When Liahona Olayan thinks about her time on “American Idol” five years ago, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t how far she made it in the competition (all the way to the top 24) — or even the fact that millions of viewers watched her get scolded by “Idol” judge and pop star Katy Perry.
The 22-year-old singer still occasionally looks back on her “Idol” episodes, including Perry’s talking-to. As she watches it all unfold — everything from the successful audition with her older brother, Ammon, that had country star Luke Bryan “freaking out” to her elimination — the first thing that comes to mind is gratitude.
“To be on national TV and global stages as a 16-year-old is actually really difficult, and it’s a lot of pressure on a child, but I am so grateful for it,” Olayan said. “It needed to happen. Like the Lord, that was the only way he could shape me and show me what I’m capable of, and what I needed to learn and what I still have to develop, and how far I can go. And so I am really grateful for that experience.”
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Olayan relied on her faith to navigate the ups and downs of a reality competition show like “American Idol.”
Her faith continues to be an anchor in her life as she pursues a career post-“Idol.”
In a recent interview with the Deseret News, the singer, who lives in Springville, Utah, reflected on “American Idol,” how serving a Latter-day Saint mission has made her a better artist, and her new music.
Getting scolded by Katy Perry
Family photos hang all throughout the home in Utah County where Olayan lives with her parents and younger siblings.
The singer is the second oldest of nine, and the oldest daughter in the family. She speaks with pride about being a role model for her younger siblings, especially her sisters, and laughs when she talks about how she hides away in her bedroom closet to record her music — usually with a blanket over her head to help mute the noise that is a given in her home.
“It gets so loud,” she said.
But she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Olayan has a close bond with her siblings. So when she was on Season 19 of “American Idol,” competing alongside her older brother, Ammon, it hit her hard when he was eliminated.
It was Ammon who had inspired her to pursue music and songwriting in the first place. The two siblings, who are just a year apart in age, had previously collaborated on an EP in 2019 and were featured together on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 2020 youth theme album.
Olayan was emotional as she moved forward on “Idol” without her brother — and Perry didn’t hesitate to call her out for it.
“You’re wasting everybody’s time,” Perry told Olayan when the then-teenager appeared glum during a duet with a fellow “Idol” contestant. “You were being defeated the whole time. … You took this whole ship down.”
Despite that harsh lecture, Perry and the other “Idol” judges ended up advancing Olayan to the next round of the competition. Perry would later tell the teenager she shouldn’t think she’s nothing without her brother, which Olayan said motivated her to keep moving forward.
“It may have hurt in those moments, but honestly, I’m so grateful for it,” Olayan said, reflecting on Perry’s criticism. “Katy Perry believed in me in a lot of ways. … She wouldn’t have said those things if she didn’t see the potential I had.”
After reaching the top 24 on “Idol,” Olayan continued to perform with Ammon. The siblings released another EP in 2022, but then put their careers on pause to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — Ammon in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Liahona in Puebla, Mexico.
Liahona Olayan believed from an early age she would serve a mission — but she never could have anticipated how her mission would point her toward a solo career that is gaining momentum.
Going on a mission
When she was getting ready to leave for Mexico in 2023, Olayan found herself surrounded by exciting career opportunities — including auditioning for the lead role in Disney’s live-action “Moana.”
But going on her mission wound up setting her up for even more success, she said.
In Mexico, Olayan wasn’t really recognized for her time on “American Idol.” She was, however, recognized for her church performances — including the song “Good Day” from the Strive to Be 2020 youth album, which has over 16 million streams on Spotify.
That helped open doors to sharing the gospel, Olayan said. Often with a ukulele in hand, she was able to testify of her love of Christ through singing on the streets and buses, and during missionary meetings and baptisms.
“I have so many experiences there that I would never trade for the world,” she said. “That was the first time in my life that I realized how profound music is. … I didn’t know how much it could change someone’s life until I went on the mission and was able to share it and see it for myself, with my own eyes.”
Three weeks after returning home to Utah, to her large, close-knit family, Olayan was in Los Angeles working on her debut solo album. She said the transition was so smooth, in part, because her mission helped her to learn things more quickly.
“The mission has made me a way better singer, a way better performer,” she said. “It’s helped me to develop my talents way quicker, way faster.”
Roughly eight months after her return, Olayan released “Just Me, Liahona,” a multigenre album that showcases her fluent Spanish and features everything from Latin pop to hip-hop and funk.
That music, and her newer music on the horizon, she said, is an extension of her missionary work.
“Anything and everything I do, I always want to help people, and if I can’t do that as a singer, then I’m failing, and I’m failing with my gift the Lord has given to me,” she said.
Liahona’s mission as an artist
Olayan describes herself as a clean pop artist. She writes and performs music that her seven younger siblings would feel comfortable listening to and seeing in concert.
That includes one of her newest songs, “Elegance,” which came out in late April.
On April 24, the day she released the song, Olayan said she was on an “all-time high” as she watched the message behind it gain traction online.
“Elegance,” she said, is a song about the empowerment she feels in dressing modestly — a message that has been on her mind since her teenage years.
“My standards have been put to the test anywhere and everywhere I go. And especially in the music industry … it’s tested every day,” she said. “I remember many times on ‘American Idol’ they would try to dress me certain ways.
“As a 16-year-old being there by myself … me being able to stand my ground and say ‘no’ was very shocking to a lot of (people). … But at the end of the day, I realized, like, I don’t care. I live to please the creator, not the created.”
Olayan said she’s received some pushback online for her new music and this direction in her career. But it pales in comparison, she said, to the support she has from her family, faith and fans.
“My mom always taught me there is no excuse to compromise your standards ever. There is no amount of fame, money, fashion, status that is worth giving up who you are,” she said. “Because once you give that up, who are you anyways? What do you have left?”
On a reality competition show like “American Idol,” Olayan couldn’t always perform the music she wanted. Each round had specific requirements and sometimes, the singer said, it felt confining.
Now, she’s releasing music and performing on her own terms.
She’s thinking of working on another solo album later this year, but in the meantime, she’ll be releasing singles throughout the summer.
“Every song I release from here on out is by my own doing,” she said. “I feel freer than ever, and like, this is who I am. I’m sure I’m going to grow from here, but at this moment, this is me. … I’m just very grateful to finally be able to be who I am.”
