CALEB Kennedy made his way to ‘American Idol’s top five before being forced to quit the show after a controversial video surfaced online on May 12.
The teen, who could be seen seated next to a person wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood, announced his departure from the hit competition via social media.
How old is Caleb Kennedy?
Kennedy was born in Roebuck, a small town in South Carolina, on October 21, 2004.
The 16-year-old country singer turned reality star played junior varsity football at Dorman High School before giving up his beloved hobby to pursue American Idol.
When did Caleb Kennedy start making music?
Kennedy began making music when his grandmother, Barbara Blanton, and several other family members gifted him some cash on his 13th birthday.
The teen took 'nana's' gift and bought his first guitar, teaching himself how to play using only his cellphone for help learning chords.
His grandfather, Rudy Blanton, eventually took Kennedy for guitar lessons, and claimed that Caleb knew more than the teacher.
Caleb was able to play music by ear and began to compose his own music.
One of the first songs he wrote was called “That’s My Papa.”, a tribute to Blanton.
In his audition, Kennedy spoke of how his parent's divorce had affected him negatively and how his grandfather became a father figure in his life, even taking him to work while his mother worked two jobs.
“I kind of just lost myself and writing songs kind of helped me find who I was again,” Caleb said in his audition video.
His mother, Anita,acts as his manager and books all his gigs.
“I’m very close with my mom,” Caleb said. I love my mom very much. She’s believed in me ever since I started.
Who is Caleb Kennedy dating?
Kennedy seems to be keeping his relationship status private as there is no information available regarding his personal life in the media, aside from what he shared on social media and American Idol.
Is Caleb Kennedy on Instagram?
The singer can be found on Instagram under the handle @calebkennedyofficial.
He addressed his 67.9k followers on the app, announcing his departure from the show.
“Hey y’all, this is gonna be a bit of a surprise, but I am no longer gonna be on American Idol,” Caleb tweeted.
“There was a video that surfaced on the internet and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in any way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse,”
The star apologised to his fans, stating that he would be taking a break from social media.
His mother Anita Guy told the paper, 'I hate this has happened and how Caleb is being portrayed by people online.
Kennedy's mother defended her son's actions in the four-year-old snapchat video, telling the Herald Journal "I hate this has happened and how Caleb is being portrayed by people online,"
"This video was taken after Caleb had watched the movie The Strangers: Prey at Night and they were imitating those characters.
It had nothing to do with the Ku Klux Klan, but I know that's how it looks.
Caleb doesn't have a racist bone in his body. He loves everyone and has friends of all races."
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