Who is Elleigh Marie? 'American Idol' Season 22 contestant was discovered through Instagram
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: Elleigh Marie is poised to chase her dreams of becoming the next 'American Idol' star. Following her audition before judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, Elleigh's episode is set to premiere on ABC on Sunday, March 17.
Before her audition for 'American Idol', Elleigh Marie studied cosmetology. In an interview with Good Morning Utah, she candidly shared her nerves as she walked into the auditions. However, once inside, Elleigh found the experience remarkably warm and welcoming.
Despite feeling anxious and experiencing a blackout during her audition, she successfully performed "I Can't Make You Love Me" in front of the judges.
Elleigh feels excited yet surreal about seeing herself on TV, as this has been her dream for a long time. She anticipates the reactions of her friends and family as they are going to watch her journey unfold on television.
Elleigh Marie comes from a musical family
Elleigh Marie's musical odyssey began in musical theater, inspired by her mother's background in the same domain. From a young age, as soon as she learned to walk, her mother enrolled her in music classes, dance lessons, and theater.
As she grew older and discovered her voice, she gravitated more toward pop music while remaining active in theater. Her dream of becoming an artist always burned within her, even though she never expected it to materialize or find such a fulfilling outlet.
However, that dream is starting to become a reality for her through her journey on 'American Idol'.
How was Elleigh Marie discovered and cast in 'American Idol'?
Elleigh Marie's path to 'American Idol' was like something out of a dream. One day, while she was posting her singing and dancing videos on social media, she received a message from a casting producer who had stumbled upon her videos and wanted to know if Elleigh wanted to audition for 'American Idol'.
Impressed by her undeniable talent, the casting producer saw in Elleigh the perfect opportunity to showcase her abilities on the grand stage of 'American Idol'.
Initially, Elleigh was taken aback by the unexpected opportunity, and skepticism crept in, questioning the legitimacy of the offer, fearing it might be a scam. However, after careful consideration and checking the offer, she realized that this was her chance of a lifetime.
It was a moment of excitement, disbelief, and gratitude as Elleigh eagerly accepted the offer from the casting director. This marked the pivotal moment when she embraced the opportunity to embark on the extraordinary journey toward realizing her lifelong dream of becoming a music artist.
Elleigh Marie is best friends with another 'American Idol' contestant Kaibrienne Richins
Elleigh Marie and Kaibrienne "KB" Richins crossed paths during auditions in Los Angeles for 'American Idol'.
The coincidence of both of them being from Utah sparked an immediate connection, leading to the start of their friendship. Elleigh has emphasized that there is no sense of competition between them; instead, they are best friends supporting each other.
She also mentioned the positive atmosphere among all the 'American Idol' contestants, noting that everyone was nice and had no weird vibes.
Meanwhile, 'American Idol' contestant Kaibrienne Richins has become popular after she impressed the judges with her rendition of Zach Bryan's "Something in the Orange," showcasing her vocal talent and unique singing style.
Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan praised her performance, recognizing her growth potential. As a result, she received three 'yes' votes from the judges and earned the golden ticket to Hollywood.
View this post on Instagram
Elleigh Marie hopes to pursue music as a full-time career
Elleigh Marie has always harbored aspirations of pursuing a full-time career in music but never had that option before.
When Elleigh attended the 'American Idol' auditions, her mother proudly described her daughter as someone who seemed to have been singing since birth. Being a teacher and a singer, Elleigh's mother took great pride in her daughter's natural talent for singing.
Elleigh's musical foundation was established very early, nurtured by her mother's expertise and encouragement.
Elleigh Marie mentally and emotionally prepared herself for the auditions of her lifetime, where she would meet the famous judges of 'American Idol', by praying because if things went right she would pursue this as a full-time career.
(Instagram/ @elleighmariefrancom)
'American Idol' Season 22 airs every Sunday at 8 pm ET on ABC. Further, new episodes are available to stream on Hulu the next day.