(UPDATE: 4/14/22 AT 8:00 A.M. ET): Just hours after posting a snipper of her new song on TikTok, Kenedi took the video down.
Kenedi Anderson may have just left American Idol after being noted as a surefire standout, but she appears to not be going anywhere from music. Just days after speaking about about leaving the show for “necessary” reasons, the teen shared a TikTok on Wednesday debuting a new song and the lyrics are … perhaps a little telling.
“I need to find, need to find something better than what I had/and with no strings attached,” she belted. ‘Don’t I deserve that?/Something with no strings attached.” After finishing the song on a beautifully drawn-out note, she then quipped to her fans, “That’s all you get.”
@kenedianderson_
Moments after the post went live, fans flooded the comments section praising the singer but also asking her why she quit Idol, speculating it had to do with her possibly signing a record deal elsewhere.
“Y’all, listen to the lyrics of this song. I think it answers your question as to why she quit!” one user observed. “Hope you got a better opportunity than what American Idol would have given you,” another person chimed in. “You are way more than them!” An additional user pointed out the “rumor” that she had signed with record company. Kenedi didn’t respond to any of the comments to confirm or deny the rumors.
During the April 11 broadcast of the show, Ryan Seacrest made a special announcement that Kenedi decided to leave the competition for “personal reasons.” While the show was still airing, Kenedi released a statement on Instagram and Twitter.
“For personal reasons, I’m unable to continue on American Idol,” her statement began. “This has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I know it’s necessary. I’m so grateful to American Idol, the judges, the producers, the amazing contestants, and all the fans who have supported me. Thank you for giving me such an amazing opportunity to share my voice, chase my dreams, feel so much joy and happiness doing what I love, and make lifelong friends along the way.”
From the beginning of the season, Kenedi was one of the standout season 20 contestants and many fans thought she was definitely a top 10 contender. After her incredible and unique rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Applause” while playing the piano, the judges awarded her the second Platinum Ticket granting her the ability to skip the first round of Hollywood Week and go straight to the duets. She made the top 24 before ultimately dropping out of the show.