasons why contestants have quit the competition over the years:

Credit: YouTube

Marlea Stroman

The season 4 contestant walked away from the opportunity to be home with her sick son.

Credit: YouTube

Mario Vazquez

Vasquez also appeared on season 4, making it to the top 12.

"American Idol was only positive. They were only wonderful to me, from the beginning through the middle, to the end," he said on Fox’s New York affiliate in 2005. "It had nothing to do with the contract or anything at all. I just needed to take care of some things in my life that needed to be focused on."

Two years later, however, he told music blog Arjanwrites.com that he left for “artistic reasons,” explaining, “It was the number one priority for me to have artistic control. I realized that creating my own sound was a major thing for me.”

Credit: YouTube

Tiquila Wilson

The season 13 contestant declared American Idol “wasn’t for me” after scoring a ticket to Hollywood during the 2014 season.

"I’m a church baby. All I know is gospel music. And then, too, a lot of people might not understand my decision, but I had a little talk with my God, and he assured me that everything would be all right,” she told Winston-Salem Journal at the time.

Credit: YouTube

Nick Merico

Merico, who appeared on season 17, addressed his exit in a March 2019 interview.

"Unfortunately, something happened with my family that I can’t really disclose that forced me to back out of the competition. And I hate to say that, but that’s what happened,” he said. “It’s the truth, man."

He made appearances on seasons 18 and 19.

Credit: YouTube

Benson Boone

The season 19 contestant opted to “step down” from the show after making the top 24, he wrote via Instagram in April 2021.

“I didn’t really know who I wanted to be as an artist yet, and I didn’t want to show the world someone I’m not,” he told reality TV blog MJSBIGBLOG later that year after releasing track “Ghost Town.”

Credit: YouTube

Wyatt Pike

A representative for American Idol told Us in April 2021 that “Wyatt could not continue due to personal reasons” after earning a spot in the top 12 on season 19.

“Regarding my departure, the bottom line is that reality, competitive music on TV is not my thing,” he told Utah radio station KPCW in February 2022. “It became too much – the stress and the behind-the-scenes pressure and things that had to happen.”

Credit: YouTube

Caleb Kennedy

Kennedy, who made the top 5 on season 19, announced his exit after a video of him sitting next to someone in a Klu Klux Klan costume resurfaced in May 2021.

“Hey y’all, this is gonna be a bit of a surprise but I am no longer gonna be on American Idol,” the singer posted on Wednesday. “There was a video that surfaced on the internet and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse. I wanna say sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down.”

News broke in February 2022 that he was arrested for a felony DUI. He is awaiting trial for the fatal accident behind bars.

Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless

Kenedi Anderson

Following her shocking season 20 exit, Anderson, who scored one of the three platinum tickets for the season, shared a song that some fans believed was shade at the series.

“I need to find, need to find something better than what I had, and with no strings attached,” she sang in April 2022. “Don’t I deserve that? Something with no strings attached.”

Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless

Sara Beth Liebe

The season 21 contestant announced her exit in April 2023, revealing she missed her three kids. "I'm sure that when I get home I'll regret it. I probably will go, 'Damn, Sara, you should have stayed, and you should have done it,’” she confessed.

Liebe’s departure came a few weeks after she claimed judge Perry made “mom-shaming” remarks during her audition. The controversial moment came when Perry leaned against fellow judge Bryant to show how shocked she was that at age 25, Liebe had three children. “If Katy lays on the table, I think I’m gonna die,” the contestant said, which prompted the “Roar” singer to joke, “Honey, you’ve been laying on the table too much.”

Liebe later took to TikTok and said Perry’s words “weren’t super kind.”

Credit: Eric McCandless/ABC

Kaya Stewart

The season 21 contestant was ill during Hollywood Week and decided not to perform her duet with Fire Wilmore.

"I got sick at the beginning of Hollywood week and I have been trying to push myself and keep going," Kaya, daughter of Eurythmics singer Dave Stewart, told the judges in an April 2023 episode. "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 bonded so much. But I realized that I wasn't able to give one hundred percent so I've decided to not perform. But Fire is going to perform and I'm really grateful that I got to be here. Thank you guys."

Credit: Courtesy of Becket McDowell/Instagram

Beckett McDowell

The season 21 contestant, son of actor Malcolm McDowell, dropped out of the Top 26, and none of his performances made it to air. Seacrest simply referred to him as "one of the Top 26" when his departure was announced in an April 2023 episode.

"To all of you wondering, yes I was on @americanidol and I made the top 26," the California-based musician shared via Instagram Story at the time. "I'm not going to say why I didn't decide to continue in the competition but what I will say is that it was my choice. I am forever grateful to my American Idol family and I will always look back at the experience with the utmost gratitude and fondness. Please go vote for my friends now as they continue on in the competition."