Mitchell native Logan Culhane to appear on 'American Idol'

Feb. 13—SPEARFISH, S.D. — Whether it be performing with Friend de Coup, singing in the shower or taking the stage at Black Hills State University, Logan Culhane has for many years had music in her blood.

And soon, the Mitchell native and a Black Hills State University student will be putting her talent on display on Season 22 of "American Idol."

The season will premiere Feb. 18, and Culhane will be featured in one of the audition episodes.

Logan learned about the opportunity to audition for "American Idol" through her family who saw that "American Idol" was holding virtual auditions and encouraged her to sign up.

"Growing up, they always said I would go far, make it big, and have all these opportunities," Logan said. "I always had dreams of doing big things like this, but I never thought it would happen so soon, in my freshman year of college. I'm very thankful for it, and I'm really excited for people to see it."

Logan sang in multiple rounds of Zoom auditions before she was invited to attend the televised auditions and sing in person for the "American Idol" judges: Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

"It was definitely a super new experience. I've never experienced that kind of atmosphere," Logan said. "I was so nervous, and it didn't feel real until I was going into the audition room with them. You look at these people that are so incredibly talented and have so much presence in the industry, and it's like wow! So, it was an honor to sing in front of them."

Her interaction with Bryan, Perry and Richie were among the highlights of the experience, Logan told the Mitchell Republic. She said she was probably more familiar with Perry's music growing up, but she also found herself drawn to Richie, who had a string of hits in the 1980s, including "Hello" and "All Night Long."

"It was super exciting to see them in person, I thought it was really cool, and I felt lucky to be able to see them all. I was thankful that I didn't feel so nervous that it was going to hinder my performance at all, I just felt excited and proud to be able to audition in front of them," Logan said. "I got to talk to Lionel Richie. They love him on the radio! I've listened to quite a bit of his music, proabbly more now. Kerry Perry would have been my first most-listened to, but Lionel Richie was the one I was most excited to see in person."

A 2023 Mitchell High School graduate, Logan is a freshman at BHSU majoring in music and minoring in theater. Her music journey began with making songs on GarageBand, singing in the choir in elementary school, and performing in musicals and plays throughout middle school and high school.

"I've been performing and singing my whole life. When I was little, my mom was making her own music too. As I was growing up, I was always in an environment where creativity was encouraged," Logan said.

Her father, Matt Culhane, said Logan's participation on "American Idol" will be a big moment for the himself, his wife Carrie and the rest of the family, who followed Logan's work with Friend de Coup, the Mitchell High School show choir, and listened to her singing in the shower when she was growing up. She even sang with Kenny Rogers at the Corn Palace when she was 9 years old.

"It's exciting. The whole family kind of gets to follow along," Matt told the Mitchell Republic. "She's always been a very musically gifted person all through childhood and at Mitchell High School through the show choir program there. It's been a lot of fun."

Matt said Logan's appearance on "American Idol" will be a farily low-key affair, but he said they will definitely be tuning in when the big night arrives.

Logan and Matt both credited the music department at Mitchell High School, including Friend de Coup director Nick McGraw and choreographer Stephen Todd, with helping Logan pursue her love of music and leading her to opportunities on "American Idol" and at Black Hills State University.

As a freshman at Black Hills State, Logan said she is currently taking in the experience of performing at the college level. She said she would love to continue to puruse performance after college, but for now she is simply enjoying the experience and all it brings with it.

"It's been good to lock down what I want to study. For the time being I'm enjoying discovering new parts of myself and being at college studying what I'm passionate about," Logan said. "I've wanted to be a performer, and I have dreams to continue pursuing that. If that's what's in store, and I guess I'm not quite sure yet, but I'm just trying to enjoy it."

Still active in the world of musical theater, Culhane will perform as Laura Ingalls in the BHSU Theatre and Music Departments' production of "Little House on the Prairie: The Musical" Feb. 23-24 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. in the Woodburn Auditorium.

"Not only do I love to sing, but I love to perform, too," Culhane added. "For as long as I can remember, I've been doing things that make me happy. Performing and singing make me very happy, so I continue to go after those things."

To find out the results of Culhane's "American Idol" audition, viewers must tune in to the new season which premieres at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 on ABC.