'American Idol': Who is Lionel Miranda? High school drop-out overcame struggles to become a music sensation
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: 'American Idol' will be back with Season 21 on Sunday, February 19, 2023. This is the sixth season of the reality competition series on ABC. It ran for 15 seasons on FOX from 2002 to 2016. After a two-year break, ABC revived the show. Emmy winner Ryan Seacrest is set to return as host of the series. The show will kick off with its auditions in the company of the three popular judges -- Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan.
This season, the series will feature a young man named L-Rich, and no he is not the judge Lionel Richie. L-Rich is part of a "namesake" storyline that will be featured on the popular talent show. As he has been writing songs and playing the drums since elementary school, it was no coincidence that he ended up absorbed in the recording/producing program Fruity Loops (now called FL Studio) as a child. He is all set to make his 'American Idol' debut. Keep reading to know more about him.
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Who is Lionel Miranda?
L-Rich (L$), also known as Lionel Miranda, is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada. L-Rich was raised in the '90s, a time of rock bands, skateboarding, and the rise of the personal computer. He was a punk rock and underground hip-hop fanatic as a child, and it didn't take long for his behavior to mirror this lifestyle. L$ was dismissed from school in the eighth grade and had given in to drug and alcohol addiction. By the age of 13, he was experimenting with meth, crack, mushrooms, and pills, and he soon dropped out of school.
But two years later, he turned a new leaf and got back into school at the age of 15. The reason behind his change was his passion for sports and music, and he made the men’s volleyball team and school choir. L-Rich went on to win his senior talent show by performing an original song. In college, he joined the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, where he learned to plan, promote, and operate events. He later made those skills a career, successfully selling out shows around the world for artists such as Playboi Carti, Troyboi, Snakehips, Wiz Khalifa, Migos, and more.
He released an EP in July 2020. Since then he has performed at Channel Tres and even performed his songs live in front of a thousand-person crowd Saturday night of Life Is Beautiful 2021. Apart from rapping, L-Rich also enjoys being a DJ, skating, watching documentaries, partying, and supporting Vegas’s professional sports teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders and NHL's Las Vegas Golden Knights.
L-Rich to debut in 'American Idol' Season 21
L-Rich will debut in Season 21 as a part of a “namesake” storyline featured in the premiere. His style is a combination of punk rock and hip hop, so that makes him an odd choice for the show. He got booked 100+ times and generated $90K in earnings as a first-year, full-time artist.
Most of his songs that have been released seem quite risque, which is not what viewers are usually used to seeing on the show. But don't miss out on his audition for 'American Idol'.
'American Idol' Season 21 is set to premiere on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at 8 pm ET on ABC.