‘American Idol’: Teenager's mental health struggle forced him off the show and now he’s back for the crown
A long-running show that's as popular as 'American Idol' might often exert a hefty toll on its contestants in one way or another. The singing-competition-based reality show indeed offers contestants an enormously potent platform to kickstart their careers. At the same time, the glare of the spotlights might often become a little too much.
The ongoing Season 24 has already selected its top 30 contestants, and 19-year-old Julián Kalel is one of them. Kalel earned his ticket after impressing the judges with an original composition, followed by his rendition of the hit Bonnie Raitt song 'I Can't Make You Love Me' during Hollywood Week.
Nevertheless, it is interesting to note that this isn't the first time that Kalel has appeared on the hallowed stage of 'American Idol'. According to a report by TVInsider, Kalel had previously auditioned for the twenty-third season of the ABC show but had to leave midway through. Although Kalel's audition footage never made it to the broadcast of Season 23, the clip was played as Kalel returned to the show for the ongoing season. In the clip, Kalel was seen playing the track 'Surrender' in front of Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood.
"It talks about the struggles of anxiety and depression," Kalel explained while speaking about his choice of the track. All three judges were visibly impressed by his performance, with Underwood remarking, "I felt like I was at your show just now. I did." Richie stated, "It played like a record.” Bryan remarked, "He’s a star."
Kalel was subsequently given the golden ticket to Hollywood, with Bryan encouraging him by saying, "You might win this thing. You literally might win it." Looking back, Kalel then confessed that it was one of the greatest moments of his life. Tragedy soon followed as he wasn't able to continue on the show and had to leave before Hollywood Week to pay attention to his mental health. He went on to reveal, "There were shared concerns about my abilities to balance a journey like American Idol and my mental health."
He has had a history of anxiety and depression, and was diagnosed as a freshman in high school. "I had been struggling with those feelings for a big part of my life,” he said. "Through elementary and middle school. For me, anxiety is just like a big wave crashing on you, and you just drown." Unfortunately, things escalated with Kalel to a point where he began questioning the very meaning of his existence, eventually causing mental health professionals to be involved.
Nevertheless, Kalel has put his mental health issues behind him as he continues to soar on the ongoing season of 'American Idol'. His track 'Lone Guitar' was praised all across the board, and he declared with a note of optimism, "I want to spread my message. You are loved, and everyone is born enough. Everyone is, in fact, born enough." 'American Idol' season twenty-four airs new episodes every Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
