The 12 finals were announced on “American Idol” and one contestant didn’t even give viewers a chance to kick off the show.
Outstanding singer Wyatt Pike missed the venerable reality TV singing competition the first live episode of the season on Monday night.
Host Ryan Seacrest unceremoniously announced that Pike had left the talent show with a brief statement on stage.
“Before I get to the results, I have to tell you that finalist Wyatt Pike will not be competing in the competition,” said Seacrest, 46. “He had to give up, but we wish him the best.”
Pike, a 19-year-old from Park City, Utah, left the show for that old showbiz standby – “personal reasons” – a representative of “American Idol” told People.
“Wyatt couldn’t go on … and we can’t comment anymore,” a program spokesman confirmed to the Washington Post.
The mysterious exit came after the young performer’s stoppage time: on the show previously recorded on Sunday, Pike surprised the panel of judges with his confident rendition of Kings of Leon’s 2008 hit “Use Somebody”.
After this lively performance, Judge Lionel Richie, 71, said Pike had “a style on stage that we like to see” and predicted he was heading for “something big.” Meanwhile, Katy Perry went so far as to proclaim that the young singer had “a bit of an angle in this competition.” [because] you are a real singer-writer “.
Perry, 36, continued, “I think whatever happens, that’s it.”
Finally, Luke Bryan, who came out on Monday due to a positive COVID-19 test, with OGA judge Paula Abdul for him, made what now seems a somewhat prescient statement.
“I remember one of the funniest things that happened to me was the day I realized I was going to make music forever, under any circumstances,” Bryan, 44, told Pike. “I’m telling you, Wyatt, you can make music for the rest of your life.”
While no other details about his abrupt departure were revealed, Pike may have made a fuss about his early exit from the show in an Instagram post a few days ago from his home state of Utah.
“Something to feel this through home,” he wrote. “Grateful for the roller coaster I’m on today.”