Referred to as an “accidental idol.” Sam “Kayko” Kelly Cohen gives an update on where it stands Abby Blake After that it continued as she continued American idol.
“We are true friends. “This thing really wasn’t for TV,” Kayko, 23, said parade in an interview published on Sunday, April 28. “She’s one of the closest people I have in my life in Nashville, and that’s why she asked me to be on the show because she wanted to include me in the process.”
Viewers were in for a surprise when Kayko took part in season 22 of American idol after he was on hand to accompany Abby on the piano while she sang Pink‘s “What About Us” during her audition.
I told you parade that his success on the competition series had no impact on his friendship with 25-year-old Abby, adding: “Even if she’s at Hollywood Week and we have this moment together, we certainly will for the rest of our lives have.”
In the two decades that American Idol has been on screen, fans have witnessed many tense interactions between the contestants, judges, and hosts of the show. During a March 2024 episode of Hollywood Week, season 22 contestant Madai ChaKell and judge Luke Bryan got into a heated argument after ChaKell canceled her performance on Ariana Grande […]
According to Kayko, Abby is “super cool” and supports him on his journey. “I think she’s so talented,” he gushed. “Absolutely the world that I think exists for Abby.”
During Abby’s aforementioned audition, Judge Katy Perry asked Kayko if he was a singer, which led to him auditioning with an original song called “Time of Your Life.” The show invited both Abby and Kayko to compete.
Abby Blake
Disney/Eric McCandlessOver the course of the season, Kayko made it to the top 24, while Abby did not. Before his exit from Top 10 night, Kayko reflected on how much his penchant for performing original songs may have cost him.
“It’s so hard. I ask myself, ‘What the hell am I doing?’ every time. But the strategy I’m going to use is to take a song and try to bring it into my own universe.” , he told Parade. “I think this is the only chance I have. I don’t think there’s anything I could do Ed Sheeran song better than Ed Sheeran did.”
American Idol paved the way for reality competition shows to help everyday people achieve their dreams of music stardom. The series premiered on Fox in 2002 with a star-studded panel of judges including Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. The first season of American Idol introduced Kelly Clarkson, who would become the show’s first star. […]
He continued: “Original music is my passion. I’m here to share my art with the world. American idol gave me such a platform to do that. I’m overjoyed with how this process has gone so far.”
During the interview, which was conducted before Kayko’s exit, the singer reflected on how far he has come and the fan base he has gained along the way.
“This is everything I’ve wanted my whole life: a small, small group of people who I feel like we all think alike and for whom I can share my thoughts and make music,” he added added. “This is what I care about. When this show is over, whether you win or lose, you’re going to hear a lot more original music.”
American idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.