Joshua Paul Ledet (born April 9, 1992) is an American R&B/gospel singer from Westlake, Louisiana who finished in 3rd place on season 11 of American Idol.
Early Life[]
Ledet, a graduate of Westlake High School, writes songs for and attends The House of Prayer Holiness Church. His musical influences are Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino, James Brown, Luther Vandross, Elton John and Stevie Wonder.
American Idol[]
Ledet had tried out for season 10 but didn't make it past the audition stage. He gave the show another try, this time auditioning for season 11 and making it. He has been frequently been compared to Fantasia Barrino, resulting in him being dubbed "Mantasia". He even received a good luck message from her. Another Idol alum who is a fan of Ledet's is season 6 finalist Melinda Doolittle.
Ledet's vocal style has been often described by some as a throwback to classic R&B and Motown from the 1960s.
Ledet's strong R&B/gospel-flavored vocals and over the top performances have earned him praise from the judges as well as multiple standing ovations from them, which has irked some critics of the show who claim that Ledet didn't deserve some of those standing Os due to some questionable performances. Ledet was eliminated on May 17, 2012, finishing in 3rd place.
Post Idol[]
Ledet was a part of the American Idols Live tour and appeared on several talk shows. Despite not getting a record deal at first after the show, Ledet pushed on and eventually got a deal with Warner Music. His debut single, "Love Can Do", will be released on iTunes on September 18, 2015.
Personal Life[]
One of Ledet's closest friends on the show is Hollie Cavanagh.
Trivia[]
- Ledet's nickname while he was on the show was "Mantasia".
Discography[]
Singles:
- "Love Can Do" (2015)
EPs:
- Joshua Ledet: American Idol Season 11 Highlights (2012)