'American Idol' fans spotted a familiar face in this singer, later revealed to be from 'The Voice'
'American Idol' Season 24 got off to a flying start on Monday night with Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie on the judging panel. The episode featured a wide range of performances, but only a few contestants moved on to Hollywood Week. Among them is Jacquie Lee, whose powerful vocals not only impressed the judges but also left many fans wondering why she looked familiar, and now we know exactly why.
The singer in discussion is Jacquie Lee, who is a vocalist from Colts Neck, New Jersey. According to reports, Lee previously gained fame as the runner-up on 'The Voice' in 2013, NJ.com reported. Lee wowed judges during her Blind Audition with Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black,' choosing Christina Aguilera as her coach. She won her Battle and Knockout rounds, advanced through the Live Playoffs as one of Aguilera's top two, and continued progressing through the Top 12, Top 10, Top 8, Top 6, and Top 5 via public votes, as per TV Insider.
Lee then reached the finale of 'The Voice' Season 5 alongside Adam Levine's singers, Tessanne Chin and Will Champlin, ultimately earning the second-highest number of votes. Since her time on 'The Voice,' Lee has pursued her music career, releasing her debut EP, 'Broken Ones,' in 2014, followed by five more EPs between 2017 and 2024. She shares original songs and covers on social media, performs live shows, and in 2021 provided the singing voice for Tiera Skovbye's character, Polly Cooper, on 'Riverdale.'
In addition, Lee is also a songwriter, making it clear from her time on 'The Voice' that she creates her own music in addition to performing covers. Notably, Lee impressed judges on the 'American Idol' Season 24 premiere with a powerful performance of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' 1956 hit, 'I Put a Spell on You.' Lee, who was just 16 during her time on 'The Voice,' opened up about her journey, noting, "One thing that hasn't ever changed about me is that I have ALWAYS been a dreamer. In this chapter of life, I like to remind myself that what a lot of people don't see is the beneath-the-surface work and resilience."
She further added, "All of the rejection, searching, learning, failing, and existential crises it takes along the journey of manifesting your dreams. I am so grateful for the lived experience I've gotten up to this point and for every opportunity to learn and grow as an artist. Through all of the hardest points of my life, the last decade, I'm STILL here. Chasing my dreams full speed. I think that’s pretty cool."
Talking about 'American Idol,' season 24 of the singing competition airs on Mondays at 8 p.m. instead of its usual Sunday slot, as per Just Jared. "The beginning of the year is awards season, and a lot of these award shows are on Sunday nights. You're up against the Grammys and the Super Bowl. Let's see what happens on Monday," showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick told Deadline. Not only that, but all auditions were held in Nashville, with virtual submissions allowed beforehand. "That's a risk," Wolflick said. "We're not having different rooms to cut to; is that a problem? We don't know until we do it. I love that there's something exciting about it. Even if it's a failure, it’s still an adrenaline rush to try something new. It did work out, though."
