Alabama’s singing garbage man has dreams dashed on ‘American Idol’
Published 4:18 pm Tuesday, March 17, 2020
- Alabama garbage man Douglas Kiker, right, is shown with "American Idol" judge Lionel Richie. The new season starts Sunday and Kiker says the experience has changed his life.(Courtesy ABC/Eliza Morse)
Alabama’s singing garbage man who stole millions of hearts on his first appearance on “American Idol” was booted from the show Monday.
It was the end of an incredible ride for Doug Kiker, whose inexperience as a performer proved too much for the judges. Kiker’s raw talent was what appeared to first attract judges to him.
Kiker sang “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and the judges said they felt he wasn’t staying in the proper key.
American Idol judge Luke Bryan was the first to be critical.
“He has trouble staying in the key,” Bryan said.
The problem is because he’s singing accapella he doesn’t understand he’s in the wrong key,” judge Lionel Ritchie said. “So when starts off he’s too high.”
“I love him, but i’m just not sure,” judge Katy Perry said.
“Seeing all the support, I was just flabbergasted, man. That was one of the craziest things I’ve ever done,” Kiker said on the show. “Being a garbage man and now I’m singing on stage.
“It was definitely an amazing experience. A lot of firsts happened since I started ‘American Idol.’ Thank you for that.”
