Mor Ilderton Competes on 'American Idol' After Unexpected Exit from 'The Voice'

The aspiring singer opens up about his mother's tragic death and his college football career.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Mor Ilderton, whose real name is Clarence Morton Ilderton IV, is a contestant on the current season of American Idol after previously appearing on The Voice in 2024. Mor had to leave The Voice before the Knockout Rounds for undisclosed reasons, though there were unsubstantiated claims he was kicked off the show. Mor has also opened up about the tragic death of his mother when he was 2 years old and being raised by his grandmother and later his aunt and uncle. Prior to pursuing music, Mor was a student at Concord University in West Virginia, where he was on the football team as a kickoff specialist.

Why it matters

Mor's story of overcoming personal tragedy and taking an unconventional path to pursue his musical dreams on shows like The Voice and now American Idol resonates with many viewers. His journey also highlights the challenges and uncertainties aspiring artists can face in the competitive world of reality TV singing competitions.

The details

Mor, who goes by the stage name Mor Ilderton, was a contestant on Season 26 of The Voice in 2024, making it onto Michael Bublé's team after the Blind Auditions. He lost in the Battle Rounds but was stolen by Gwen Stefani to stay in the competition. However, Mor unexpectedly dropped out of The Voice before the Knockout Rounds, with Stefani only saying he 'had to go home.' Mor has never publicly revealed the reason for his exit, though unsubstantiated claims suggest he may have been kicked off the show. Since then, Mor has been releasing original music and is now competing on the current season of American Idol.

  • Mor was a contestant on Season 26 of The Voice in 2024.
  • Mor's mother, Robin Renee Bailes Owsley-Ilderton, died on October 9, 2005 when Mor was 2 years old.
  • Mor was a student at Concord University in West Virginia in 2022 and 2023, where he was on the football team as a kickoff specialist.

The players

Mor Ilderton

The aspiring singer, whose real name is Clarence Morton Ilderton IV, is a contestant on the current season of American Idol after previously appearing on The Voice in 2024.

Robin Renee Bailes Owsley-Ilderton

Mor's mother, who died when Mor was 2 years old in an act of domestic violence.

Gwen Stefani

The singer and judge on The Voice who had Mor on her team after he was stolen from Michael Bublé's team.

Georgia Starnes

Another contestant on Season 26 of The Voice who claimed Mor was kicked off the show, though the allegations have not been substantiated.

Concord University

The university in West Virginia where Mor was a student and played on the football team as a kickoff specialist.

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What they’re saying

“had to go home”

— Gwen Stefani, The Voice judge (The Voice)

“thank you guys for connecting to the music, it's coming out soon”

— Mor Ilderton (Instagram)

What’s next

Mor will continue to compete on the current season of American Idol, with the next episode airing on Monday, February 16 at 8pm EST.

The takeaway

Mor's story of overcoming personal tragedy and taking an unconventional path to pursue his musical dreams on shows like The Voice and now American Idol is an inspiring one that resonates with many viewers. His journey highlights the challenges and uncertainties aspiring artists can face, but also their resilience and determination to follow their passions.