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Tags: american idol | amber riley | bebe rexha | chrissy metz

Stars Rejected by American Idol

amber riley is shown in a black and white plaid coat
Amber Riley (RW-MediaPunch-IPX)

By    |   Wednesday, 26 February 2020 10:56 AM EST

"American Idol" has produced some top names in the music industry over the years, including Kelly Clarkson,. Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood but they’ve also blown it big time by rejecting singers who went on to become big stars. Here are five singers rejected by American Idol who went on to great success, as listed by Fox News.

1. Bebe Rexha

In 2018, Bebe Rexha served as a mentor in "American Idol," so it’s a surprise to learn that the singer was rejected from the show after auditioning a decade earlier. "10 years ago my mother and I waited 10 hours in line to audition for American Idol," the 30-year-old tweeted. "I didn’t make it through. This year I’m mentoring!"

2. Colbie Caillat

Colbie Caillat is known for her unique voice and soaring melodies but "American Idol" judges were not blown away by her musical talent. They rejected Caillat twice during audition rounds. Her debut album was a huge hit and sold more than 2 million copies, going double platinum. Since her rejection from the singing show, she has sold six million albums.

3. Chrissy Metz

Chrissy Metz is another star who failed to impress judges of "American Idol," who rejected her during her audition in which she performed "Heavy" from "Dreamgirls." She is now the star of the hit TV show “This is Us” where her singing is often featured.

4. Naya Rivera

"American Idol" are likely regretting shooting down Naya Rivera, who went on to achieve fame for her voice in "Glee." The song she chose to perform was the Bee Gees' "Emotion," which wound up being her ticket into the musical comedy show.

5. Amber Riley

Another "Glee" star who was turned down by "American Idol" as a teen, Amber Riley has since appeared in several musicals and released her own music.

Zoe Papadakis

Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


TheWire
"American Idol" has produced some top names in the music industry over the years, including Kelly Clarkson,. Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood but they’ve also blown it big time by rejecting singers who went on to become big stars.
american idol, amber riley, bebe rexha, chrissy metz
306
2020-56-26
Wednesday, 26 February 2020 10:56 AM
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