Keyla Richardson
Season 24 · Third place
Where are they now
Keyla Richardson of Pensacola was a season 9 finalist on Sunday Best in 2019 and signed with Uncle G Records. So Good, released November 1, 2019, reached No. 1 on Billboard Gospel Airplay, Mediabase Gospel Radio, and the Billboard Gospel Indicator chart. She performed the song at the 2020 Stellar Awards. An eight-track album titled So Good came out on September 25, 2020. She finished third on American Idol season 24 and, as of May 12, 2026, teaches music at Life Shifting Learning Academy in Pensacola.
Career
- 2015
In 2015 a video of her singing Hold On went viral.
- 2019
She was a finalist on season 9 of Sunday Best in 2019.
- 2019
She released the single So Good on November 1, 2019.
- 2020
She performed So Good at the 2020 Stellar Awards.
- 2020
In August 2020 So Good reached No. 1 on Billboard Gospel Airplay. By August 20, 2020 it had also reached No. 1 on Mediabase Gospel Radio and the Billboard Gospel Indicator chart.
- 2026
American Idol, season 24
Third place
- 2026
She finished third on American Idol season 24. Hannah Harper won on May 11, 2026.
More milestones
- Date not documented
As of May 12, 2026 she taught music at Life Shifting Learning Academy in Pensacola.
- Date not documented
Her Sunday Best run led to a record deal with Greg “Uncle G” Lyons’ Uncle G Records.
Discography
| Title | Type | Year | Label | RIAA certification | U.S. sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 So Good | Album | 2020 | Uncle G Records | Not documented | Not documented |
Cover images: Cover Art Archive (MusicBrainz).
Sources
- Keyla Richardson’s Debut Single So Good Lands At No. 1 At Gospel Radio — The Christian Beat, August 20, 2020.
- Who Is Keyla Richardson? American Idol — Hollywood Life, May 12, 2026.
- So Good: Keyla Richardson lands her first Gospel Airplay chart No. 1 — Black Gospel Radio.
- iTunes album search: Keyla Richardson — Apple.
- List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, June 10, 2026.
- American Idol season 24 — Wikipedia, July 18, 2026.
- Keyla Richardson — Keyla Richardson.
- American Idol season 24 — Wikipedia, July 18, 2026.
- MusicBrainz release groups for Keyla Richardson — MusicBrainz.
