‘American Idol’: Who Is Rae? Get to Know the Season 24 Singer

The Top 14 American Idol contestants were left hanging at the end of the March 30 episode. Ryan Seacrest was supposed to announce which two singers received the least amount of votes and were being eliminated at the end of the live show, but he instead revealed that the system had crashed due to the unprecedented number of votes that came in.

In order to ensure that the votes were counted correctly, the results were held and will not be revealed until the April 6 episode, which means all 14 singers will have to spend the week preparing, even though two of them will still be eliminated before performing. One of those remaining contestants is Rae, who has been impressing the judges with her powerful voice all season long.

Scroll down to learn more about Rae amid her journey on American Idol.

What is Rae’s last name on American Idol?

Rae’s last name is Boyd, but she goes by the stage name Rae on the show and on social media.

Where is Rae from?

Rae is from Frederick, Maryland, but now lives in Towson, Maryland, according to Frederick News Post. She graduated from Walkersville High School in 2019 after previously attending Walkersville Elementary School and Walkersville Middle School.

Who is Rae?

Rae is an aspiring singer and is currently pursuing a full-time career in the music industry.

While she sometimes performs with her sister, Jamie, at restaurants in Maryland, she landed her American Idol audition while singing at an empty bar at the Conrad Las Vegas in 2025. An American Idol producer overheard the performance and urged Rae to audition.

“Before American Idol, I was just working so hard just for, like, something,” Rae told Frederick News. “I was just working in every restaurant, every bar, every casino, just to find someone to just discover me and who believed in me, and it happened.”

Growing up, Rae competed in pageants, which helped her get comfortable on stage.

What happened to Rae’s dad?

Rae’s dad, Gerald, was in the Intensive Care Unit for weeks in 2025 after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. At the time, doctors were not sure he’d even wake up, much less talk again.

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“It was crazy to see my dad say, ‘My little princess is going to be the next American Idol, when I was sitting there, like a year ago, looking at him, just over and over again, praying, ‘Wake up, wake up,'” Rae admitted.

American Idol, Season 24, Mondays, 8/7c, ABC