Recalling the Time ‘American Idol’ Turned Down Kane Brown for Being Too Similar to Scotty McCreery

Kane Brown’s Journey from Rejection to Success: How ‘American Idol’ Turned Him Down

Country music sensation Kane Brown has come a long way from his days of posting cover songs on social media. Despite his impressive list of achievements, including 10 No. 1 singles and multiple American Music Awards, Brown faced his fair share of rejection before finding success. One of those rejections came from the judges of ‘American Idol.’

Brown, a determined Tennessee native, attended high school with ‘American Idol’ alum Lauren Alaina. Inspired by her success on the show, Brown decided to audition for ‘American Idol’ himself. However, the judges were not impressed, telling him they didn’t need another Scotty McCreery, who had won the competition in a previous season.

Undeterred, Brown also tried out for ‘X Factor,’ where he faced a different kind of rejection. The judges wanted to put him in a boy band, a path he was not interested in pursuing. Instead, Brown returned home and continued to build his following by posting cover songs online.

His perseverance paid off when his single “Used to Love You Sober” quickly climbed the charts, leading to a record deal with Sony Music Nashville. In 2017, Brown achieved his first No. 1 single with “What Ifs,” a duet with his high school friend Lauren Alaina.

Now, Brown is teasing new music with producer/DJ Marshmello, hinting at a potential summer hit. Despite the setbacks he faced early in his career, Brown’s determination and talent have propelled him to the top of the country music scene. Fans can’t wait to see what he has in store next.