While Kyle Tanguay's journey on American Idol has come to an end, the opportunity to sing on the award-winning show left a lasting impression. After being named the first male Eagles Cheerleader in more than three decades, the University of the Arts senior added another accomplishment to his impressive résumé.
"This whole experience was a breath of fresh air," Kyle said. "It was exciting and nerve-wracking, but to be able to go to Hollywood and do something completely new and different; it opened my eyes to a whole new world. It showed me all of the things I want to accomplish in the entertainment industry."
Kyle received advice from musical icons Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie during the process. He is grateful for the lessons learned along the way, but he is especially thankful for the friendships he made while competing for the American Idol title.
"I've always been interested in learning about different artists, whether that be musicians, producers, dancers, or writers," Kyle said. "It was such a unique experience going to Hollywood and being in a room with people from all different backgrounds with one common goal. I met so many amazing people through this journey and made many close friends."
One contestant Kyle became extremely close with was his duet partner Grace Lundy from Lincoln, Nebraska. The two were randomly put together once arriving in Hollywood. She has even become an Eagles fan in support of Kyle!
"I was so lucky to be paired up with Grace," Kyle said. "We come from completely different backgrounds, but we were both just so supportive of each other. I shared with her all about Eagles journey while we were preparing for the duet competition. I also gave her some Eagles apparel and she now plans to proudly wear midnight green on Sundays this fall to cheer on the Eagles from Nebraska."
Before the start of this journey, Kyle had never sung for anyone except his college roommates. The Eagles Cheerleader not only performed for the millions of fans watching on TV, but he also received a unanimous yes from the all-star panel of judges to earn a golden ticket to Hollywood. While his time on American Idol has come to a close, Kyle is already preparing for another run.
"I am so proud to represent the Eagles organization on this scale and share that passion with everyone. I learned so much about the music industry during my time on American Idol," he said. "I'm excited to try out again next season and work hard to make it even further in the competition."
