Kellie Pickler Returns to American Idol 3 Years After Husband’s Death

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This small town girl is back where it all began.

Kellie Pickler made a special appearance on American Idol on May 4th, performing a duet with current Top 5 contestant Hannah Harper. They sang Martina McBride’s “A Broken Wing” as a tribute to Kellie’s time on the show, aligning with the night’s theme celebrating the “Class of 2006.”

After her performance, she told Hannah, ‘It feels good to be back performing, and sharing the stage with you was a real gift.’

Season five of Idol saw a reunion of familiar faces alongside the current contestants. Sixth-place finisher Katharine McPhee, known for her song “Best Days of Your Life,” wasn’t the only returning alum. Elliott Yamin, Paris Bennett, Bucky Covington, and season winner Taylor Hicks all returned to perform duets with the new singers.

Adding to the excitement, original judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul returned to Idol as guest judges for the episode.

This performance was a special one for the singer known as Small Town Girl, as she’s been largely private since her husband, Kyle Jacobs, passed away in 2023. She hadn’t performed publicly since a tribute concert for Patsy Cline in 2024.

She confessed to the audience, in a TikTok video shared by Music Mayhem, that she was very nervous. It had been a while since she’d performed on stage, but she felt honored to be celebrating the legacy of Patsy Cline, who inspired her love of music.

Kellie and Kyle, a songwriter, met in 2008 and married in 2011. After Kyle passed away at the age of 49, Kellie revealed she often finds solace in his lyrics.

In August 2023, Kellie shared with People magazine a valuable lesson her husband taught her: when facing a difficult situation and feeling lost, sometimes the best thing to do is simply pause and be present. She says she’s been following that advice ever since.

Now that Kellie is back performing, let’s catch up with what other former American Idol contestants are doing!

Kelly Clarkson, mother to River and Remy, has achieved incredible success since first appearing on American Idol in 2002. The New York native has won three Grammy Awards, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart three times, served as a judge on NBC’s The Voice, and is now wrapping up her celebrated daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show.

The runner-up from season two of the show shared two important things in September 2008: he announced the birth of his son, Parker, and revealed he was gay. He explained on Good Morning America that becoming a father inspired him to be honest, stating he couldn’t teach his son to lie or hide who he is. He also wanted to create a supportive environment where his son could be himself, no matter what.

Since then, this well-known performer transitioned from music to politics, even running for Congress in 2016. After the election, he released a documentary about his life. Despite his other pursuits, he hasn’t completely abandoned music, and in 2023 and 2024, he toured with season two winner Ruben Studdard.

Ruben, the winner of season two of Idol, went on to achieve significant success, including a Grammy nomination and several popular albums. In 2013, he appeared as a contestant on The Biggest Loser, where he quickly became a favorite among viewers. Although eliminated twice, he gained valuable experience from the show. Despite remaining close with fellow Idol contestant Clay, Ruben found lasting love with his wife, Kristin, and they welcomed their second child in 2024.

The season three champion recently expressed gratitude for her entire life journey. In a December 2023 interview with TopMob News, she explained, “Life has its ups and downs, you stumble, but you always get back up.” Despite facing challenges, she said it feels rewarding to have overcome setbacks and rebuilt her life.

Recently, she’s celebrated personal and professional milestones, including the birth of her daughter Keziah with husband Kendall Taylor in 2021, and a Golden Globe nomination for her role in the remake of The Color Purple. The North Carolina native, who is also a mother to her adult daughter Zion, shared that she wants to savor this moment and appreciate all the hard work she put in to achieve it.

Although she didn’t win season three of the competition, this musician has achieved incredible success! She won an Oscar for Dreamgirls in 2006, a Grammy for her work in the 2017 adaptation of The Color Purple, and even served as a judge on The Voice. Most recently, this mom to son David is launching her own talk show.

Carrie Underwood instantly became a pop culture icon when she appeared on Idol. She not only won season four, but has since become one of country music’s biggest stars.

For over a decade, she also co-hosted the CMA Awards with Brad Paisley. Alongside her successful music career and hosting duties, Carrie is a mother to two sons with her husband, retired hockey player Mike Fisher.

Carrie Underwood will be joining American Idol as a judge in 2024, taking over for Katy Perry.

The singer who finished second on season four of the show is now married and has four children – three sons and one daughter. Even after facing significant health issues in 2006, this Southern rock artist has continued to release several successful albums since appearing on Idol.

Constantine, known for his powerful voice and memorable performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” on season four of a singing competition, transitioned seamlessly to Broadway, even earning a Tony nomination for his role in Rock of Ages. The father of Malena, born in 2010, continued his stage career with a role in the 2023 production, Rock & Roll Man.

Following his win on season five, the singer’s album went platinum and he appeared in a Broadway production of Grease. In 2016, he transitioned to television, hosting State-Plate, a show centered around locally sourced food. Despite his TV work, he still loves music and continues to perform in concerts.

Before Justin Bieber became a pop sensation, Katharine McPhee gained attention through her musical talent – a phenomenon sometimes called “McPheever.” This early recognition helped launch her career in both singing and acting, including roles in the TV shows Smash and Scorpion.

Married to producer David Foster since 2019, Katharine is now a mother to her son, Rennie, who shows a natural aptitude for music. In a 2023 interview with TopMob News, she expressed her hope that Rennie will become proficient in playing various instruments, just like his father. However, she emphasized that they are letting him explore his interests without pressure. “We’re just letting him do his thing,” she said, “but I would love for him to have a working understanding of all instruments a lot like his dad.”

Following his appearance on American Idol, season five finalist Elliott Yamin, known for his hit song “Wait for You,” traveled to Angola. There, he teamed up with former Idol judge Kara DioGuardi to support Malaria No More. In 2010, Yamin also gained attention for surviving the earthquake in Chile and sharing his experience on Twitter. He continues to create music and is a father to Camilla, with Karen Cruz.

Kellie Pickler gained recognition after placing sixth on the fifth season of American Idol. She then went on to star in the Hallmark movie Christmas in Graceland and received three Daytime Emmy nominations for her TV show, Pickler & Ben.

After the tragic loss of her husband, Kyle Jacobs, to suicide in February 2023, Kellie shared a valuable lesson he taught her. In difficult times, he advised simply ‘do nothing, just be still.’ She told People magazine in 2023 that she is choosing to follow his guidance.

The winner of season six made a big impact in 2007 as the youngest female to ever win the competition. She toured 35 U.S. cities and even made her Broadway debut in the musical In the Heights in 2010. Her success continued, and in May 2018, she welcomed her first son with Dana Isaiah. Since then, she’s returned to Idol and competed on season 31 of Dancing With the Stars.

David, the season seven winner known for his hit song “Time of My Life,” has experienced success both on and off stage. In 2010, he traveled to Ethiopia with the United Nations to support their work empowering women. He also participated in the Race for Hope in Washington D.C., raising funds for brain cancer research in memory of his brother, Adam, who passed away in 2009. Since marrying Racheal Stump in 2015, David continues to tour and released his latest single, “TABOS,” in 2022.

After placing second on season seven of a singing competition alongside another performer named David, he spent two years serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile. He resumed performing after returning in 2014.

In June 2021, he publicly shared that he is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. He later posted on Instagram in October 2023, saying that learning to accept himself has been a wonderful experience and that he hopes his example will inspire others to do the same.

While Adam Lambert received a lot of attention as the runner-up, season eight’s winner has steadily built a successful career. His second album, released in November 2009, reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart, and the song “I Need to Know” was used in an episode of The Vampire Diaries. He’s also been busy growing his family, having three children with his wife, Katy O’Connell, whom he’s been with since high school.

The runner-up from the eighth season of the show has truly become a major success story. Since appearing on the competition, he’s released multiple albums, gone on headlining tours, and received numerous award nominations. He’s even followed in the footsteps of Freddie Mercury by touring as the lead singer for Queen, and starred in a remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He also briefly served as a guest judge on Idol and kicked off the 2019 Oscars with a performance of Queen’s iconic songs, “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.”

Danny Gokey married Leyicet Peralta in 2012, following his appearance on season eight of American Idol. They now have four children together.

Danny Gokey, a three-time Grammy nominee, put out a Christian album called Jesus People in 2021. He’s also the founder of his own eyewear brand, Danny Gokey Eyewear.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following Lee DeWyze’s journey since he won season nine back in 2010! It was amazing to see him hit the road with the top ten finalists that summer, and then really launch his incredible music career. Beyond music, he found love with the lovely Jonna Walsh – they actually met while filming the music video for his first single after Idol! Now, he’s a really established singer-songwriter, and it’s so cool to hear his songs featured in popular shows like The Walking Dead. It just goes to show that passion and authenticity really pay off!

The singer, who finished as a runner-up on season nine of a singing competition, married musician Brian Walker and released her debut album, Farmer’s Daughter, in December 2010. Although her record label folded, she transitioned into acting, appearing on the second season of ABC’s Body of Proof.

In May 2013, she and her husband separated. Following their divorce, she described her second album, All That For This, to The Boot as representing a new phase in her life.

The winner of season 10 was the first American Idol champion since Ruben Studdard to have a debut album, Clear as Day, reach the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. He was named New Artist of the Year at the 2011 American Country Awards and performed the national anthem at Game 1 of the World Series that year. In June 2018, the singer of hits like “This Is It” and “Five More Minutes” married his longtime partner, Gabi Dugal. They welcomed their son, Avery, in October 2022.

Though she came in second place on the show, this country singer quickly landed a record deal and released her first album, Wildflower, in October 2011. After appearing on the show, she performed at the CMT Music Awards with the winner, made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry, and even shared the stage with Martina McBride at the CMA Music Festival.

In 2017, she received her first CMA nomination for Best New Artist thanks to the success of her album, Road Less Traveled. She also expanded her career to acting, starring in a movie with the same title as the album.

More recently, the singer announced her engagement to Cam Arnold while performing at the Grand Ole Opry in November 2022, and the couple married in February 2024.

Despite finishing sixth in season 10, this contestant became a fan favorite. He joined the Idols Live tour and recorded a cover of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with fellow finalist Haley Reinhart, with whom he was rumored to be romantically involved. He eventually signed with the jazz label Concord. His first self-titled album came out in 2012, followed by I Put A Spell On You in 2018 and Jazz in 2019.

Jimmie was eliminated from season 10 before the live shows, but he’s since become a successful artist with two number-one songs, “Best Shot” (2018) and “Make Me Want To,” and won the Country Music Association’s New Artist of the Year award in 2021.

In April 2023, Jimmie and his wife, Alexis Allen, announced they were expecting their third child while also ending their two-year marriage. Shortly after, Jimmie was accused of sexual assault and abuse by his former manager in a lawsuit. He admitted to having an affair and publicly apologized to Alexis for the humiliation it caused, but denied the allegations of misconduct, claiming the relationship with his manager was consensual.

After welcoming their son, Cohen Ace James, in September, the couple announced they were working to reconcile their marriage.

Following his win on season 11, the musician’s single “Home” became a chart-topping hit and was also used as the theme song for NBC’s 2012 Summer Olympics coverage.

In 2015, he married Hannah Blackwell in a private ceremony with close family and friends. They later had a son, Patch, in 2019.

The singer hinted to TopMob News before the 2019 release of her album, Whirlwind, that it features a diverse range of musical styles. A year after winning season 16 of Idol, she explained she didn’t want to be limited to a single sound, as she enjoyed experimenting with many different approaches.

Since finishing as a finalist on season 16 of the show, the singer has been busy creating new music and taking advantage of the opportunities that came with being on ABC. “Music has always been my passion, and I’ve always dreamed of being a performer,” Caleb Lee told TopMob News. “But I also learned a lot about the entertainment industry. I even got to attend Luke Bryan’s final tour show and perform a song with him!” His latest album, Southern Galactic, was released in October 2023.

Following her third-place finish on season 16 of Idol, singer Gabby Barrett dedicated herself to completing her album. She expressed her excitement about performing at Stagecoach and described touring with Brad Paisley as a fantastic bonus, calling it “crazy” to share the stage with him.

Gabby and her husband, Cade Foehner, also welcomed three children. Their first daughter, Baylah, arrived nearly two years ago, followed by their son, Augustine, in October 2022, and another baby in February 2024.

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2026-05-05 06:20