Idol Chatter & Voice Views

KB Richins of American Idol Season 22

Idol returned to ABC on Sunday, Feb. 18 with the judging trio of Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan returning intact.

Here’s more about KB.

* Remarkably, she didn’t post her first singing post to her Instagram until December, showing off impressive vocals with a touch of rasp on a cover of “To Make You Feel My Love.”

* Writes KB: “For way too long i’ve allowed the fear of not being enough, the constant worry of what others might say/think & deep self hatred dictate so much of my life & keep me from doing what i love.

* She adds: “But i’m learning more and more every day how much better & fulfilling life is when you stop caring so much about how everyone else is perceiving you & just do what fuels your soul.”

* Now, that might have been KB’s first singing post on her own page, but you can find dozens of them on her dad Jewell’s YouTube channel.

* That apparently started in Feb. 2020, when Jewell was mourning the loss of Joe Hill, who he refers to as “my father#2.” KB, assisted by younger sister Karrisyn, pay tribute with a stirring rendition of Andra Day’s “Rise Up.”

* That video has been viewed more than 7 million times and sparked dozens of followups and millions of more views, most featuring KB singing on trips in her dad’s car. One of KB singing “Too Good at Goodbyes” while her dad tears up has been viewed 11 million times.

* KB is 20 and the initials are short for Kai Brienne, judging from her Facebook. She graduated high school in May 2021.

* And she’s garnered quite a social media following of her own on TikTok, where she has 117,000 followers and more than 6 million likes.

* She announced her Idol audition on Jan. 11, writing: “If you know me, you know American Idol has been my biggest dream since I was a little girl.” She’s since promoted her upcoming appearance by posting a duet with another Season 22 contestant, Mackenzie Sol.

* Her number one fan couldn’t be happier. Writes her dad: “Beyond proud of my daughter for chasing her dreams! Her incredible voice has always amazed me, and now the world might just get to witness her talent on American Idol.”

KB on social media:
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
YouTube (dad’s)