Meet Kolbi Jordan: Powerhouse Singer Gets 1st Platinum Ticket of ‘American Idol’ Season 23

The season 23 premiere of “American Idol” was packed with talented hopefuls trying to get to Hollywood, kicking off with the contestant who’d later receive the judges’ first coveted platinum ticket of the season.

After an intro celebrating Carrie Underwood’s arrival as a judge alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, the premiere episode on March 9, 2025, kicked off with an audition by 26-year-old Kolbi Jordan of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Jordan’s powerhouse vocals and spunky personality won the judges over immediately, even prompting Richie to call R&B legend Patti LaBelle. Toward the end of the two-hour episode, ABC showed the moment Jordan was surprised by the judges with a platinum ticket — establishing her as one of their favorite contestants and allowing her to skip the first round of competition in Hollywood.

Luke Bryan Tells Kolbi Jordan She Can ‘Kiss’ Her HR Job Goodbye

Jordan, who told the judges she works as a “people and culture generalist” in human resources, was so star struck as she walked into the audition room, she launched into a story about how she once met LaBelle, one of her idols.

She then performed “Epiphany (I’m Leaving),” a 2009 Gospel song by Chrisette Michele, with a rendition that blew the judges away. Richie immediately called LaBelle to say hello to Jordan, who was shaking and squealing as she spoke to the star.

“I hear you’re a ‘sanger,’ not a singer,” LaBelle told Jordan.

“My dream is to have the two of you singing side by side,” Richie said. “I can’t even imagine what that’s gonna be.”

Once the judges started their feedback for Jordan, Underwood beamed as she told her, “First of all, incredible voice. Oh my gosh, I’m so happy for you. We just met and I’m like, I feel proud of you and I’m excited for you. I mean, you had dynamics within dynamics, and it was just yes, just amazing. Amazing. You’re so good.”

“People and culture generalist?” Bryan chimed in and laughed, “You can kiss that little title goodbye!”

Before they awarded her a golden ticket to Hollywood, Richie told Jordan, “First of all, the instrument is just crazy great. And the second thing is, you sold us on your personality alone. Now you put those two together and you have a crowd that’s pleased with your performance. But I’m telling you, it’s amazing to have you here.”

Kolbi Jordan Received Her Platinum Ticket at a Nashville Titans Game in November 2024

Toward the end of the “American Idol” premiere episode, host Ryan Seacrest called Jordan — who had traveled to Nashville for her audition — and told her the judges wanted her to perform during the Titans’ NFL game the following day. In clips from game day, which took place in November, she was told she would get to briefly sing for the packed stadium, with Seacrest and the judges standing nearby.

Though ABC didn’t air her actual vocals, videos posted by fans at the game showed that Jordan sang a portion of “Lady Marmalade” and that the crowd went wild as Seacrest revealed she had earned a platinum ticket.

Though Jordan told Seacrest before her audition that she was trying to break out of her “shell” as a singer, she does have a bit of performing experience. According to CBS19, she was part of Union High School’s choir, had a gospel group as a teen and sang the National Anthem at her 2016 high school graduation.

After the premiere episode of “Idol” aired, Jordan went on Instagram Live holding her golden and platinum tickets as a gathering of friends and family took place in the background. She praised her high school choir teacher, Mr. Z. She also said that Michele, whose song she sang in her audition “followed me and commented on my video so, basically, I’m doing well in life!”