Before announcingChayce Beckham as the crowned winnerof season 4, theAmerican Idolfinale was full of star-studded performances — but one familiar face was missing: Arthur Gunn.
During Sunday’s grand finale of the ABC singing competition show, longtime hostRyan Seacrestannounced that the season 3 runner-up wouldnotbe joiningSheryl Crowfor a duet as previously announced and scheduled — and judgesLionel Richie,Katy PerryandLuke Bryanhad some thoughts on the situation.
“We don’t even know what happened,” Richie, 71, told PEOPLE during a post-show interview.
“It’s a spicy show,” added Perry, 36. “It’s a live 3-hour show and quite honestly we’ve had a very colorful season. Curveballs galore.”
“It’s not the first time we’ve had to operate on the fly,” Bryan, 44, responded. “[Graham DeFranco] (a Top 16 contestant) was there to support Chayce so we’re pulling him out of the crowd and we’re like, ‘Get up and sing with Sheryl Crow’ and he was like, ‘Hell yeah.’
A source close to the situation told PEOPLE that Gunn, who returned this season after winning this season’s comeback competition, chose not to perform last minute.
Gunn has yet to address the reasoning behind his absence.
ABC
The singer’s absence wasn’t the only “curveball” this season faced.
On April, Top 12 contestantWyatt Pike dropped out of the competitiondue to “personal reasons.” One month later, Top 5 contestantCaleb Kennedy exitedthe show due to a leaked controversial video.
Despite the bumps in the road, the season came to a joyful end as Beckham was crowned winner of Season 4.
ABC/Getty
“I’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs,” Beckham, a heavy machinery operator who has long battled substance abuse, said during his audition. “It’s been quite the roller coaster. My whole life kind of flipped upside down and I moved back home with my parents.”
On Sunday, the judges praised Beckham — whose original song “23” hit No. 1 on the country charts immediately after its release — for his growth thus far.
“Sometimes God has to turn up the volume on your life to see if you’re listening,” Perry told Beckham. “You’re listening. Keep listening. Stay the guy from Apple Valley because your world is about to change.”
“Watching your confidence, I can’t imagine what you’re going to look like in five years,” added Bryan.
source: people.com
