Kya Monee is a familiar name to American Idol viewers as the R&B singer had previously been a part of the show in 2019. Although her name sounds better when taken along with the late singer Willie Spence who passed away in a fatal car crash in October 2022, it was an honor to see the young singer push herself alone on the stage of American Idol Season 21.
Kya Monee was seen in the audition that premiered on ABC on Feb. 19, 2023, after appearing once with fellow competitor Willie Spence, delivering a legendary duet in 2021.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t move any further in the show, but now she is back, giving it another shot, to see if she gets a golden ticket.
Who is Kya Monee?
Kya Monee is one of the several contestants who tried their luck at the audition for NBC’s American Idol 21. Hailing from Huston, Texas, Kya Monee sparkles with the same stardust as the Texas celebrities, Megan Thee Stallion, Beyonce, and Travis Scott. Her graduation was completed in 2022, but her singing passion had begun long ago.
Apart from her studies and her interest in music, Kiya Monee is equally appreciated for her helping mentality as she is the founder of “Teen Advisory,” an organization that provides assistance to the needy teens. She had also teamed up with the Idol Willie Spence for a charity concert in Georgia.
Since she has been singing since she was 4, Monee has grown into a professional singer now. She has also released a four-song EP titled, “Stages of a Heartbreak,” under Tap Out Records.
Kya Monee in American Idol Season 19
This season will be Kia Monee’s second attempt as a contestant in the long-running music competition. She previously auditioned for the second half of the last season, where the duo performed on Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekkom, making the judges emotional.
By the time their song finished, Lionel labeled the heartwarming performance as “divine,” while Katy Perry burst into tears. Furthermore, Luke added that he had thought about the two in the morning, hinting that Kya Monee and Willie Spence were both remarkable singers.
Also Read: Who Is Colin Stough? American Idol Season 21 Contestant
Although Spence ended up being the first runner-up in American Idol 19, Kya Monee was left behind. She was eliminated when the cast was cut to 24. However, it was not at all a matter of concern for her, as she was well aware of having swayed the hearts of the Idol judges.
After all, Kya Monee was dubbed, “our wonderful woman” by Lionel. She was one such star, who was destined to be celebrated in the future.
Kya Monee’s connection with the late American Idol Spence
Sadly, Willie Spence is no longer there to hold her hands like in the previous season, as he breathed his last on October 11, 2022. The incident left Monee devastated, and she wrote a note on Instagram to mourn the loss of her dear friend. She said:
“You are both my brother and friend,” and hearing the news, “my stomach turns and my heart breaks.” She further thanked Spence for showing her “how capable” she was of “becoming a star.”
She was 19 years old when she first appeared in the show, so apparently, the icon is 23 as of 2023. Now, although she hasn’t recovered from the trauma, Monee believes that if he were alive, he would like to see her win, and that is apparently what pushed her the most.
Standing before the judges on Feb/ 19, Monee recalled how close they were and asserted she was still trying to cope with the tragedy.
Kya Monee sang a tearful rendition of “I’m Here” at the 2023 audition
Making the judges astounded, Monee gave her best, singing her version of “I’m Here,” which made Perry conclude, “that’s how you sing while crying.”
Apparently, the song was previously chosen by Spence and her, but they might never have thought that Monee might sing it alone on the stage. While everybody ended up being emotional, Perry commented that Monee was just like Spence, gentle and authentic.
She also appears to have been selected for Hollywood Week as she was handed a golden ticket while Spence’s iconic rendition of ‘Diamonds’ by Rihanna played in the background. With tears in her eyes, she shared the golden ticket with her dear friend, and said, “Willie, this is for you.”
