Tecumseh gospel singer Faith Rhodes shares 'American Idol' audition experience

TECUMSEH — Local gospel singer Faith Rhodes is back from making it all the way to Las Vegas auditioning before "American Idol" celebrity judges getting a “yes” from Lionel Richie and “come back” from Luke Bryan and Katy Perry.

Rhodes has a strong fan base in Lenawee, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. She is a 2022 Tecumseh High School graduate who has been leading worship services at Redemption Outreach Center (formerly Adrian Church of God) for about three years.

She has a great network of supporters, particularly in Tecumseh and Adrian, from her church, teachers, friends and family.

“Aug. 8 was my virtual Zoom audition to be on the show. After being put through the first round where they had me sing five songs (two at the piano), then I sang another three songs and then then told me, ‘Congratulations, you'll be singing for Katy, Luke and Lionel.’ I couldn't believe what they were saying to me at that moment. It didn't feel real,” Rhodes said. “It was the most amazing experience I ever had. Being surrounded by such amazing singers helped show me that being on stage is where I’m supposed to be. Even though we were only together for four days, the people I met while filming the show have become some of my closest friends.”

There were just 153 people across the nation who made it before the judges. Many of those contestants also tried out for other shows like "The Voice," "X-Factor," "America’s Got Talent" and other seasons of "American Idol."

During her audition, Rhodes played the piano and sang “Hold on to Me” by Lauren Daigle, who is one of her favorite Christian artists.

“Getting a ‘yes’ from Lionel Richie was awesome. It’s not often that people who get sent home get a ‘yes’ from him. I felt like Luke and Katy liked me too and said they loved the emotions I put into songs, but that I needed more time, and to come back this year,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes will be auditioning again for "American Idol" sometime this summer. She also plans to audition for "The Voice."

She began her journey auditioning for top national singing competition TV shows in 2021. Her "American Idol" 2021 audition was all conducted via Zoom. She made it to the second preliminary round eight times but did not make it to the celebrity judges. She also auditioned online for "The Voice" in 2021 with her papaw, Mike Rhodes, playing guitar. She got a call back for that submission but also didn't make it to the celebrity auditions. 

Rhodes comes from a musical family with her father, Mike, once belonging to a well-known southern gospel band, playing guitar; her mother and manager, Karrie, playing piano; her grandmother once singing in a gospel group; and brother, Cody, a singer.

She has three older brothers: Jacob, 33, (married to Alyssa); Cody, 29, (engaged to Keith); and Ty, 21, (dating Courtney who is now one of Faith’s best friends). They show up at most of her events and have always cheered her on.

Mike and Karrie and the siblings all went to Vegas and waited hours backstage to get the results of Faith's audition.

Her parents say she hummed music even before she talked. When she was about 3 years old, she sang at the Strawberry Festival in Belleville but then stopped singing in front of audiences until she turned 8 and had her first solo at church.

“Faith has shown more determination than I've ever seen, and she hears music in ways that most of us don't. It is evident that the musical background in our family has been passed on to her," Mike said.

Jacob, the oldest brother, looks up to Faith.

"Faith has been an inspiration to us all. Watching her put in the hard work and effort to make it to the next level is something that I as the oldest will always look up to. She has a beautiful gift and I love seeing how hard she is working to share that gift with the world,” Jacob said.

Cody has similar sentiments about his sister.

"While Faith is the youngest sibling in the family, her dedication and drive to follow her dream is inspiring to us all. We are so proud of all she has accomplished at such a young age,” Cody said.

Faith is most inspired by gospel singers Cece Winans, Tasha Cobbs and Lauren Daigle, but also dabbles in Motown, R&B, soul and country. 

At Tecumseh High School, she sang in multiple choirs and was a choir council member. She was a member of the Tecumseh Youth Theatre performing in plays at the Tecumseh Center of the Arts since she was in the first grade.

Throughout elementary and middle school, she was in ensembles for “Aladdin,” “Cinderella,” “Aristocats,” “Jungle Book” and “Annie.” In eighth grade she played Teen Fiona in the TYT high school production of “Shrek the Musical.” In high school, she played Vi, the pastor’s wife, in “Footloose,” Mrs. Potts in “Beauty and the Beast” and her favorite role as Mayzie La Bird in “Seussical” at Lenawee Christian School's Drama Camp. 

She sang in 2021 and 2022 at Hospice of Lenawee vigils, the “Wags ‘N’ Walks” fundraiser for the Lenawee Humane Society, at the Tecumseh downtown holiday open house and has recently been asked by the city of Tecumseh to sing the national anthem and “Amazing Grace” along with bagpipes at Brookside Cemetery following the Memorial Day parade.

She has worked for two years at The Somerset Collection in Troy doing holiday sets on stage in the middle of the mall during the holiday season. In 2022, she was cast as the Castle Princess where she sang Christmas and princess songs from Thanksgiving through Christmas during multiple singalong sessions for kids. She has also done worship events in the Belleville area and won first place teenage Christian female singer for the Church of God in the state of Michigan in 2021 and 2022.

Karrie says that her relationship with Faith has grown closer through the musical journey she has been on. In addition to managing Faith, Karrie is also a special education teacher for Early On in Washtenaw County doing home visits to support families with their little ones — most of whom are autistic. 

“We are very close, and our relationship has grown stronger during this musical journey even on the days that might be hectic. Faith has a great sense of humor and a special care for others. She has always loved music, has an ear for hearing notes, a voice with amazing pitch unlike I've ever seen, and she knows exactly what she creatively wants to do when singing and arranging certain songs. She can hear harmony parts and sing them in a way that is a true gift from God.” Karrie said. “I am proud that she is using the gift that God has given her to touch people's lives and isn't taking ‘no’ for an answer. She has taken this 'American Idol' experience and used it to really work hard to make it back again.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Tecumseh singer Faith Rhodes makes Las Vegas audition on American Idol