- For more on his biography/career, see Joshua Ledet/Personal.
Joshua Ledét (born April 9, 1992)[1] was a contestant on Season 11 of American Idol.
Season 10 Audition[]
Joshua's audition was not televised. Due to his fear of flying,[2] his chosen location was nearby New Orleans. He later affirmed that he was rejected at this stage of the competition, quoting the judges' consensus that he "needed another year".[3]
Season 11 Audition[]
Joshua's audition was not televised once again; but a flashback revealed he auditioned in Galveston, having sung "How Do I Live?" by LeAnn Rimes. The complete audition remains unseen, but the unanimous approval and reaction implied that he earned three "yes" votes to proceed.[2]
Hollywood Round[]
Joshua was shown in the second part of Hollywood Week, in a group called '6-7-9' with Kyle Crews, Amber Holcomb, Shannon Magrane, and Brielle Von Hugel, singing "Hit 'Em Up, Style (Oops!)" by Blu Cantrell. Everyone in his group, with the exception of Kyle, advanced. Joshua then sang "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perri for his third round solo performance.[2] Afterwards, he was placed in the first deliberation room, along with Adam Brock, Jen Hirsh, Aaron Marcellus, Erika Van Pelt, Scott Dangerfield, Hallie Day, Cortez Shaw, Amber Holcomb, Chase Likens, Naomi Gillies, Devan Jones, Tenna Torres, Adam Lee Decker, Creighton Fraker, Candice Glover; David Leathers, Jr.; Elise Testone, Johnny Keyser, Lauren Gray, Colton Dixon, and Jermaine Jones, where it was revealed that everyone in the room had advanced.[4]
Las Vegas Round[]
For the 1950s stage, Joshua was shown in a group with Amber Holcomb; Curtis Finch, Jr.; and Shannon Magrane, singing a medley of "At the Hop" by Danny & The Juniors + "Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins/Elvis Presley. Joshua and Shannon advanced, while Curtis and Amber did not. For his final solo performance, he sang "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)" by Patty Griffin. At the Final Judgment, the judges told him that he did enough to become a Top 25 finalist.
Top 25[]
Joshua sang "You Pulled Me Through" by Jennifer Hudson in the semifinals. He received enough votes to place amongst the Top 5 Boys, making him a Top 13 finalist.
Top 13[]
For the Stevie Wonder/Whitney Houston theme, Joshua sang "I Wish" by Wonder. On results night, it was revealed that America's votes landed him in the Bottom 3 of Men (in a split-gendered Bottom 6). However, he was the first male contestant sent back to safety.
Top 11[]
For the Year You Were Born theme, Joshua sang "When a Man Loves a Woman" via Michael Bolton (originally by Percy Sledge). On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 10[]
For the Billy Joel theme, Joshua sang "She's Got a Way". On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 9[]
For the Personal Idols theme, Joshua sang Badfinger's "Without You", as rendered by his idol, Mariah Carey. He, DeAndre Brackensick, and Heejun Han also performed a medley as a trio, in a tribute to Michael Jackson, singing: "The Lady in My Life", "Rock with You", and "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)". On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 8[]
For the 1980s theme, Joshua sang "If You Don't Know Me by Now" by Simply Red (originally by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes). He also did a duet with Jessica Sanchez, singing "I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)" by Aretha Franklin and George Michael. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 7[]
For the 2010s theme, Joshua sang "Runaway Baby" by Bruno Mars. He and Jessica Sanchez, once again, were now joined by Hollie Cavanagh as a trio, singing "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" by Kelly Clarkson. On results night, it was revealed that America's votes landed him in the Bottom 3. However, he was the first contestant sent back to safety. Due to the Judges' Save being utilized on Jessica, the Top 7 remained intact for another week.
Top 7 Redux[]
For the Now & Then theme, Joshua sang "I Believe" by Fantasia, as his song for the former; and "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke, as his song for the latter. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 6[]
For the Queen theme, Joshua sang "Crazy Little Thing Called Love". For the free choice round, he sang "Ready for Love" by india.arie. The Top 6 also performed a medley of Queen hits with Brian May and Roger Taylor. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 5[]
For the 1960s theme, Joshua sang "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations. For the British Pop theme, he sang "To Love Somebody" by The BeeGees. Joshua also did a duet with Phillip Phillips, singing "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 4[]
For the California Music theme, Joshua sang the "You Raise Me Up" version by Josh Groban. For the Songs They Wish They'd Written theme, he sang "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown.[5] Joshua also did another duet with Phillip Phillips, singing "This Love" by Maroon 5. And the entire Top 4 (also including Jessica Sanchez and Hollie Cavanagh) performed as a quartet, singing "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner. On results night, it was revealed that he received enough votes from America and was declared "safe" for that week.
Top 3[]
For the Judges' Choice round, Joshua sang "I'd Rather Go Blind" by Etta James (as selected by Randy Jackson). For the Contestant's Choice round, he sang "Imagine" by John Lennon. For the Mentor's Choice round, Jimmy Iovine selected "No More Drama" by Mary J. Blige for Joshua. On results night, it was revealed that he did not receive enough votes from America that week, and thus was eliminated in third place, just shy of the Season 11 Grand Finale.
List of Performances[]
Stage | Song | Artist | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Audition | "How Do I Live?" | LeAnn Rimes | Advanced |
Hollywood | Not Shown On Television | Advanced | |
"Hit 'em Up, Style (Oops!)" (w/ Brielle Von Hugel, Kyle Crews, Amber Holcomb, & Shannon Magrane) |
Blu Cantrell | Advanced | |
"Jar of Hearts" | Christina Perri | Advanced | |
Las Vegas | "At the Hop" / "Blue Suede Shoes" [medley] (w/ Shannon Magrane; Amber Holcomb; & Curtis Finch, Jr.) |
Danny & The Juniors / Carl Perkins |
Advanced |
Final Judgment | "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)" | Patty Griffin | Top 25 |
Top 25 (Boys) | "You Pulled Me Through" | Jennifer Hudson | Top 13 |
Top 13 | "I Wish" | Stevie Wonder | Bottom 3 (Men) |
Top 11 | "When a Man Loves a Woman" | Michael Bolton | Safe |
Top 10 | "She's Got a Way" | Billy Joel | Safe |
Top 9 | "The Lady in My Life" / "Rock with You" / "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" [medley] (w/ DeAndre Brackensick & Heejun Han) |
Michael Jackson | Safe |
"Without You" | Mariah Carey | ||
Top 8 | "If You Don't Know Me by Now" | Simply Red | Safe |
"I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)" (w/ Jessica Sanchez) |
Aretha Franklin & George Michael | ||
Top 7A | "Runaway Baby" | Bruno Mars | Bottom 3 |
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" (w/ Hollie Cavanagh & Jessica Sanchez) |
Kelly Clarkson | ||
Top 7B | "I Believe" | Fantasia | Safe |
"A Change Is Gonna Come" | Sam Cooke | ||
Top 6 | "Fat-Bottomed Girls" / "Another One Bites the Dust" / "We Will Rock You" / "We Are the Champions" [medley] (w/ Jessica Sanchez, Hollie Cavanagh, Skylar Laine, Elise Testone, & Phillip Phillips) |
Queen | Safe |
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" | |||
"Ready for Love" | indie.arie | ||
Top 5 | "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (w/ Phillip Phillips) |
The Righteous Brothers | Safe |
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" | The Temptations | ||
"To Love Somebody" | The BeeGees | ||
Top 4 | "You Raise Me Up" | Josh Groban | Safe |
"This Love" (w/ Phillip Phillips) | Maroon 5 | ||
"Waiting for a Girl Like You" (w/ Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez, & Hollie Cavanagh) |
Foreigner | ||
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World" | James Brown | ||
Top 3 | "I'd Rather Go Blind" | Etta James | Eliminated |
"Imagine" | John Lennon | ||
"No More Drama" | Mary J. Blige |
Trivia[]
- Joshua is the youngest of eight siblings.[6]
- His first cousin, Brandon, sings and plays accordion in a zydeco band.[7]
- Joshua previously auditioned for Season 10, but failed to advance past the Judges' Audition stage.[3]
- Joshua received a record number of 18 standing ovations for distinct live performances.[8]
- He was nicknamed 'Mantasia' on the show, due to his gospel sound and effusive performances, reminiscent of Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino.[9]
- On the Top 11 performance show, Ryan Seacrest surprised Joshua with a 60-pound crawfish boil, sent by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board via Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and assistance from Idol judge, and fellow Louisiana native, Randy Jackson.[10][11]
Quick Links[]
- Joshua Ledet on Twitter (X)
- Joshua Ledet on YouTube Music
- Joshua Ledet's AI Performances on YouTube (Partial)
- Joshua Ledet on Facebook
- Joshua Ledet on Spotify
- Joshua Ledet on Instagram
- Joshua Ledet at SoNo Recording Group
Season 11 |
Finalists |
·Phillip Phillips ·Jessica Sanchez ·Joshua Ledet ·Hollie Cavanagh ·Skylar Laine ·Elise Testone ·Colton Dixon ·DeAndre Brackensick ·Heejun Han ·Erika Van Pelt ·Shannon Magrane ·Jermaine Jones ·Jeremy Rosado |
Semifinalists |
·Reed Grimm ·Jen Hirsh ·Brielle Von Hugel —— ·Adam Brock ·Baylie Brown ·Hallie Day ·Creighton Fraker ·Eben Franckewitz ·Haley Johnsen ·Chase Likens ·Aaron Marcellus ·Chelsea Sorrell |
References[]
- ↑ https://www.fox8live.com/story/17396364/joshua-ledet-birthday-week-performance/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH2c-a-dOFs
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20120514092105/http://theadvocate.com/utility/homepagestories/2174448-129/la.-teen-competes-on-american
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCXpvtBPsvY
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIWjPf145H8
- ↑ https://www.americanpress.com/2012/03/08/ledets-family-cheers-on-american-idol-contestant/
- ↑ https://www.kplctv.com/story/17216262/music-runs-in-the-ledet-family/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120614065357/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1685368/american-idol-joshua-ledet-jessica-sanchez.jhtml
- ↑ https://mix931fm.com/joshua-ledet-running-away-american-idol/
- ↑ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/louisiana-seafood-board-sends-crawfish-to-american-idol-142820255.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpZXG8tQkP0