Keyla Richardson, a Pensacola native and lifelong gospel singer, is capturing national attention after a show-stopping American Idol Season 24 audition. Her soaring rendition of P!nk’s “Glitter in the Air” left judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood visibly moved, with Bryan brought to tears by the power and range of her voice.
Richardson has been singing in local churches since age five, though she says it wasn’t until high school that she fully recognized the impact of her gift. Now 29, she balances life as a gospel artist, music teacher, and devoted mother to her son, Drew.
Her résumé is already impressive. In 2019, Richardson reached the top four on BET’s gospel competition Sunday Best, earning praise from judges and audiences alike. She went on to release her 2020 EP So Good, whose title track became her first No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart. The project even caught the attention of actor Denzel Washington, who revealed he listened to it daily on his commute.
Richardson has also stepped into acting, starring opposite Vivica A. Fox in the 2022 film Due Season, where she portrayed a young singer relying on gospel music to overcome loss and hardship. The role sparked a new passion she hopes to continue exploring.
During her American Idol audition, Richardson’s son Drew charmed the judges as well, singing “God Only Knows” by For King & Country and sharing a sweet moment with Underwood. Now armed with a Golden Ticket, Richardson is headed to Hollywood Week in Nashville, ready to continue a journey defined by faith, perseverance, and a voice that’s impossible to ignore.