American Idol Sparks Fan Outrage After Awarding Golden Ticket to Former The Voice Finalist
American Idol is facing backlash from longtime viewers after granting a Golden Ticket to a contestant who previously competed — and nearly won — on NBC’s The Voice.
Season 24 of the ABC singing competition premiered Monday night with auditions filmed in Nashville, Tennessee. While the two-hour episode showcased only a portion of the hopeful performers, eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed a familiar face that sparked debate online.
That singer was Jacquie Lee, a vocalist well known to fans of The Voice. Lee competed as a teenager on Christina Aguilera’s team during her season of the NBC show, where she impressed judges with a performance of Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black and ultimately finished as the season’s runner-up.
More than a decade later, Lee returned to reality television — this time stepping in front of American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie. Her dramatic rendition of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ classic I Put a Spell on You earned immediate praise and secured her a Golden Ticket to Hollywood.
Fans Accuse Idol of “Recycling” Contestants
Despite the judges’ enthusiasm, not everyone at home was thrilled. Social media users and Reddit commenters criticized the show for allowing contestants with significant reality-TV experience to compete again.
“What’s going on with American Idol recycling singers from other competition shows?” one viewer asked in a widely shared Reddit thread.
Fans also pointed to previous examples, including Thunderstorm Artis, who appeared on both The Voice and American Idol, and Drew Ryn, who competed on The X Factor USA before reaching the Top 14 on Idol last season.
Others pushed back, arguing that crossover contestants have been part of the franchise for years.
“This has always happened,” one user wrote. “Even in the early days, Idol contestants had been on shows like Star Search before.”
Another commenter suggested the industry has simply evolved:
“Back in 2002, you went on Idol to become the next Elvis. Now people go on these shows hoping for exposure, even if it’s just a couple minutes on TV.”
Some viewers defended Lee outright, noting that her The Voice season aired more than ten years ago and that many current Idol fans likely wouldn’t recognize her.
“At this point, that’s pretty niche knowledge,” one fan said.
Ratings, Relevance, and a Changing Show
Others speculated that the decision may be part of a broader strategy to boost ratings as American Idol continues to adapt after more than 20 years on the air.
The show already underwent a major shake-up last season when Carrie Underwood joined the judging panel, replacing Katy Perry.
Whether the inclusion of familiar faces helps or hurts American Idol remains a hot topic among fans — but one thing is clear: the debate over who deserves a shot at the Golden Ticket isn’t going away anytime soon.