Willie Spence

"American Idol" contestant Kya Monee' returned to the audition room to honor her late friend and former contestant Willie Spence during the reality singing ...

[2017 video of him](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS2mXX_sOEc) singing the song went viral. The singer wiped her tears and broke into a smile as she held her golden ticket and said, “Willie, thank you for not letting me give up. “That’s how you sing through crying,” Perry said after the performance. Spence auditioned for “Idol” in 2021 with “Diamonds” after a As Spence’s rendition of “Diamonds” by Rihanna played in the background, the judges sent Monee’ through to the next round. [“American Idol”](https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/23/entertainment/american-idol-winner/index.html) contestant Kya Monee’ returned to the audition room to honor her late friend and former contestant [Willie Spence](https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2022/10/12/car-crash-american-idol-singer-willie-spence-dead-orig-aw.cnn) during the reality singing competition show’s Season 21 premiere on Sunday.

The emotional wreckage came courtesy of returning contestant Kya Monee', who duetted with the late, great Willie Spence back in Season 19. Back for another shot ...

( That’s why it bummed me out that the judged asked her to essentially turn down her glow in favor of a more serious ballad, Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You.” It was also very good, I just don’t think the judges should have made Love jump through so many hoops before sending her to Hollywood. The only thing I didn’t buy was Stough and Smith’s coincidental run-in at the diner; let’s just say it’s a good thing this isn’t an acting competition. Emotions were already running high before Monee’ opened her mouth to sing, and things only got more intense as those bittersweet notes began pouring out of her. Before his death, the Season 19 runner-up helped Monee’ select her new audition song, “I’m Here” from the Broadway musical The Color Purple. The emotional wreckage came courtesy of returning contestant Kya Monee’, who duetted with the late, great Willie Spence back in Season 19.

The 21-year old from Austin, Texas auditioned with "I'm Here" in honor of the season 19 runner-up who died last October.

But we also feel connected together because you were authentic, just like he was.” Next, the judges handed Kya her second golden ticket to Hollywood. The [reality TV](https://www.goldderby.com/t/reality-tv/) singing competition has always had the ability to captivate viewers with emotional backstories about the contestants, but one particular audition on Sunday was especially heart-wrenching. I’ve lost some people in my life and when you go to sing you just sing like Willie’s still here.” Kya and Willie remained close friends following their time together in Hollywood, and he urged her to try out again and continue to follow her dreams. Watch Kya’s audition of “I’m Here” below. Kya Monée, a 21-year old from Austin, Texas returned after originally trying out for the show on Season 19.

The American Idol season 21 premiere paid a special tribute to Willie Spence in the closing moments, but what is is his connection to the show?

From the moment Willie Spence began his cover of Rihanna’s “Diamonds” for Katy Perry during his American Idol audition, he left the judges speechless! On finale night, Spence was named the runner-up to Chayce Beckham, who won season 19. During her audition, Monee’ fought back tears as she recalled the friendship she built with Spence during their time as contestants on season 19 and the pain that came from losing a friend.

"American Idol" Season 19 runner-up Willie Spence had helped friend Kya Monee with her audition before he passed away in a car crash in October 2022.

We send our condolences to his loved ones." Monee opened up about Spence's death during the episode of American Idol, telling the cameras: "Losing Willie was very, very hard for me, I'm still trying to cope with that. I've lost some people in my life and when you go to sing you just sing like Willie's still here," added Bryan. "That performance was so emotional, so heartfelt, so divinely guided in the glorious name of our dear brother, Willie. But we also feel connected together because you were authentic, just like he was." "Three days before he passed, Willie was telling me, 'You have to go back.

Kya Monée's 2023 'American Idol' audition, a heartfelt tribute to late contestant Willie Spence, made everyone in the room emotional on the premiere.

“He passed in a tragic car accident and I’m still trying to cope with that.” “What you’ve given us was everything we’ve been trying to tell all of these kids,” he said. “It was on another level. “That performance was so emotional, so heartfelt, so divinely guided in the glorious name of our dear brother Willie.” The song that I’m singing today is a song that we picked together. “We grew a very, very close friendship …