Current:Home > ContactMcKenna Faith Breinholt cut from 'American Idol': What to know about the 'Queen of Smoky Voice' -Aspire Financial Strategies
McKenna Faith Breinholt cut from 'American Idol': What to know about the 'Queen of Smoky Voice'
View
Date:2025-04-25 00:57:49
Despite her Top 5 elimination Sunday night, McKenna Faith Breinholt sang her way into the final seven contestants on Season 22 of ABC's "American Idol."
She has captivated audiences and judges alike with her smoky voice, moving backstory and renditions of songs by Dolly Parton, Goo Goo Dolls and her late birth mom, Amy Ross Lopez, a folk singer who was half of the indie duo Nowhere Man and A Whiskey Girl.
"Honestly, I feel like this whole thing has been super surreal," Breinholt told The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, in late April. "But now ... it's getting real. Like, it feels like I'm on 'American Idol' now. It feels like there's competition. And it's intense a little bit."
'American Idol' recap:Top 7 singer makes Katy Perry 'scared for my job,' and two more go home
Where is McKenna Faith Breinholt from?
Breinholt was born in Arizona. She's based in Gilbert.
Where did McKenna Faith Breinholt go to high school?
Breinholt graduated from Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona, in 2016.
How old is McKenna Faith Breinholt on 'American Idol'?
Breinholt was 25 years old as of this writing.
What was McKenna Faith Breinholt doing before ‘American Idol?’
Breinholt was working as a receptionist at a local medical spa while pursuing a career as an esthetician.
What did McKenna Faith Breinholt sing for her ‘American Idol’ audition?
Breinholt auditioned in Nashville, playing piano while delivering a heartfelt rendition of "There Was Jesus," a duet by Christian artist Zach Williams and country music icon Dolly Parton.
Was this McKenna's first 'American Idol' audition?
Breinholt auditioned for "Idol" when she was 14 but never heard back.
What is McKenna Faith Breinholt's backstory?
Breinholt was adopted as a baby before her mother's death. It was a closed adoption, which meant she couldn't find out any information on her birth mother until after her 21st birthday.
The story of Breinholt discovering her birth mother had been a singer was a deeply moving highlight of her audition, where she played an emotional acoustic rendition of "There Was Jesus."
What to know about McKenna's birth mom, Amy Ross Lopez
Amy Ross Lopez, a singer from Bisbee, Arizona, was half of the folk duo Nowhere Man and A Whiskey Girl. Ross Lopez died in October 2013 of complications from lupus.
McKenna Faith Breinholt was also a contestant on 'America's Got Talent'
Breinholt also appeared on Season 11 of "America's Got Talent" in 2016 as part of Cinematic Pop, a group she started singing with when she was 16. But after getting four yes votes at the audition, Cinematic Pop withdrew before judges made cuts.
Catch up on 'American Idol':Watch Emmy Russell bring Katy Perry to tears with touching Loretta Lynn cover
What songs did McKenna Faith Breinholt sing on 'American Idol'?
- "There Was Jesus" by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton at her audition, which aired Feb. 18.
- "Tumbleweed" by Nowhere Man and A Whiskey Girl after her audition that aired Feb. 18.
- "When We Were Young" by Adele for Hollywood Week.
- "Anyone" by Demi Lovato for Showstopper Round on April 1.
- "The Story" by Brandi Carlile for Top 24 on April 7.
- "Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell for Top 20 on April 14.
- "Tumbleweed" by Nowhere Man and A Whiskey Girl for Top 20 on April 15.
- "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" by Chicago on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame show on April 21.
- "Cardigan" by Taylor Swift for Top 12 on April 22.
- "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls for Top 10 on April 28.
- "Everywhere I Go" by Lissie for Top 8 on April 29.
- "Wide Awake" by Katy Perry with Abi Carter, Julia Gagnon and Kaibrienne on April 29.
- "E.T." by Katy Perry and "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele on May 5
How have 'American Idol' judges reacted to McKenna Faith Breinholt?
- Lionel Richie responded to Breinholt's audition with "I love the cry, the little cry in your voice. It just cut right through."
- After hearing her sing Adele's "When We Were Young" during Hollywood Week, Katy Perry sounded a note of caution, saying, "I'm worried about her voice, though."
- Richie responded to her cover of the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" by proclaiming her the "Queen of Smoky Voice" on April 28's episode.
- Perry saved Breinholt from elimination on April 29, bringing her into the Top 7. Perry told her, “I’ve spent many nights crying listening to that song and just surrendering. It’s just so powerful, and that’s what your voice does. It moves people emotionally. It opens up hearts so that they can feel and heal.”
Who made the Top 5 on 'American Idol' Season 22?
- Abi Carter
- Emmy Russell
- Jack Blocker
- Triston Harper
- Will Moseley
veryGood! (23)
Related
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Louisville Zoo elephant calf named Fitz dies at age 3 following virus
- Climate Activists Converge on Washington With a Gift and a Warning for Biden and World Leaders
- Power Plants on Indian Reservations Get No Break on Emissions Rules
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Fox News agrees to pay $12 million to settle lawsuits from former producer Abby Grossberg
- DeSantis Recognizes the Threat Posed by Climate Change, but Hasn’t Embraced Reducing Carbon Emissions
- PPP loans cost nearly double what Biden's student debt forgiveness would have. Here's how the programs compare.
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- The Trump Administration Moves to Open Alaska’s Tongass National Forest to Logging
Ranking
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- Katherine Heigl Addresses Her “Bad Guy” Reputation in Grey’s Anatomy Reunion With Ellen Pompeo
- How Solar Panels on a Church Rooftop Broke the Law in N.C.
- The Warming Climates of the Arctic and the Tropics Squeeze the Mid-latitudes, Where Most People Live
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Elle Fanning Recalls Losing Role in Father-Daughter Film at 16 for Being Unf--kable
- Climate Activists Converge on Washington With a Gift and a Warning for Biden and World Leaders
- At least 2 dead, 28 wounded in mass shooting at Baltimore block party, police say
Recommendation
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
The Best Powder Sunscreens That Prevent Shine Without Ruining Makeup
Photos: Native American Pipeline Protest Brings National Attention to N.D. Standoff
America’s Got Talent Winner Michael Grimm Hospitalized and Sedated
Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
Tallulah Willis Shares Why Mom Demi Moore’s Relationship With Ashton Kutcher Was “Hard”
Louisville Zoo elephant calf named Fitz dies at age 3 following virus
McConnell’s Record on Coal Has Become a Hot Topic in His Senate Campaign