'American Idol' Season 22 fans slam 'too loud' ABC band for 'swallowing' McKenna Breinholt's Hawaii Round act
HONOLULU, HAWAII: McKenna Faith Breinholt performed "The Story" by Brandi Carlile on guitar during the Hawaii Round of 'American Idol' Season 22. As she dedicated the song to her mother in the crowd, fans at home couldn't help but blame the ABC band for overshadowing her performance.
McKenna, a 25-year-old from Gilbert, Arizona, closed up Sunday's episode. It seems she is a fan favorite this year.
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That seductive tone and her ability to use her lower register are quite distinctive. However, fans on Reddit believe, "McKenna would have benefitted from a much more stripped back arrangement." Another user chimed in, "The band swallowed her imo."
One user also mentioned, "Felt like several weren’t singing on key. Maybe it’s because it’s the first time it’s a band plus outdoors plus audience? I don’t know but it was not good." A fourth person noted, "Hawaii rounds are always bad no matter how good the singer. It's outdoors, I'm sure they don't get as much time to practice as we think, and the band ALWAYS overpowers people, especially the gentler singers. It's never very fair imo."
On X, fans wondered, "I feel like this Hawaiian stage is not doing any justice for these vocalists! Is the band too loud?? Idk what it is."
I feel like this Hawaiian stage is not doing any justice for these vocalists! Is the band too loud?? Idk what it is #AmericanIdol
— Beemer Girl (@beemergirl07) April 8, 2024
McKenna Faith Breinholt dubbed 'star' by 'American Idol' judges
Katy Perry dubbed her a "star" and stated, "She's ready for the big time."
Luke Bryan stated that this was the first time we'd seen her with a guitar, and she constantly surprises him. Tori Kelly described her tone as "pure, warm, and authentic."
Lionel Richie described her as the closest thing he'd heard to Joni Mitchell. That is a tremendous praise!
Who is 'American Idol' Season 22 singer McKenna Faith Breinholt?
McKenna, an Arizona native, has performed as a soloist with Cinematic Pop, a group that alters pop tunes using a chorus, orchestra, and soloists. She began playing with the group at the age of 16 and was a featured vocalist when they performed on 'America's Got Talent' in 2016.
The group played 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' and received four yeses from the judges, but withdrew from the program due to scheduling and logistical issues due to the group's size (a 38-person ensemble from a group that regularly had over 100). In 2021, Cinematic Pop released their most recent album, 'All the Lonely People'.
McKenna appears on four of the twelve tracks, covering 'Billie Jean,' 'Hurt,' 'Sunday Candy,' and 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)'. McKenna has a distinct tone and sounds great on all of these tunes. And it is the finest version of 'Sweet Dreams' I have ever heard.
McKenna has also found success as a solo artist, releasing 11 tracks, four of which have had over one million Spotify listens. The tracks 'I Wanted You,' 'Save Me,' 'Chicago,' and 'Shooting Stars' were released between 2017 and 2019.
McKenna not only writes music but also plays guitar and keyboard, according to her bio on the Cinematic Pop website.
American Idol's McKenna Faith Breinholt works as an executive administrator
McKenna works as an executive administrator at Aviation Performance Solutions in Gilbert, Arizona. According to her Instagram, she has a profession that occasionally sends her airborne.
'American Idol' Season 22 airs on Sundays at 8 pm ET on ABC.