American Idol star Kenedi Anderson stuns fans with shock announcement (2024)

American Idolstar Kenedi Anderson shocked audiences when she dropped out mid-competition after receiving a platinum ticket in 2022 - and now she's stunned fans yet again after announcing a dramatic new career path.

The singer, 20, from Crozet, Virginia, took to Instagram to share her news: revealing she has decided to serve in a full-time 18-month missionfor the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, before later revealing in a TikTok video that she will complete her mission in Honolulu, Hawaii.

'[It's] the least I can do after all God has blessed me with,' she wrote in her lengthy Instagram post. 'I hope to return a more Christlike and charitable person.'

Kenedi accompanied the post with a series of photos of her wearing blue denim jeans and white button-up short sleeved shirt, posing with the Book of Mormon.

The budding starlet, who dropped out in season 20 of the talent show, added she hopes to help others find 'thejoy and peace that I have found in this gospel.'

'All I’ve ever wanted to do with my music, is to help others feel healed and heard the way that I’ve felt those things through music,' she continued.

'So hopefully this is one step closer to that goal. I truly believe that this is where I’m supposed to be in my life right now and what I’m supposed to be doing.'

The singer went on to clarify that she's not quitting music and is working on putting new music out in the future.

'I am taking a break to focus on what God has called me to do, but I will be back before you know it!' she wrote enthusiastically. 'And you better believe that I’ll be working harder than ever to put music out for y’all!!'

Kenedi added she 'can only speak for myself,' and 'not for my church.'

'Not for my family. Not for my friends. But I believe in God. If you do too, I respect you. If you don’t, I respect you,' she said.

Kenedi concluded her post passionately by writing the God she believes in loves everyone.

'No matter who you are, what you believe, what you stand for, how you express yourself, who you love, etc,' the singer wrote.

'I hope that we can all give out love rather than hate,' she said. 'I believe that we can all live peacefully in a world where we don’t all have to agree on everything. But we absolutely should all respect & love one another despite our differences.'

Kenedi said she is 'grateful' for her fans and 'hopeful' for the future.

'I’m so so grateful for the life that I get to live and I intend to take every chance I get to live it to the fullest!! You should too! Take chances! Be brave! I love you.'

In a video that was later posted to her TikTok account, Kenedi shared further details about her mission while opening a letter from the church that revealed where she will be serving.

'Dear Sister Anderson, you are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,' she began reading, admitting that she was 'so anxious she couldn't even read'.

Sitting alongside two young relatives, she proceeded to read out the regulations that missionaries are required to follow, including 'leaving behind all personal affairs' in order to fully 'devote her time and attention to serving the Lord'.

Upon reaching the portion of the letter that revealed her mission call is taking her to Honolulu, Kenedi let out a scream of joy, before gleefully embracing her family members.

She then revealing that she will leave for her mission on July 15.

Kenedi's posts attracted many comments from concerned followers, many of whom warned her against the missions.

'Oh girl. This breaks my heart. Following and a child of God is Amazing, but girl please, please do more research,' one follower wrote.

Another one shared: 'The bible is the truth! Love your mission, you’re reading the wrong book though!'

'I’m so sad to see a woman like you being fooled by this church,' said another. 'It’s devastating. You’re so young. I know you’re getting a lot of encouragement on here, but please please please consider my comment. The church is not what you think it is.'

'So you have to give up 1.5 years of your life and the guy who murders someone but confessed his sins and asks for forgiveness gets into heaven as well? Someone help me understand,' another person asked.

However there were some who were more supportive - with several other missionaries voicing words of support for Kenedi.

'THE SCREAM!!! Hahaha I love this so much! I had a similar reaction when I got called to Australia! You’re going to have the best time!' one said.

'Congrats!! I went to BYU Hawaii for a little bit and saw sister missionaries all the time. You will love it there,' another chimed in.

Kenedi shot to fame after appearing in season 20 of American Idol. Shewithdrew from the talent show because of 'personal reasons'.

The then-teen wowed judges with her performance of Lady Gaga's Applause, and was awarded a coveted Platinum Ticket, which allowed her bypass several rounds of the competition

She had been pegged by many as the favorite to win after a series of impressive auditions that saw judge Luke Bryan hail her as 'the biggest star we've ever seen'.

Kenedi has an active TikTok page where she has 512k followers,