'American Idol' Season 22: Who is Kaibrienne 'KB' Richins? Utah native overcomes stage fear to pursue singing
HENEFER, UTAH: Kaibrienne "KB" Richins is about to fulfill her biggest dream, coming to 'American Idol' Season 22. The 20-year-old Henefer, Utah native discovered her passion for singing when she was just 12. Initially influenced by her older sisters, observing their school performances and tuning in to singing videos on TV once back home. KB honed her singing skills through the guidance of YouTube.
"Then they had this sixth-grade talent show coming up, a talent show for my middle school and I just decided that I wanted to sing one of the songs that I had heard on YouTube," said KB to KPCW. Despite receiving encouraging feedback for her performance, KB grappled with stage fear that hindered her from pursuing further opportunities on stage.
She admitted, "I really never thought I would be able to do music full time because my hands and face would get numb, and I would never be able to sing how I practiced just because the anxiety was so bad." During the Covid period, KB managed to overcome her anxiety with the support of her father, who encouraged her to share her singing videos online. Subsequently, these videos gained widespread attention, capturing the interest of 'American Idol' producers.
'American Idol' contestant Kaibrienne "KB" Richins surpasses self-hatred
KB uploaded her first singing video on December 19, 2023, on Instagram. She never had proper singing lessons and was worried about her ability to be a good singer. She had fear and worry about what others might think about her. KB writes, "For way too long I’ve allowed the fear of not being enough, the constant worry of what others might say/think & deep self-hatred dictate so much of my life & keep me from doing what I love."
She then talks about surpassing the fear, "But I’m learning more and more every day how much better & fulfilling life is when you stop caring so much about how everyone else is perceiving you & just do what fuels your soul."
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'American Idol' Season 22 contestant Kaibrienne "KB" diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis
KB was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis when she was in fourth grade. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder that causes hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid. It causes crazy mood swings. Despite such a rare condition, KB's father stood by her side to support her.
Reportedly, her father in the audition said, "It was a struggle to watch the most beautiful girl in the world, who I know has more potential in her little finger than I ever will have, struggling to regulate her emotions. She can go from saying “This is the best thing in the world” to saying she wants to die."
Will 'American Idol' Season 22 contestant Kaibrienne "KB" Richins get a golden ticket?
KB will be accompanied by her father during the audition round. She uploads a slew of pictures of her from 'American Idol' saying, "SURPRISE!! If you know me, you know 'American Idol' has been my biggest dream since I was a little girl." She will sing 'Heaven' by Bryan Adams in the audition round. Reportedly, she will get the golden ticket and manage to secure her seat in the semi-finals.
ABC airs new episodes of 'American Idol' Season every Sunday at 8 pm ET.