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SOUTH JORDAN — Kyle Khou has always wanted to be a superstar.
Now he has his chance, as the 20-year-old Bingham High graduate advanced to Hollywood Wednesday after impressing American Idol judges at auditions for the show in Aspen, Colo.
Khou sang a musical version of Lil' Wayne's "How to Love," receiving praise from all three of the show's judges after making it through the preliminary rounds.
Singer Jennifer Lopez praised Khou for being "super current," and longtime American Idol judge Randy Jackson praised Khou's "great voice." Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler "said I could be the next president, Olympian or American Idol," according to Khou.
And then, the famous phrase: "You're going to Hollywood."
"It literally was the most exciting thing," Khou said. "My heart was racing, I clapped for myself … I don't even know, I freaked out. It was incredible; my life changed right then and there. I thought, ‘This is my chance; I could be a superstar.'"
American Idol had not always been a part of the plan, though. Khou is an elite gymnast whose goal was to compete in the 2012 Olympics. After a string of injuries prevented him from living that dream, he decided on impulse to try out for American Idol.
"It was really last minute," Khou said. "I quit gymnastics and bought a plane ticket three days before the audition. I didnt know what I was singing. I sang a song from Shark Tales."
The pop and R&B singer took weeks off from his job as a coach at Olympus Gymnastics in Sandy to travel to Colorado to compete with the thousands of other hopefuls. It was a process he was familiar with after auditioning in 2010 but failing to make it through the preliminary rounds of judging.
In 2010, the preliminary judges told him he lacked confidence.
It is something Khou has worked on over the past year with the help of his family. He said his family has always been "super" supportive, especially his mother, who passed away last year of cancer.
"She believed I was going to be on the show before I did," Khou said. "My family has been 150 percent in support of everything I have done."
Khou, number 15 of 17 children, was helped and encouraged by his sister, who is a singer "in a few bands." It was his sister who gave him his first exposure to performing in front of a crowd, as at 12 years old he assisted her with a demonstration in front of a crowd of about 50.
"I went out and sang and I was just holding my pants the whole time looking up at the ceiling," he said. "It was fun. It was definitely life-changing."
Another life-changing moment came five years ago when Khou began working with voice coach Dean Kaelin, who also coaches David Archuleta, Idol's season seven runner-up.
Khou said he was inspired by watching Archuleta's journey on Idol. A year older than Khou, Archuleta auditioned for Idol before Khou was old enough to qualify. Khou began taking voice lessons, though, knowing his day eventually would come.
Kaelin "told me there was gonna come a time I was gonna make it; I just need to get there," according to Khou.
I want to be able to touch people's lives by singing, because that's what happened to me — I want to be able to make people want to follow their dreams. I want to give people inspiration.
–Kyle Khou
Archuleta was not the first Idol contestant to inspire Khou, though. Although Khou has been watching the show since its first season, it was the season three finale that affected him most.
"The finale changed my life," he said. "I want to be able to touch people's lives by singing, because that's what happened to me — I want to be able to make people want to follow their dreams. I want to give people inspiration."
Khou is no stranger to performing. He has participated in performances at the Hale Center Theater in West Valley and performed at the LDS Brand New Year celebration in 2008. He won 97.1 zht's Salt Lake Idol competition in 2009.
He said his experiences have given him the confidence to continue down his current path.
"This is my dream regardless of what happens with Idol," he said. "I'm going full force in music industry. This has given me confidence and the desire to makes it, so I'm going all the way."
And he is encouraging others along the way.
"You're gonna get more no's than yesses. Don't care about what everyone else is doing. If you don't believe in what you're doing 100 percent, you can't expect anyone else to."
