“American Idol” season 24 finalist Keyla Richardson is quite well known in the gospel music community. In fact, her 2020 song, “So Good,” topped the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart.
However, Richardson’s journey on Idol allowed fans to see her versatility beyond gospel music, even as she continued to honor her roots every time she stepped on the stage. After finishing in third place, Richardson is gaining wide recognition and looking to explore genres outside of gospel as she takes her career to new heights following the show.
Keyla Richardson Isn’t Limiting Herself to One Genre After ‘American Idol’
DisneyKeyla Richardson is ready to branch out beyond gospel music. The 29-year-old singer spoke with Pensacola News Journal after her “American Idol” run, where she revealed that while gospel music will always be at the core of who she is as an artist, she’s excited to explore other genres and have fans see a different side of her.
“I’ve always sung gospel music, and now, I’m just open to more. I’m an inspirational person, and everybody just won’t come to where I’m at; I have to go to where they’re at. That’s how I think about it,” she said.
Richardson continued, “I’m just not in the gospel lane anymore. I’m in the country lane, I’m in the pop lane, I’m in the rock lane, the soul lane, you name it. I can do different kinds of stuff, but I’m just really leaning toward pop…I’m just a little bit of everything, I guess.”
However, fans of her gospel sound shouldn’t be too worried that she is totally turning her back on her musical roots. When speaking to Wear News, Richardson shared that it was natural for her to have a hint of a gospel sound in whatever song she sang.
“I think it just naturally comes out with every song that I sing. No matter the genre, no matter what I’m singing, it’s just going to come out. It’s who I am,” she shared.
Richardson Shares If She’ll Return to Teaching in Pensacola
While speaking to the Pensacola News Journal, Richardson was also asked about her career outside of music. During the audition rounds, fans learned that she was a music teacher at the Life Shifting Learning Academy, where she mentored and inspired young students through music.
Richardson shared that since Idol, she will have to put teaching on hold as she navigates this new and amazing opportunity with her music.
“I love my students, I’m always going to visit my students…they’re my kids. As far as right now, my schedule is so busy I don’t see myself being able to even go back to the school and teach the kids,” she said.
“But I can come back and maybe have a program; we can schedule that time,” Richardson added.
Richardson has a line-up of performances this summer, including reuniting with her season 24 finalists, runner-up Jordan McCullough, and winner Hannah Harper at CMA Fest in Nashville on June 3, per TV Insider.
She also returns to her hometown of Pensacola, Florida, to perform at the Saenger Theatre on July 25.
