As the competition narrows on the currently-airing season of “American Idol,” eliminations have been hitting the show’s fans – and its hopeful contestants – harder and harder with each week that passes, especially now that the live shows have begun.
Most recently, 20-year-old Jesse Findling, a New York native who found himself in the Top 12 of the currently-airing season, was among the contestants eliminated during last week’s “90s Judges’ Song Contest” episode.
After leaving Hollywood and returning to his hometown in Massapequa Park, Findling opened up about what’s next for his music career following his departure from the hit ABC singing competition.
Jesse Teases New Project After ‘Idol’ Elimination
DisneySpeaking to a local publication after arriving back in Long Island on Thursday (Apr. 10), Jesse revealed that, despite his elimination, he’s “optimistic” about his future in the music industry, as well as being excited about the “new opportunities” that have already begun to open up to him after his time on “American Idol.”
“A lot of fun things are going to happen in the next few months,” Findling told National Today in an April 11 interview.
In the meantime, Jesse will return to his normal life as a Junior biology and musical theatre student at New York’s Binghamton University.
Findling Refers to His ‘Idol’ Experience as ‘Super Healing’
Jesse kicked off his “American Idol” journey by earning a golden ticket to Hollywood during the Season 24 premiere in Nashville. His audition – a rendition of former “Idol” contestant Benson Boone’s “In The Stars” – notably received a standing ovation from judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.
“To see them all standing up was insane,” Findling told Binghamton News. “I just kind of poured my heart out, and to see them stand up and say all these amazing things was unexpected. Going into Hollywood Week, it made me feel more confident.”
He added that, growing up with a stutter, he often felt self-conscious about speaking in front of others. Singing, on the other hand, offered him a way to express himself freely and without fear of judgement.
Disney“Singing has always been something I’ve loved because I don’t stutter when I sing,” he revealed. “It was always like an escape for me and a way for me to say things without worrying about what people were going to think.”
Jesse added that being able to open up about his stutter on the show was “super healing.”
“Knowing that so many people who stutter are watching my audition and seeing themselves in me makes me happy that I did the show in the first place,” he continued.
A Look Back at Jesse Findling’s Best ‘Idol’ Performances
Findling’s “American Idol” journey later featured show-stopping performances of Adele’s “Love in the Dark” during the Hollywood Round and Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” during the series’ first-ever ‘Ohana Round.
In the live shows, Jesse continued to impress the judges and the fans at home with his rendition of Rascal Flatts’ “Bless The Broken Road” for “Songs of Faith” week before being eliminated after his cover of Oasis’ “Wonderwall” received the lowest number of fan votes during the “90s Judges’ Song Contest.”
While Jesse is no longer in the running to become the next “American Idol” champion, the Top 11 singers will return to the stage TONIGHT, Monday, April 13 at 8:00pm ET on ABC. Be sure to tune in as the remaining competitors take part in this season’s “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night.”
