'American Idol' 24's Braden Rumfelt debunks major myth about show: 'Could not be further from the truth'
The competition on 'American Idol' Season 24 is heating up, and the Top 9 contestants took the stage on April 20 for Disney Night. After the singers put their best foot forward, Lucas Leon and Kyndal Inskeep were sent home as they did not receive enough votes. This season's Top 7 was then revealed, and it included Daniel Stallworth, Hannah Harper, Chris Tungseth, Jordan McCullough, Keyla Richardson, Braden Rumfelt, and Brooks. The contestants can't breathe a sigh of relief yet, as they have to start preparing for next week's Taylor Swift Night, which will air on April 27 on ABC. Comedian Nikki Glaser will join as a guest judge alongside Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan.
Ahead of his performance on Monday, Rumfelt addressed a 'common misconception' that viewers have about the weekly performances on 'American Idol.' In an Instagram video, the artist spoke at length about the preparation that goes into each live performance. He said that people often think finalists just "show up" on set and walk on stage, but that "could not be further from the truth." He called the ordeal on 'American Idol' a "full-time job" and shared that contestants arrive on set "at the butt crack of dawn" on Mondays and spend the entire day preparing for the evening's live performance. He gave a rundown of the different steps that the singers have to follow, "Vocal coach, run through the words, we got dry blocks, we got a dress rehearsal, we have to go to the dressing rooms and stuff and get fitted for all the clothes, meeting with creative, talking about what the background is going to look like," he added.
Despite all of this, Rumfelt added that contestants spend most of their time on the songs, saying, "Usually we spend hours and hours and hours on the song." He also gave a glimpse into the technical aspects of the performances, such as choreography, lighting, and stage placement, which audiences may not necessarily notice while watching the show. Rumfelt ended the video by thanking his fans for their continued support, which has helped him reach the Top 7.
Rumfelt is a former baseball player whose dreams of playing the sport in college ended as he was born with a condition that affected the alignment of his legs. He underwent realignment surgeries on his lower legs to correct their positions. Rumfelt grew up playing bluegrass gospel music with his Catholic family in Murphy, North Carolina, and turned to singing during his recovery. Throughout the competition, Rumfelt impressed the judges with his soulful voice and song choices, with Luke Bryan saying he "may win" 'American Idol' Season 24. Viewers can watch his journey unfold on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC or stream the episodes on Disney+.
