Who is We Ani? 'The Voice' top artist to lure 'American Idol' fans with a voice she was once bullied for

We Ani the youngest artist to win in adult category of Apollo's Amateur Night to debut on 'American idol'
PUBLISHED MAR 5, 2023
'American Idol' Season 21 We Ani (Instagram/@we_ani)
'American Idol' Season 21 We Ani (Instagram/@we_ani)

HARLEM, NEW YORK CITY: Further auditions for 'American Idol' Season 21 will take place in week 3. Contestants had to perform at auditions in Nashville, New Orleans, and Las Vegas for judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie in order to move on to Hollywood Week. Some gifted performers dazzled the audience and judges with their voices during the auditions the week before.

A few musical sensations stood out like Kaylin Hedges as she won the Platinum Ticket. One talented artist who will make her debut in Season 21 is We Ani, the singer who reached the top 3 in 'The Voice' Season 11. Many viewers of singing competition shows will undoubtedly know the face and the voice even though the stage name has changed. Reaching the top 3 in 'The Voice' was a milestone for Ani because she was always bullied for her voice back in school. She astounded coaches and viewers with her strong and deep vocals. To know about this young artist continue reading.

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Who is We Ani?

We Ani was raised in Paterson, New Jersey, but was born in Harlem, New York. She has a brother and four sisters. Imani T McDonald, her elder sister, manages her social media accounts. She once appeared in talent events with her other older sister, Jasmine. She started singing and playing the piano when she was four years old, and she began acting when she was six. She enrolled in the Harlem School of the Arts at age 12. The young woman from Harlem, New York, who was only 17 at the time, turned four chairs with her blind audition performance of 'Feeling Good,' and in the fall of 2016, she finished in the top 3 on the show.

Since then, she has achieved some success, starting with the song 'Head Up High,' which she co-wrote with fellow participant Kylie Rothfield while they were both in the competition. Ani used the song and also wrote a children's book 'The Little Girl with a Big Voice' as part of an anti-bullying campaign. The main character of the book is basically Ani, the girl who was bullied at school but ends up playing on stage in front of an audience that has learned to accept her. She became the youngest artist to win in the adult division of Apollo's Amateur Night. She twice took first place in Amateur Night and twice came in second. Her album 'Feeling Good' made its iTunes Pop Chart debut in the Top 100. She’s released four more singles since announcing the change of her stage name in July 2022. She had already performed at Carnegie Hall and been chosen to play at the Harlem School of the Arts' 50th anniversary before her stint on 'The Voice.'

Wé Ani debut in 'American Idol' Season 21

Due to the uniqueness of her speaking voice and deep alto tone, her audition is one of the most admired in 'The Voice's' history. She is possibly the most hyped performer this season in 'American Idol', Ani's style is a combination of R&B and soul with a dash of theater mixed in there. And she is all ready to take the 'American Idol' stage by storm with her strong and deep vocals. She will be performing in front of the three judges Lionel, Luke, and Katy in the week three auditions.

'American Idol' 2023 Season 21 airs every Sunday on ABC at 8 pm ET.

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