Thunderstorm Artis, a Top 7 finalist on season 23 of “American Idol,” revealed in a new interview that he actually quit the show after making the Top 24, but producers later convinced him to return.
On January 8, 2026, Artis appeared on the “Consider It Joy” podcast to discuss his experience on TV talent shows, given that he was also the runner-up on season 18 of “The Voice” in 2020. The Hawaiian singer-songwriter revealed that after making it through the audition process and Hollywood Week in 2025, he got nervous about signing ABC’s paperwork and bailed on the show.
Thunderstorm Artis Says ‘American Idol’ Top 24 Typically Sign a Contract With Record Label Before Show Begins Airing
Given that Artis has been releasing songs independently for years, podcast hosts Matt Pelishek and Aaron Pearlman asked him whether he had to sign a music contract with “American Idol” to be on the show.
Artis, who lives in Nashville with his wife and their two sons, explained that “every artist” who survives Hollywood Week and makes the Top 24 must sign a contract before heading to compete at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii.
“When you’re heading to Hawaii, that round is kind of more the pinnacle change where, like, you sign a generic artist and publishing … release on the show,” Artis said. “And that’s typically sometimes even before the show has started to air.”
In 2025, contestants’ performances in Hawaii were filmed in mid-February, but the show didn’t premiere until March 9. In 2026, season 24 is starting much earlier — on January 26 — just as the contestants and judges are arriving in Hawaii to film that round, according to Reel News Hawaii.
Thunderstorm Artis Says Signing Contract Was ‘Terrifying’ Enough to Quit Show
DisneyArtis said on the “Consider It Joy” podcast that contestants are asked to sign a contract with BMG’s 19 Entertainment, the record label that represents and develops “American Idol” artists, explaining that the label wants to be part of a contestant’s success if they do well on the show.
“That can be a very terrifying thing for some artists,” Artis said. “It was pretty terrifying for me because I had built a business already on my music. So to just kind of give it away in the way that it was presented to me at the time was really terrifying.”
He added, “And I don’t know if this is information that should really be out there or not, but I technically — I mean, I love the ‘Idol’ team — I technically left the show at that point.”
Artis said producers “reached out to have me kind of come back,” after which he made it all the way to the Top 7. He did record one song with 19, “I Just Want You To Know,” when the label released singles by the Top 7 finalists.
DisneyAfter the “American Idol” finale, Artis said, the record label had several months to decide which artists they wanted to continue representing, like season 23 winner Jamal Roberts, and others were released from their contracts — including Artis.
“Thankfully, thankfully after the show and after everything wrapped … I was one of the artists who were able to be released from that to be able to do kind of whatever I want to do now,” he said.
Artis noted that overall, he had a wonderful experience on “American Idol,” and that the contestants became a “family.” He also loved getting to know artist-in-residence Jelly Roll, whom he called an “amazing human,” and spent the fall touring with The War and Treaty, with whom he performed on the finale. In March, Artis will head to Australia for his first tour there.
Thanks for your time on idol. You were amazing!!