Katy Perry was an early adopter of Benson Boone and his distinctive vocals when the American Idol judge said he could go on to win the 2021 competition after his audition. But the Washington State-born singer decided to do things on his own terms and leave the show before he had the chance. Since then he’s transcended reality TV and TikTok success to become a pop sensation in his own right, supporting Taylor Swift on her Eras tour and picking up more fans with his backflipping 2025 Grammy Awards performance. Boone specializes in big, powerful ballads and easy-to-love hooks. Early tracks “GHOST TOWN” and “In the Stars” show off his heartfelt vocals as well as his knack for dropping the right (and unashamedly romantic) lyric just when it’s needed. It was 2024’s blockbuster “Beautiful Things” that caught the world’s attention, but Boone showcased his versatility with the bouncy “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else.” Sonically, he’s not afraid to borrow from different eras but make the results distinctly Boone as he proves on sunshine-invoking tracks like “Be Someone” and “Death Wish Love.”