Man, what a tragedy..
If you watched American Idol last year (and even if you didn’t because that show kind of sucks), you’re probably familiar with Caleb Kennedy.
The 16-year-old (at the time) proved to be talented beyond his years, performing impressive renditions of Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton and more.
However, his career in country music might be over before it started.
According to ABC News, the 17-year-old was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and was charged with felony driving under the influence resulting in death.
Kennedy allegedly ran off the road in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, and crashed into a garage around 12:30pm. Two people were taken to the hospital, however a man inside the garage was killed in the accident.
Felony DUI resulting in death carries a mandatory imprisonment of not less than 1 year, and as many as 25 years.
Caleb Kennedy Leaves American Idol
Caleb had a promising start on the show, but he wound up leaving the show after an old Snapchat video resurfaced of him posing with a buddy who was wearing a “white hood.”
His mom said they were 12 at the time and had just watched the movie The Strangers: Prey at Night, so that’s what they were imitating.
He later opened up about the incident, and his experiences on the show with the Spartanburg-Herald Journal:
“You think it’s all going to be fun, and a lot of it is, but it will slap you in the face real quickly. I wasn’t ready for it.
There’s no way to emotionally prepare for ‘Idol’ because no one is ready for it, no matter how you prepare. But I don’t regret it, and I did love it.
On ‘Idol,’ that wasn’t me. That world is so different. Now that I’m home, I try to be me but I’m also scared of someone videoing me when I go to Academy or Wal-Mart. You have to worry about things like that now.”
Kennedy also released an EP of several of his originals back in March, and most recently, a song called “Raised On Dirt” in September.
