Warren Peay Admits He Experiences Imposter Syndrome When Reflecting On Life Since ‘American Idol’
“It’s certainly been crazy,” he shared.
Warren Peay; Photo by ABC, American Idol
Warren Peay has experienced a whirlwind of emotions since coming off his journey on American Idol. His life has changed so much in just a few months that sometimes, he says he feels as though he’s experiencing imposter syndrome.
The South Carolina native finished off his time on Season 21 of the singing competition show as a Top 8 contestant. He then returned to the stage during finale week to perform alongside country star Lainey Wilson and fellow Idol contestant, Marybeth Byrd.
Now that it’s been a few months since Peay’s final Idol appearance and he recently had the chance to catch up with Good Morning Augusta to share an update on everything he’s been up to.
“Well, it’s certainly been crazy. I remember Sarah, my fiancé and I, having a conversation before my audition aired and we said, ‘you know this might be our last normal weekend,” Peay said.
As he continued to reflect on the moment that did in fact change his life completely, Peay admitted that sometimes it doesn’t even feel real.
“I still look at it sometimes and get like ‘Imposter Syndrome’ and you’re like, ‘you know, none of this happened. That wasn’t me,’” he shared. “And then I go back and watch it.”
Peay, a 24-year-old from Bamberg, South Carolina, instantly stood out to Idol judges, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie with his audition of “To The Table” by Zach Williams. While the judges were quick to point out his similarities to country star Chris Stapleton, Peay continued to stand out and prove his outstanding artistry throughout the competition.
For his Top 8 performance, the former appliance repair man delivered a cover of Alanis Morissette‘s “All I Really Want” in front of the iconic artist herself. Unfortunately, he was eliminated before making it to the Top 5.
Throughout his journey on the show, Peay honed in on his musical talents while also growing a fanbase along the way as millions of American Idol fans tuned in each week. However, despite his growing fame, the singer/songwriter has a community to keep him humble so that he always remembers where he came from.
“It really does feel good to be able to come back to the people that love me in this little town that have supported me so much through this entire journey,” he admitted. “And not even just Idol, but my whole musical journey you know starting years ago.”
When asked about his plans for the future, Peay expressed hopefulness in the fact that he believes “we’re only going up.” While he has yet to release any songs of his own, the singer also teased that some new music could be on the way.
“I’ve got some music in the works that we’re getting ready to record. We’ve got a few things going, we’ve got a few shows coming up. So we’re going to make a go at this thing and see what happens,” he said in conclusion.
Peay regularly uses social media to share covers as well as keep fans updated on upcoming shows.
At the end of May, he posted a clip to Instagram showcasing a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of a music video for a song still in the works. As he immersed himself in the “beautiful lowcountry landscape of home,” Peay strummed his guitar and let the sounds of nature fill the background, leaving fans excited for the official release.
In another exciting bucket list moment, Warren Peay recently joined Zach Williams on stage for a show at the legendary Beacon Theatre in NYC.
Taking to social media to share a few highlights from the night, he wrote, “Huge thank you to @zachwilliamsmusic for inviting me to open and perform with such an amazing group! Can’t wait to do it again sometime! God is good! #beacontheatre #zachwilliams #sundayscoming.”
Warren Peay has yet to announce any upcoming performances.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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