Jesse Findling deserved the terrific welcome home that he got when he returned from his stint on American Idol. The 20-year-old from Long Island made it to the top 12 of the TV show. That is a great feat in itself. He has also dealt with a lifelong stutter that did not derail his dream of being a singer.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Even though Findling did not win the popular competition, he jumped right back into the fray. He performed the National Anthem at a NHL Islanders game at UBS Arena, per the New York Post. That, according to the outlet, was the biggest gig yet for the young vocalist in terms of live audience size.
Findling Got So Much From His 'Idol' Experience
Being on Idol was a real breakthrough for Jesse Findling. He candidly shared, "It wasn't just about singing for me. Doing things like this, I feel like I would have never done before ...I definitely feel less shy now than I was. I'm really grateful that the show allowed me to kind of open up in that way,"
Findling's confidence level has skyrocketed, along with his recognition level. "When I've been out, people stop me and say hi and things like that, which makes me super happy." Furthermore, "Just knowing that everybody [on Long Island] was watching and supporting me feels great. So it's been a really warm welcome back at home."
He continued, "Knowing that people watch and feel inspired is great, and I've had a lot of people message me, To be able to represent the stuttering community, I'm really grateful."
He Excelled at Music Since Childhood
Per the outlet, Findling's dad, Scott, said that his son performed with a chorus at venerable sites like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. "He never really had professional training," the proud father noted.
In fact, Jesse Findling aced his middle school's Idol-style singing contest years ago. His son's talent bowls his dad over. Scott said, "When I hear him sing and do some of those things, I'm like, I don't even know how he does that."
Findling is fired up about cultivating his career in music. "It's ... time to really start working right after the show, because you want to keep the momentum. I definitely want to start learning guitar and writing my own songs, and that's the goal - to make my own music."
