Two Maryland Singers Vie for American Idol Top 12 Spot

Brooks Rosser and Rae Boyd compete to advance in the hit singing competition.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:37am

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An abstract, minimalist illustration featuring bold, jagged black silhouettes against a bright red background, conceptually representing the high-stakes competition of a singing reality TV show.Two Maryland singers compete for a coveted spot in the American Idol Top 12.Ko Olina Today

Two singers from Maryland, Brooks Rosser and Rae Boyd, are competing for positions in the Top 12 of the current season of American Idol. Rosser, from Bel Air, and Boyd, from Frederick, have advanced through multiple rounds of the competition to reach the current elimination phase.

Why it matters

American Idol is one of the most popular singing competition shows, drawing millions of viewers each season. Having two contestants from the same state advance this far is an exciting milestone for Maryland's local music scene and could inspire more aspiring artists in the region to pursue their dreams.

The details

Rosser and Boyd secured spots in the Top 20 as of March 10, 2026, after performing in the Ohana Round in Hawaii. The Ohana Round introduced a new Platinum Ticket mechanism, with one ticket awarded by industry experts, one by fellow contestants, and one by the contestants' own friends and family. Rosser earned the ohana's pick Platinum Ticket. In the Hawaii performances, Rosser sang "Everywhere, Everything" by Noah Kahan, while Boyd performed "I'll Be There" by the Jackson 5, dedicating her rendition to her sister Jamie.

  • The competition transitioned from Nashville to Hawaii's Aulani Resort for the Ohana Round on March 10, 2026.
  • Rosser and Boyd were among the Top 14 hopefuls who returned to Hollywood for the final round of public voting on April 6, 2026.

The players

Brooks Rosser

A singer from Bel Air, Maryland who has advanced to the Top 14 of the current American Idol season.

Rae Boyd

A singer from Frederick, Maryland who has advanced to the Top 14 of the current American Idol season.

Jamie

Rae Boyd's sister, to whom she dedicated her Ohana Round performance.

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What they’re saying

“I'll Be There is such an important song to me, and I wanted to honor my sister Jamie with this performance.”

— Rae Boyd, American Idol Contestant

What’s next

The results determining whether Brooks Rosser and Rae Boyd advanced to the Top 12 were scheduled for announcement on Monday, April 6, 2026.

The takeaway

The success of these two Maryland singers on American Idol highlights the state's thriving music scene and the growing national recognition of its local talent. Their advancement inspires other aspiring artists in the region to pursue their dreams on the national stage.