‘‘American Idol’’ contestant Kya Monee’ returned to the audition room to honor her late friend and former contestant Willie Spence during the reality singing competition show’s Season 21 premiere on Sunday.
Monee’ was paired up with Spence – who was killed in a car accident in Tennessee in October 2022 – as duet partners during Hollywood week when they appeared together on Season 19 of “Idol” in 2021.
Standing in the audition room once again on Sunday, Monee’ told judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie that she and Spence “grew a very, very close friendship” and that she’s still “trying to cope” with the loss.
Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Con/ABC/Getty Images
“He was actually supposed to be here with me today for my audition,” Monee’ said, adding that “it’s just very hard to not have that support anymore but I know that he would want me to be here and keep pushing.”
Monee’ sang a tearful rendition of “I’m Here” from the theatrical musical “The Color Purple,” explaining that it was a song that she and Spence picked together.
“That’s how you sing through crying,” Perry said after the performance. Perry continued to share that while everybody’s feeling the loss of Spence, the judges “feel connected together” because Monee’ was authentic “just like he was.”
Story by Obaapa Janee
Source: CNN
