Another season of American Idol has come and gone, with viewers crowning Jamal Roberts as the first Black male winner since season 2’s Ruben Studdard. Kicking off in 2001, the show ushered in its 23rd season with legendary season 4 champ Carrie Underwood joining Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie at the judges’ table. Like Roberts, the season 23 finalists are now looking toward the next step in their musical careers. Recently, one contestant hosted a songwriting retreat at her Virginia home that ended in a hospital stay for another Idol finalist.
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‘Idol’ Contestant Suffers Medical Emergency
Josh King emerged as an early favorite on American Idol. With stunning renditions of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and Celine Dion’s “All By Myself,” the 24-year-old airport pianist from Charlotte, North Carolina, made an impressive run that ended at the Top 8. Wanting to maintain the friendships he formed during his time on the show, King recently made the five-hour drive to fellow season 23 hopeful Nina Daig’s home in Virginia for a songwriting retreat.
While excited to get to work and reunite with his fellow Idol hopefuls, King “started to feel a bit iffy” after the first two days. On the third morning, the singer-songwriter awoke “entirely unable to move,” he wrote in a June 9 social media post.
Daig’s husband rushed King, now in “excruciating pain,” to the nearest emergency room, where he spent the remainder of the weekend. “My heart rate was a steady 125-130 bpm for most of Saturday (resting), and any ounce of movement hurt like hell,” he wrote.
Doctors officially diagnosed him with SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome), likely caused by a combination of several factors, including dehydration, fatigue, stress, and heat exhaustion.
“Hell of a week,” King concluded.
[RELATED: Josh King Joins Jessica Simpson For Triumphant ‘American Idol’ Finale Performance]
‘American Idol’ Season 23 Contestants Rally Around One of Their Own
Following his release from the hospital Monday (June 9), Josh King took to social media to share photos of his American Idol buddies, including Grayson Torrence and Samantha Ray, visiting him during his stay.
“Idol family was there for me once again when I needed them,” he wrote, adding a smiley face emoticon.
Several season 23 contestants expressed well wishes in the comments, including Top 3 finalist Breanna Nix. “oh no! I’m happy you’re out!! Please rest though!!!” she wrote.
Added Torrence, “just glad you’re okay we better get breakfast tomorrow!”
Featured image by Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images
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