‘American Idol’ Alums Kat & Alex Confirm Their Decision To Split Up, Both Professionally and Personally
“After 4 years of love and music, we have mutually decided to part ways both musically and romantically,” the duo shared.
Kat & Alex, composed of American Idol alums Kat Luna and Alex Garrido, are calling it quotes both personally and professionally.
The duo took to social media on Monday evening to share the news that the pair will be going their separate ways.
“As we are writing this, our hearts are heavy to have to make this announcement. After 4 years of love and music, we have mutually decided to part ways both musically and romantically,” the duo’s statement began. “We are so incredibly grateful for the time God has given us together with not only each other, but with y’all.”
They asked fans to continue to stick by them as they explore this next chapter of their lives.
“Life isn’t always a perfectly straight road, and we are learning everyday how to navigate it. We hold nothing but love for each other in our hearts and ask only for your support and understanding throughout this process.”
While they will no longer be pursuing music together, their message explained that they will each continue to chase their musical dreams as solo artists under the names Kat Luna and Alex Georgia.
“It would mean the world to us to have your continued support on our individual journeys. We love y’all so much,” they said in closing.
Forming Kat & Alex
Kat witnessed Alex singing for the first time at church and wanted to collaborate with him. She later slid into his DMs on Instagram and the pair officially met for the first time to record a cover of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s “Shallow.” After recording their rendition of the A Star Is Born track, the pair fell in love and went on to form a bond both romantically and musically.
“We both met for the first time in a park to film a cover of ‘Shallow.’ [Kat] saw Alex play on stage at church, and after some convincing from my friends, I added him on Instagram,” Kat told Country Now. “We both started talking through direct message and text message before finally meeting up to do the cover. After that, the rest is history!”
The couple went on to audition for American Idol, where they brought their cover of “Shallow” to life in front of the star-studded judges panel. Kat & Alex, who were known as Kat Luna and Space Cowboy on Idol, advanced to Hollywood with their impressive cover of the EMMY-award winning track.
The pair were split up and were forced to compete as solo artists during Hollywood week of Idol and both later eliminated from the competition.
Following Idol, Kat & Alex took to social media, most notably TikTok, to share Spanish renditions of popular songs by artists such as Dan + Shay, Luke Combs, Jason Isbell and many more. Their covers quickly went viral and ultimately led them to making the move to Nashville to pursue a career in country music together.
Trailblazers In Country Music
Upon moving to Nashville, Kat & Alex signed a management deal with The Artist Management Group (AMG), a publishing deal with Warner Chappell, and a recording contract with Sony Music Nashville.
As a bilingual duo, Kat & Alex were trailblazers in the country music genre. Kat, a native of Miami, Florida, is a first-generation American from a Cuban family. Alex, who is of Puerto Rican descent, grew up in Northwestern Georgia and later moved to Miami.
Their debut single, “How Many Times,” was released in 2020. The song was released in both Spanish and English and raked in millions of streams. Additional tracks such as “Heartbreak Tour,” “I Want It All,” “You and the Radio,” and more.
During their time as a duo, Kat & Alex toured with artists such as Chris Young, Jake Owen, Scotty McCreery, and Restless Road. Kat & Alex also made their Grand Ole Opry debut on October 8, 2021.
Tying The knot
The couple wed at Cactus Creek Barn in Dickson, Tennessee on January 15, 2021.
“We chose Cactus Creek Barn because we both have always dreamed of having a barn wedding. Most couples that come from Miami usually go for a beach wedding, but we have always had a different idea of how we wanted our dream wedding to look,” Kat told PEOPLE of their big day. “We really wanted an atmosphere that made everyone feel like they’re at an intimate celebration in our own home.”
At the time, she added, “We’ve been talking about this day since shortly after we met.”
For their first dance, they chose “I Don’t Dance” by Lee Brice.
After tying the knot, Kat & Alex continued to focus on their musical endeavors.
“It is truly an incredible thing to be able to play music together. Music was already such a large part of our personal lives,” they previously told Country Now. “Since we get to play music for a living, it feels like we never have to go to work. We get to live out our dreams every day and create music just like we always have since the day we met.”
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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