Blake Proehl, from Charlotte, North Carolina, didn’t initially aspire to become a musician. Despite being only 24, he had played successfully for three years in the NFL. Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to a traumatic injury. It was during this time that music “came to save him.” At Blake’s American Idol audition, he shared that he felt nervous. Upon hearing this, Blake’s biggest supporter, his nana, was brought into the audition room so she could stand by him as he sang.
Blake sat at the piano and began to sing a rendition of Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know”. He had only sung one verse of the song when Idol judge Katy Perry raised her arm to show that his voice had given her goosebumps. She even caught the eye of Blake’s Nana to share a knowing look over his talent. Throughout his performance, Blake looked down at his piano, utterly oblivious to the shocked, amazed, and proud looks shared around the room.
When Blake finished, Katy immediately stood up. She walked over to him, handed him a pen and got him to sign a contract on the spot. She told him, “You’re not allowed to leave this show.” and that he was going to be “top ten.” The other judges seemed equally impressed. Lionel Richie commented that he performed the song “in a very believable way […] very innocent, vulnerable.” It was clear that Blake had put his heart and soul into his singing.
Turning to Blake’s nana, Katy Perry said, “Every grandma thinks that their grandchildren are great, but you’re right!” Blake’s music took off after a video of him amazing his nana by singing in front of her for the first time went viral. In the video, he asked if he could play her piano, and she replied, “Can you?” He then blew her away with a rendition of “In Case You Didn’t Know” – the same song he went on to sing for his American Idol audition. The video received over 3.9M views on TikTok.
The touching moment came full circle in his audition as the judges heaped praise onto Blake, with his Nana standing by his side. Lionel Richie instructed him to always listen to his Nana from now on, advising him that she was his “beacon.” Blake left the room with the American Idol Gold Ticket to Hollywood, and the YouTube video of his audition for American Idol has received over 1.7M views so far.
If you’re mesmerized by the captivating voice of Blake Proehl, a former NFL player turned musician, be sure to follow him on his social media platforms. You can get a dose of his heartfelt renditions on his YouTube Channel. Connect with him personally and check out photos, gig updates, and more on his Facebook and Instagram page. Learn more about him, his music, and his journey on his official website. Blake Proehl is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry who came to music after a challenging life event, delivering soulful performances that deeply resonate with his listeners.