Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Ava Maybee from American Idol Season 20

American Idol returns to ABC on Sunday, Feb. 27. Here’s more about Ava.

* She’ll be 21 when Season 20 begins, her full name is Ava Maybee Cardoso-Smith and she’s L.A.-based.

* Oh, she’s also the daughter of Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and, according to her web bio, has been singing and performing since she was 5.

* A singer-songwriter, she’s already released three singles, “Lay Low” in 2020 and “See Me Now” and “Colors” from last year. You can check out music videos for “Lay Low” and “See Me Now” on her official YouTube channel.

* Impressively, she celebrated 666,000 streams of her music on Spotify at the end of the year. “Lay Low” is largely responsible, with more than 500,000 streams on Spotify to date. You can check it out below.

* She’s a junior at NYU, according to her web bio, and previously participated in the NYU/TISCH/Clive Davis School of Music Program for high school students.

* As a child, she suffered from scoliosis, an abnormal curving of the spine, which forced her to quit dancing and other activities. She underwent spinal-fusion surgery to correct the problem.

* Her mother Trisha, a publicist with Showtime at the time, began working with the L.A. Orthopedic Center as a result and Ava became a youth ambassador for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

* Ava says her music is inspired by classic soul, rock and Motown music. She lists Amy Winehouse, Sam Cooke, Leon Bridges, Adele, Janis Joplin and Carole King among her favorite artists.

* In addition to shows around the L.A. area, she’s performed the national anthem for the Lakers and Dodgers.

Ava on social media:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

Keep checking back …

I’ll be posting profiles of about 50 top contestants who auditioned for American Idol Season 20. Profiles of the singers listed below will be coming soon. More names might be added. The links take you to the profiles already published.

Allegra Miles
Ashley Blaire
Ava Maybee
Betty Maxwell
Cadence Baker
Carly Mickeal
Christian Guardino
Ciasia Nicole
Cole Wesley Ritter
Corey Curtis

Dakota Hayden
Douglas Mills, Jr.
Elli Rowe
Elliot Greer
Fritz Hager
Hunter Girl
Jacob Moran
Jay Copeland
Joedi Silvers
Jordan Chase Torrez

Jourdan Blue
Katyrah Love
Kaylin Roberson
Kelsie Dolin
Kendra Checketts
Kenedi Anderson
Kevin Gullage
Kezia Istonia (a.k.a. Lady K.)
Kirk Richmond
Leah Marlene

Lexi Weege
Max Embers
Mike Parker
Nicolina Bozzo
Olivia Faye
Paige Fish
Ryan Argast
Ryleigh Madison
Sam Moss
Scarlet Ayliz

Sir Blayke
Tobias Hill
Tristen Gressett
Tyler Allen
Valerie Marie
Wennely Quezada
Yoli Mayor