Celebrity Offspring and Relatives Who Have Competed on American Idol
American Idol has become a landmark television platform for aspiring artists over its 23-year run, featuring many contestants with famous family ties.
Numerous auditioners, from siblings of music legends to the offspring of Hollywood elites, have attempted to find their own paths to stardom on Idol. While some smoothly advanced through auditions, others faced the disappointment of not receiving that coveted golden ticket to Hollywood. As season 23 unfolds, singer Brian Littrell‘s son, Baylee Littrell, takes the stage to audition.
Read on for tales of Idol contenders who added a dash of celebrity sparkle to the competition:
Baylee Littrell
In February 2025, Baylee, who is the 22-year-old son of Backstreet Boy Littrell, announced on Instagram his plans to audition for the upcoming season of Idol. He urged his followers to “watch the season premiere” on March 9 to see if he could impress judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood.
Brian spoke to NBC’s TODAY and shared that Baylee is prepared for the challenge, having grown up amidst the global fame of the Backstreet Boys.
“He was texting me just last night, saying, ‘Dad, how do you do this? It’s tough work,’” Brian recalled on February 14. “He’s really been putting in the effort, and I’m incredibly proud of him. This experience has given him a new perspective on what this entails.”
Brian continued: “He has this funny story about being in a convenience store and spotting the Millennium album displayed among various CDs. He picked it up and exclaimed, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s my dad!’ This was when he was around 7 or 8 years old.”
Baylee launched his second original music collection, named EP Vol. One, in September 2022.
Emmy Russell
During her season 22 audition, Russell shared with judge Katy Perry that her grandmother was the iconic country music singer Loretta Lynn. Lynn, who passed away at the age of 90 in October 2022, was a beloved member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2013.
“To the world, she’s one of the greatest country singers ever, but to me, she’s just Grandma,” Russell expressed to Idol viewers.
After successfully passing the audition with her original song “Skinny,” Russell reached the Top 5 before being eliminated alongside Triston Harper just a week before the Idol finals in May 2024. Following her exit, she gratefully acknowledged her fans for their support throughout the competition.
“I truly feel thankful. I may not have made it to the Top 3, but… that was part of God’s plan. It’s funny because right before my elimination, I felt God had whispered to me, saying, ‘Emmy, America might not pick you, but I have chosen you,’” Russell shared on Instagram.
Nikko Smith
Nikko was among the first celebrity relatives to gain attention on-screen, achieving ninth place in American Idol‘s fourth season in 2005. As the son of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, he impressed judge Simon Cowell with his rendition of Stevie Wonder‘s “All I Do” during his audition.
Ozzie noted that children of celebrities often face “extra pressure” to follow in their parents’ footsteps during a conversation with St. Louis Magazine.
“I don’t believe it’s right to impose that on your child,” Ozzie argued.
In October 2006, Nikko took the stage to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Game 4 of the World Series at Busch Stadium, where his father Ozzie played for 14 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jordin Sparks
The daughter of former NFL players Phillippi Sparks, Jordin captured hearts and attention when she triumphed on Idol at just 17 years old during season 6. Phillippi told Sports Illustrated in 2007 that he welcomed the spotlight on his daughter over his own football career.
“As a father, your ultimate desire is for your children to surpass you, and that’s exactly what happened,” he stated. “Being known as Jordin Sparks’s dad will have a much longer-lasting impact than being Phillippi Sparks, the football player.”
Phillippi humorously suggested he might have played a more significant role in Jordin’s Idol win than most watchers would assume.
“I was singing from third grade through 12th grade. My mother had us involved in choir. I can carry a tune. I might have contributed to Jordin’s rhythmic talent,” he joked.
Jordin successfully transitioned her Idol victory into over two million sales of her debut album in 2007 and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 2008 with “No Air,” her collaboration with Chris Brown. Later, she showcased her dancing prowess on Dancing With the Stars season 31 in 2022 and appeared in Broadway productions such as In the Heights and Waitress.
Claudia Conway
Claudia faced considerable scrutiny during her American Idol audition in 2021 as the daughter of President Donald Trump‘s advisor Kellyanne Conway and critic George Conway. The then-16-year-old Claudia advanced to Hollywood after impressing skeptical judges Perry and Richie with her renditions of Rihanna‘s “Love on the Brain” and Adele‘s “When We Were Young,” but was eliminated prior to the live shows.
Claudia responded on TikTok to allegations that her Idol audition was a mere publicity stunt for the ABC show.
“Music has always been a cornerstone of my life, and I’ve been singing my entire life. I play roughly eight instruments and have been doing this since I was a toddler,” she affirmed. “They happened to see a funny video I posted of me singing and asked if I wanted to audition, and of course, I said yes. Who wouldn’t? So, despite what everyone thinks, this is not a publicity gimmick; music is my true passion.”
Since her stint on American Idol, Claudia has pursued endeavors in music, modeling, and political advocacy. Notably, she humorously criticized her mother’s phrase “alternative facts” during the initial Trump administration, referring to it as “definitely not a slay.”
Alex Preston
Alex, a singer-songwriter, gained recognition on Idol‘s 13th season in 2014. Throughout the competition, it was revealed that he was the cousin of celebrated country artist Jo Dee Messina.
He captivated the judges during his Salt Lake City audition with his original track “Fairytales,” ultimately finishing third behind winner Caleb Johnson and runner-up Jena Irene. Messina expressed her pride on social media upon learning he’d performed an original song for his audition.
“American Idol. My cousin Alex Preston is gonna be on! He’s singing original material. That’s gutsy,” she tweeted just before the 2014 premiere of Idol.
Post-Idol, Preston penned songs for Messina and supported her crowdfunding effort for her 2014 album Me, successfully exceeding the goal of raising $100,000. His self-titled debut solo album was launched in 2015, followed by A Work in Progress in 2018.
Jane Carrey
Hollywood icon Jim Carrey was Jane’s most significant supporter when she graced the stage of American Idol‘s 11th season in 2012. Jane captivated viewers with her tale of balancing her love for music and motherhood.
“First and foremost, I’m a mom. I’ve been waitressing on and off for about six years and pursuing my music,” she shared with Idol enthusiasts in her introductory video. “Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I participated in school plays and always loved being on stage.”
Jane acknowledged the challenges of establishing her identity under the towering presence of her renowned father.
“Having the name [Carrey] definitely has its pros and cons. It creates an expectation to excel,” she remarked. “I feel there’s pressure to make a mark.”
Jane reached Hollywood Week on Idol, but unfortunately was cut before the live performances. She later contributed music to her father’s 2014 film Dumb and Dumber To and appeared in his series Kidding.
Lara Johnston
The daughter of Doobie Brothers guitarist and vocalist Tom Johnston showcased her talent early during American Idol‘s 10th season in 2011. Lara auditioned in San Francisco with a reinterpreted version of Stevie Wonder’s “All I Do,” receiving unanimous “yeses” from judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson. Unfortunately, Lara was eliminated during the Hollywood round.
Her time on Idol marked not her first experience with reality television; in 2008, she finished fifth on Rock the Cradle, a show highlighting the children of famous musicians. Lara has continued her musical journey, including work as a background vocalist for Gwen Stefani and Neil Young.
Ricco Barrino
Sometimes, Idol success runs in the family! Season 3 champion Fantasia Barrino‘s older brother Ricco auditioned for the competition in season 7. With his rendition of Sam Cooke’s soulful anthem “A Change Is Gonna Come,” he split the judges’ opinions but ultimately did not make the cut.
Ricco later signed with T.I.‘s Grand Hustle Records and collaborated with hip-hop legends Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Young Dolph, and his sister Fantasia. He released the single “Only One” in 2024.
Michael Castro
Season 7 participant Jason Castro‘s brother Michael had a promising start in Idol season 9, impressing with his a cappella performance of Gavin DeGraw‘s “In Love With A Girl.” Michael advanced to Hollywood but was eliminated following a dispute with fellow contestants during the group auditions, claiming he was unwell and unable to showcase his full abilities.
Since leaving Idol, Michael has self-released his music and collaborated with his brother on a YouTube cover of Demi Lovato‘s “Give Your Heart A Break.”
“We’re both secret fans of Demi. She has an amazing voice,” Jason shared with The Hollywood Reporter back in 2013.
Don’t miss the premiere of American Idol season 23 on Sunday, March 9, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
