Top 3 the next American Idol winner. Leah, a 20-year-old musician from Normal, Illinois, burst into the audition room with an energy and enthusiasm that was anything but "normal." Leah grew up around music, and her talent and artistry are evident in every song she sings.
During Leah's audition, the judges, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, were wowed by her stunning rendition of "Steal My Girl" by One Direction, during which she showcased her impressive vocals and guitar playing skills. Katy was so excited about Leah that she asked to hear one of her original songs, and Leah played her electrifying song, "Wisher to the Well." The judges voted yes, and Leah earned her golden ticket to Hollywood.
At first, Leah was known as the quirky American Idol season 20 contestant, and she quickly proved herself to be one of the most compelling artists in the competition. As she moved through each week, Leah continuously showed her vocal range, and her performances were moving and emotional. As she competes in the finale along with HunterGirl and Noah Thompson, Leah has a great chance of placing first. With her bubbly personality and incredible artistry, Leah has what it takes to win the American Idol competition for many reasons.
Leah Is Unique
Leah's singer-songwriter style is a breath of fresh air in this year's American Idol competition. Some fans have expressed frustration on social media about so many country artists are in the Top 24, and Leah brings something different to the stage. Some people are comparing this season's final 3 to that of American Idol season 16 when singer-songwriter Maddie Poppe moved ahead of country singer frontrunners Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Gabby Barrett to win the competition. Leah's distinctive style may be the element that gives her the edge to win American Idol.
Leah Has Grown During The Competition
When Leah auditioned for American Idol, she wore a bucket hat and a patchwork outfit and seemed to hide her vulnerability behind her quirky facade. During her Top 20 performance of "Heal" by Tom Odell, she debuted a new more mature look and expressed her vulnerability through her soaring vocals and lovely falsetto. When Leah finished singing, the American Idol judges praised the jaw-dropping performance. Katy even told Leah that she felt every ounce of her pain and that she was growing into "the most beautiful woman" right before her eyes. Luke added that Leah had an "amazing transformation." Lionel also told Leah that her performance was "spiritual." Leah continued to grow throughout the competition, expressing emotion through performances such as "Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan, selected for her by Katy Perry during the Judges' Song Contest, and "When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2 during Disney Night.
Leah Has A Strong Social Media Following
Leah's social media presence is strong. She posts often on Instagram, interacting with her American Idol fans. As of May 2022, Leah as 82.4k followers on Instagram, 5,639 followers on Twitter, and 20.8k followers on TikTok. Leah's fans, who are tired of country music dominating the competition, have promised to rally to help cancel out the country vote, so her strong social media following could help her win American Idol.
Leah Has Tremendous Musical Talent
Leah has an incredible musical talent and a style all her own. Her single, "Flowers," which was released on May 13, is an inspiring song she wrote that uses the metaphor of flowers growing through the pavement to represent how people can rise up through difficult times. Leah pours her emotions and experiences into her original music and transforms her cover songs into her own works of art.
Leah has been a fan favorite since she made her debut on American Idol this year. She is a true artist who works her magic in every song she sings. Leah is everything that an American Idol should be and will most likely win the competition.
American Idol airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Source: American Idol/YouTube, Leah Marlene/YouTube