Kase Tippens, a 14-year-old high school student from Yukon, Oklahoma, recently took the American Idol stage, hoping to impress the judges with his talent, however, despite his promising voice, Idol judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan decided that he wasn’t quite ready for the competition.
“It’s very nice to meet all of you,” Tippens told the Idol judges as he entered the audition room, to which Luke Bryan replied, “well, tell us who you are.”
When Tippens introduced himself and revealed his age, Bryan was visibly shocked. “14?” Bryan questioned, to which Tippens replied, “yes, sir,” confirming his age to the country superstar.
Kase Tippens Covers “Wondering Why” by Red Clay Strays On American Idol
Donning a black t-shirt, jeans and a brown ball cap, Tippens, with an acoustic guitar in hand, then went on to deliver a cover of “Wondering Why” by the Red Clay Strays.
“She keeps on loving me/ Loves me the way I am/ She’s not just along for the ride/ She’s my biggest fan/ Lord, it’s a little piece of heaven/ When we lay down at night/ She keeps on loving me/ And I keep on wondering why,” Tippens sang on the tune’s chorus.
Idol Judges Encourage The 14-Year-Old After Rejection
Tippens’ unique vocals, reminiscent of Sam Barber and Zach Bryan, were impressive. His raspy vocal tone made an impression on the judges, but they ultimately felt that he needed more time to develop as an artist and discover what his voice is truly capable of.
“That was beautifully fourteen,” Bryan said, acknowledging that Tippens vocals needed a bit of work. Richie then weighed in, giving the teenage contestant some tough but encouraging feedback.
“As much as I don’t want to say this, your time is not quite now,” Richie chimed in. “It’s a no from me this trip.”
Underwood shared her perspective with Tippens, hoping to reassure him that this setback didn’t mean the end of his dream. “When I was like 15 years old, I had an artist development [deal] with like a big record label, and it didn’t work out, and it was the best thing for me because if that had happened then it would not have gone anywhere and that would have been the end of my story,” Underwood explained. “It is not a no, it is a no today, but you are gonna be incredible.”
Carrie Underwood Overcome With Emotion After Telling The Young Singer “No”
Although visibly disappointed in the Idol judges’ decision, Tippens graciously thanks Richie, Underwood and Bryan and made his way out of the audition room to deliver the unfortunate results to his family, who were waiting outside the door.
“Poor little thing,” Bryan said as Tippens exiting the audition room.
Underwood seemed to struggle with having to let the young singer down. Feeling bad for telling the contestant no, Underwood was overcome with emotion for crushing Tippens’ dream, was comforted by Richie and Bryan, who reminded her that sometimes tough decisions are necessary in the music industry.
Difficult Decision To Turn Away Idol Hopefuls
After Kase Tippens’ audition, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood reflected on how difficult it is to turn away Idol hopefuls, especially young artists like Tippens who show great potential.
“We’re human as judges and artists, and to say the word no sometimes gets really, really tough,” Bryan admitted. Richie agreed and added, “We’re talking about someone’s dreams… This is real tough stuff.”
Underwood added, “Hopefully we can just still help them on their journey, it just wasn’t here and now.”
Though Tippens didn’t earn a golden ticket to advance to Hollywood this time around, the feedback from the judges suggests that his journey is far from over.
Tippens Penned A Heartfelt Farewell Message On Social Media
Kase Tippens took to social media after being dismissed from American Idol with a heartfelt message, graciously thanking the judges and viewers for the opportunity.
“I just want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me on this incredible journey with American Idol so far. This experience has been absolutely life-changing, and I wouldn’t be here without the love and encouragement from my family, friends, and all of you who have believed in me,” Tippens wrote. “A huge thank you to American Idol for giving me this opportunity—I’m beyond grateful to be part of something so special. Getting to share this journey with my family by my side, especially in New York City, made it even more unforgettable. Having the people I love there to experience it with me was truly a dream come true. This is just the beginning! I have big dreams and big goals, and I’m more motivated than ever to chase them down. I can’t wait to see what’s next, and I’m so grateful to have y’all on this journey with me.”
American Idol airs every Sunday at 8/7c on ABC.
