Hollywood, Calif. – Cherokee County has a vested interest in the latest season of American Idol with one its own on stage.
Braden Rumfelt has been participating in season 24 of the popular talent contest since early January – and his run has him all the way into the top 20. From his initial auditions to a highlight in Hawaii during the Ohana Round, before live voting began Monday, Rumfelt said the experience has been amazing.
“I started in maybe June of last year and knew I’d be performing since July, so it’s been a period of waiting and excitement,” he told the Cherokee Scout.
“My friend Noah Rogers had said I should try out for the show, and then he actually signed me up without my even knowing. He and his fiancé had sent in some of my videos I’d posted on social media and TikTok, then Idol officials contacted me. From there, we did a number of Zoom auditions to seal my spot.”
That “we” includes his fraternal twin brother, Kellen, who accompanied him on those virtual auditions as well as on his first televised audition for the panel of judges, which includes country star Luke Bryan, pop legend Lionel Richie and fourth season American Idol winner Carrie Underwood.
Thedare to dream Rogers took upon himself for Rumfelt helped establish a dream that started when Rumfelt was just old enough to “hold a guitar.”
“My dad had guitars in our hands at church when we were pretty young,” he said. “We probably didn’t sound very good, but it created a spark for us that turned into a passion. We’re so thankful he did that for us.”
Their father, Chris, is pastor at Hayesville Free Will Baptist Church, and rooted the family in gospel singing early. Their mother, Crystal, has always supported both their athletic and musical endeavors.
That initial spark turned into a blaze when Rumfelt had major surgery after playing sports for much of his youth.
“My body had just been through a lot of injuries. I felt I always had to be practiced up and finally, my body just couldn’t take it anymore,” he said. “While music had always been there for me, I think it was God’s plan that music become my purpose instead of baseball.”
The 22-year-old went from jock to rock when he realized his collegiate athletic career wouldn’t happen. Rumfelt found out about a congenital condition where his “legs are naturally in the wrong position, and I needed surgery and needed two lower leg realignments,” according to his Idol introduction video,” he said.
“That stopped my dream of being an athlete. But I feel better when I am singing and my brother was my voice of encouragement.”
That encouragement led Braden to be able to focus on his vocals.
“I’ve always had my voice, and that’s where I’m most comfortable,” he said. “My enjoyment of singing and sharing music comes out best when I do my thing.”
That thing got him some initial reactions of “you may win this thing” from Luke Bryan on his second round performance. Rumfelt said he didn’t even realize Bryan had given such high praise after his performance because of the deafening roar of the crowd in the venue. When he watched that episode, “I just thought: Oh my gosh! He said that! How cool.”
While western North Carolina and north Georgia are voting for Rumfelt, he’s thankful for this groundswell of support from his family, to the various posts on social media and even the Idol “watch parties” at local watering hole Mountain Vale Lodge.
“I just want everyone to know how grateful I am for the prayers, for the support,” he said. “I can’t do this without everyone here urging me on.”
That urging is also the backbone of Rumfelt’s recent spate of local performances. From singing the national anthem at Andrews and Hayesville high school basketball games to Western Carolina University and performing last weekend at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds’ Anderson Hall, where he first played when he was 12 years old.
These local performances have been “something to give back to everyone who has supported me, who keeps me going, who helps me live this dream,” Rumfelt said of being back in the area to showcase his talents.
“I couldn’t do it without my family, of course, but also everyone who has become a fan and follower. When I started on social media I didn’t have many followers and I kind of stopped posting my music. Then, around 2020 I began posting more and now, the rest is history.”
Rumfelt gives praise to God and His plan to pursue music instead of athletics and for his family’s support in his American Idol journey.
“My mom said, ‘Hey, not many people get to do this. I don’t know anyone who’s ever done this. Just go and have fun.’ And my dad was just thrilled and excited and said, ‘That’s amazing.’ And to get to have them with me at the performances and in Hawaii has been such a blessing.”
The blessings are also in tune with Kellen’s part in the journey: he acts as Braden’s booking agent and number one fan, encouraging him and “learning every song I ask him to play and being there for me every step of the way. He’s such a gifted singer and musician as well. He takes over for me playing because I love to sing more than play.”
Rumfelt’s songs have been of particular interest considering his gospel roots, but he doesn’t like to limit himself to any genre of music.
“If I love a song, I’m going to sing it,” he said. “Whether it’s sacred or secular, if it’s a good song, a song I love, then it’s mine to sing.”
Rumfelt added that his choice of Little Big Town’s 2014 song “Girl Crush” for his audition may have turned some heads, but “I like to think of songs that normally wouldn’t be sung from the male perspective. That’s where music gets exciting, and I can do my thing to open up the vocals in a way that hasn’t been done before. And I knew when I began picking songs for Idol, I wanted to stand out and bring something new to the table for each next step.”
Those next steps are crucial. While Rumfelt has made it into the top 20, he needs voting to help him see through this journey to his dream. His other song choices have been Sam Smith’s “I’m Not The Only One” for Hollywood Week and the Alicia Keys scorcher “If I Ain’t Got You” for the first Ohana Round from Hawaii.
“I just want to again thank everyone for their prayers, support and now the voting phase. In my musical philosophy, I want to give back to everyone. For them to enjoy the songs I sing,” he said.
“And I know God has used this time for me to help share the gospel. I speak of Him every chance I get, before I sing and after.”
That sharing of his faith helps him both stay upon and enjoy this path, because Rumfelt said no matter what the final results, “This is my life and dream, and I’m going to follow it wherever it leads.”
And that path leads to Los Angeles next Monday, where he and the other contestants will find out the voting results live on air.