Speech Impediment to Great Singing on American Idol

During January 2013 auditions of Season 12 of American Idol, there was Lazaro Arbos who has a terrible stutter when he talks, but sings beautifully. A week later, we encountered Micah Johnson  who also suffers from a speech impediment, but rather than a stutter, it was due to "nerve damage" sustained during a tonsillectomy . (Watch videos below) With stuttering, the problem mainly lies at the brain level. The brain coordinates how a person uses all of their throat muscles to crea…

Continue Reading

American Idol Laryngitis Scare for Lauren Alaina

On May 24, 2011, US Magazine reported that American Idol Finalist Lauren Alaina "blew a vocal cord during afternoon rehearsal" and apparently completely lost her voice (aphonia). Apparently, a doctor on set and ordered Lauren not to sing or speak which brought a very real possibility that she would not be able to perform that evening. Fortunately, "emergency" care was provided along with resting the voice and apparently sang quite well that night. Without benefit of h…

Continue Reading