Maren Morris and Other Famous Singers Rejected by 'American Idol'

This year, in its final season, American Idol hyped up one past contestant who went on to major success: Tori Kelly. But Tori was actually rejected by Idol, incredibly never even making it to the top 24 live episodes. And this week, another Best New Artist Grammy nominee, 2016 breakout star Maren Morris, revealed that she too was rejected by the show. Morris and Kelly are just two of many talented singers who were turned away by Idol producers but went on to bigger and better things. Here are 12. (photos: Getty Images)

Morris tried out when she was 17, but didn’t even get past the cattle-call round receive a callback. “I did the walk of shame out of the stadium and never made it any further,” Morris told Rolling Stone, adding, “I’m actually really happy I didn’t make it onto any of the shows I tried out for… I took a much longer road, but it’s on my terms now.” Morris called it “full-circle irony” that many singing show contestants now cover her hit “My Church” on TV.

Tori Kelly

Looking back on ‘Idol’s’ lackluster Season 9, it’s hard to believe someone as talented as Tori was cut that year before the top 24 round. The rising singer-songwriter later built up a passionate following via her YouTube channel; she’s now managed by Scooter Braun, signed to Capitol Records, and up for a Best New Artist Grammy nomination. Her album Unbreakable Smile also debuted at #2. Not too shabby for a “reject,” huh?

Source: Yahoo Music

Hillary Scott

Lady Antebellum’s famous frontwoman auditioned not once but twice for 'Idol,’ and never even made it past the preliminary rounds. “I never got to see [the judges]. I literally performed for the production assistants and the interns, and I just didn’t make it,” she later told Entertainment Tonight. No worries. Hillary simply formed Lady Antebellum instead, and went on to win five Grammys in 2011 alone, including Record and Song of the Year. No Idol winner has ever done that.

Source: Yahoo Music

Colbie Caillat

This plucky songstress also auditioned unsuccessfully for 'Idol’ twice, and on her second try she even warbled her own original ditty, “Bubbly.” (“I was shy. I was nervous. I didn’t look the greatest. I wasn’t ready for it yet. I was glad, when I auditioned, that they said no,” she explained to USA Today.) Apparently Colbie had reason to be glad. Not only did “Bubbly” eventually become a massive international hit for her, without 'Idol’s’ help, but it’s since been covered by various other 'Idol’ hopefuls, like Casey James, Katie Stevens, and Katelyn Epperly. Apparently Colbie wasn’t too bitter to grant the show rights.

Source: Yahoo Music

Mary Lambert

The “She Keeps Me Warm” songstress, best known for singing the hook of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s marriage equality anthem “Same Love,” tried out for 'Idol’ at age 16 and, according to an interview with Ryan Seacrest, “did not go far at all!” Ironically, she is now dating a singing-show alum: 'The Voice’ Season 4 runner-up Michelle Chamuel.

Source: Yahoo Music

Amber Riley

The 'Glee’ diva auditioned for 'Idol’ at age 17, but she too didn’t even make it past the producers. But obviously, the singer also known as Mercedes Jones made it onto the Fox Network anyway. (And one of her biggest standout solo performances on 'Glee’ was “And I Am Telling You,” a song famously performed by Idols like Jennifer Hudson and LaKisha Jones.) “You know what? I still work on Fox and I get paid! Thank you, 'American Idol,’” Amber later gloated to Access Hollywood.

Source: Yahoo Music

Naya Rivera

Amber’s fellow Gleek once auditioned for the show in San Francisco, but she was cut in the first round. In an interesting twist of fate, the same song she sang at her 'Idol’ audition, “Emotion” by the Bee Gees, later landed her a role on 'Glee.’

Source: Yahoo Music

Alex & Sierra

Alex Kinsey and his girlfriend Sierra Deaton auditioned, separately, for 'American Idol’ Season 12; Alex made it to Hollywood Week before getting cut, while Sierra didn’t even make it past the producers. Less than a year later, they both made it all the way to the winners’ circle, as a duo, on 'The X Factor USA’ Season 3. They are now signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco label and have toured with Andy Grammer.

Source: Yahoo Music

Mickey Guyton

Mickey Guyton is the bright new hope of Nashville, a breakout country star for 2015. But she was cut right before the live shows of 'Idol’ Season 8, and she received a particularly brutal edit: The only evidence of her entire run was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it snippet of her sitting in a Green Mile chair, being told “it’s a no.” Clearly, Mickey is ready for her close-up now. This seaosn on 'Idol,’ an auditioner even covers one of her songs.

Source: Yahoo Music

Alan Ritchson

Alan’s first memorable TV appearance was a Season 3 striptease in an effort to seduce the impressionable Paula Abdul. That effort only got him to the top 87, but he went to play Aquaman on the CW’s 'Smallville’ and Thad Castle on Spike TV’s 'Blue Mountain State,’ and has also had film roles in 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ and the 2014 remake of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.’

Source: Yahoo Music

Colton Swon

This likable, haystack-haired heartthrob auditioned for Season 7 and reached the top 48; he was cut right before the live shows. Six years later, joined by his younger sibling Zach in the Swon Brothers, he made it to 'The Voice’ Season 4 finale. The Swon Brothers later signed to Arista Nashville.

Source: Yahoo Music

Robyn Troup

Robyn may be the least-known name on this list, but she made it to the Grammys only a few weeks after her Hollywood Week elimination aired, when she won Yahoo Music’s own “My Grammy Moment” talent search. The grand prize: A chance to duet on the 2006 live awards telecast with none other than Justin Timberlake! (And Jennifer Hudson introduced her!) Since then, Robyn has recorded with Santana and Nas, and she is currently prepping her debut album.

Source: Yahoo Music