Doug Kiker was a contestant on season 18 of “American Idol,” remembered for performing with Rascal Flatts in the season finale.
- Died: March 10, 2025 (Who else died on March 10?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 32.
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Doug Kiker’s legacy
Kiker didn’t come to “American Idol” with a polished singing style honed by years of striving, like many of its contestants do. In fact, singing in the shower was about the sum of his experience when he auditioned on a whim in Mobile, Alabama, where he lived after growing up in Greensboro, Alabama. He was working as a garbage collector for Advanced Disposal when he decided to take an opportunity for an August 2019 try-out in his town.
It wasn’t an immediate Cinderella story. In fact, Kiker went home from the Mobile audition disappointed, having been told by the judges to get some more experience singing to an audience and try again. But he wasn’t discouraged; instead, he traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for another shot at “Idol.” This time, he made it past the first round, and in a second-round audition in Savannah, Georgia, he sang “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts to the judges’ unanimous approval. He ultimately advanced to the Hollywood round, where he was eliminated.
That might have been the end for Kiker’s “American Idol” journey in a more normal year, but it was an unusual season for the show, airing as the COVID-19 pandemic began. By the time its Top 20 began to compete, filming in the studio had been suspended. The show soon continued remotely, with contestants and judges broadcasting from their homes. For the season finale, the man viewers had come to know as the “Singing Garbage Man” got a chance to perform “Bless the Broken Road” with Rascal Flatts via remote video.
Notable quote
“I listen to Beethoven, I listen to rock and roll. I don’t know why I said ‘Beethoven’ specifically, but I do listen to classical music. I listen to opera. If somebody could put some beats to opera, I’m down for that. … I like hip-hop and country.” — from a 2020 interview for AL.com
Tributes to Doug Kiker
Full obituary: Yahoo!
