Will a Hoosier be the next American Idol? Starting now, the choice is officially in your hands.
Fishers native Kyndal Inskeep will perform in the top 20 competition on the March 16 episode of “American Idol,” and for the first time this season, the public will decide the results. Fans can vote for their favorites on social media or by the traditional text line to determine who stays and who goes for the remainder of the season.
The episode airs at 8 p.m. on ABC and will be available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
How to vote on ‘American Idol’
Voting for the March 16 episode is open from 8 p.m., when the episode airs, to 6 a.m. the following day. Viewers can cast their votes on the “American Idol” Instagram, TikTok and Facebook accounts by commenting the name of their choice on the page’s pinned voting posts. One comment counts for one vote, and viewers can vote for a contestant to 10 times.
The show’s traditional text voting is also open. Viewers can text their preferred contestant’s assigned number, which will be announced at the beginning of the episode, to 21523. One text counts for one vote, and viewers can send up to 10 texts in support of each contestant. Online voting is also available at americanidol.com/vote.
Hoosier Kyndal Inskeep’s ‘Ohana Round showing landed her a platinum ticket
Inskeep, a 2015 Heritage Christian graduate, left the March 2 ‘Ohana Round on a high note. After dedicating her original song “Woman of Me” to her mom — who was in the audience to watch her perform — Inskeep snagged one of three “platinum tickets” up for grabs: the coveted prize that guaranteed a place in the top 20. A voting body of music industry personnel, contestants’ family members and the competitors themselves decided the platinum ticket recipients, while the judging panel rounded out the rest of the top 20 at the end of the March 9 episode.
“Hearing my name, it was huge,” Inskeep told IndyStar. “I’m still soaking it in.”
Inskeep’s big moment came after her Hollywood Week performance of “Human” by The Killers, where the judges commended her for opting for a more upbeat pop-rock song than the more acoustic-leaning music she releases on her own. Inskeep auditioned in Nashville with “Prayer of a Trying Daughter,” an original song.
In an interview on March 12, Inskeep said she hoped her ‘Ohana Round momentum will help her surge through the top 20. She’s excited to showcase more versatility in her song choices if she makes it to the live shows, where contestants cover popular songs that correspond with each week’s theme.
Inskeep isn’t a stranger to performing professionally —she’s been releasing music as Kyndal since 2020 — but she said the “American Idol” stage brings a special kind of pressure.
“Even as an artist that’s been on the road and done the thing, it’s a little bit different on the show because you only have one shot,” Inskeep said. “It’s you in your raw. How your voice sounds, your performance, whole nine.”
What does the rest of season 24 of ‘American Idol’ look like?
Season 24 of “American Idol” looks a little different than previous iterations. The signature “you’re going to Hollywood!” meant “you’re going to Nashville!” this time around, with the Hollywood Round taking place in Tennessee. The new ‘Ohana Round threw a wrench in the traditional semifinal proceedings with its one-time voting panel, and the next two Hawaii episodes will be determined by the public vote rather than the judging panel. For clarity’s sake, here’s how things will play out going forward:
The top 20 contestants will perform in two groups of 10 at the Aulani Resort on Oahu for the next two episodes airing March 16 and March 23. These episodes are pre-recorded. The public votes on these performances, and those results decide who advances to the live shows. The traditional live stage performances will follow the Hawaii episodes, and the public vote will eliminate contestants each week until only the season’s winner left standing.
Who is Kyndal Inskeep?
Inskeep is a 29-year-old singer-songwriter and Fishers native who now resides in Nashville. A 2015 graduate of Heritage Christian, she’s been releasing music as Kyndal since 2020 and has written songs for pop artist JVKE and Christian artists One House Music and Chandler Moore from the Maverick City Music worship collective.
After Inskeep’s “American Idol” audition in Nashville, Underwood told her she’s “got stuff,” and Richie said she has “artist written all over (her).”
Inskeep previously appeared on season 17 of “The Voice” and — after earning chair turns from coaches Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani — made it to the top 20. She landed on Stefani’s team and advanced to the Live Playoffs.
How to watch ‘American Idol’
“American Idol” airs Mondays on ABC at 8 p.m. EST. Episodes are available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.
The March 16 episode will feature Inskeep and the rest of the top 20 performing in Hawaii for the public vote, with guests Keke Palmer and Brad Paisley mentoring the contestants. Episodes last two hours.
Contact IndyStar Pop Culture Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@indystar.com. Follow her on X @hmb_1013.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: ‘American Idol’ voting opens tonight. Will this Hoosier get your vote?
Reporting by Heather Bushman, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
