American Idol is known for turning everyday dreamers into household names, launching the careers of stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Adam Lambert. But not every contestant takes the full journey. In fact, Grammy nominee Benson Boone shocked fans when he walked away from the competition series earlier on in the nineteenth season.
Boone was only 18 years old when he auditioned for American Idol. He told judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan that he had been seriously pursuing singing for just one year. Choosing to perform "Punchline" by Aidan Martin, Boone captivated the judges with his soulful delivery. All three were full of praise. Richie praised him as a natural talent, while Perry expressed confidence that Boone had what it took to win the competition.
He would go on to secure that golden ticket to Hollywood Week, but that's when things took an unexpected turn. Despite the early success, Boone made the difficult decision to leave the show, and fans were left surprised and curious about his sudden departure.
So, why exactly did he walk away from such a promising opportunity? Boone would later appear on The Zach Sang Show in 2022, where he opened up about his decision. He explained that he wanted to build his music career based on his own talent and creativity, not because of the show's fame.
He didn’t want to be defined by the show. He didn't want people to think his success was just because of American Idol. Instead, he wanted to be recognized as Benson Boone, an artist who writes popular songs and connects with fans through his music. Leaving the show was his way of avoiding being labeled as “the guy from American Idol,” so he could create his own identity and be taken seriously as a musician.
"The reason I quit American Idol is because I wanted to do music. I don’t want people to be like, ‘Oh, Benson Boone. American Idol blew him up. That’s where he comes from.' No. I want to be Benson Boone because I write smash hits and they love my music. That’s why I quit. I just didn’t want that label on me.”
Fortunately, Boone had supportive parents in his corner. He explained to Sang how his parents played a crucial role in supporting his choice to leave American Idol. Even though they didn’t know much about the music industry and were initially confused by his decision to quit, Boone explained to them that he didn’t want to be forever labeled as “the American Idol kid.”
He wanted to prove himself as a genuine artist on his own terms. Once his parents understood his reasons and believed in his potential, their support gave Boone the confidence to pursue his music career independently and aim for success without relying on the show’s platform.
It looks like his decision to depart American Idol wasn't so bad after all. Boone was nominated for "Best New Artist" at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. He's also released chart-topping singles, performed on major stages around the world, and even opened for Taylor Swift during her Eras Tour in London. Sometimes, taking that unexpected leap of faith, no matter how risky, can lead to something even greater than imagined.