Naples Teen Lands Golden Ticket on American Idol

The latest season of American Idol kicked off Sunday night, and a Naples local has already made a big impression—earning the coveted Golden Ticket, according to a recent article by Marija of B103.9.

It’s hard to believe American Idol is now in its 23rd season, but this year, there’s an extra reason to tune in: 18-year-old Kobyn Melton, known by his stage name Insite, is representing Naples on the show. I caught up with him before his audition aired, and he shared that performing on American Idol has been a long-time dream. His journey to the show began when a casting director discovered his singing videos on Instagram and invited him to audition. After Sunday’s episode, there’s no doubt he’s glad he took the chance.

A Bold Song Choice Pays Off

Song selection is a major factor in American Idol, both in the audition rounds and live performances. Insite, who leans toward heavier music, wanted to stand out from the crowd. He delivered a high-energy performance featuring a song by Korn and Drowning Pool’s “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor.” His bold choices got an enthusiastic reaction from Carrie Underwood, who reminisced, “That was high school for me!” Meanwhile, Luke Bryan’s expression made it clear that this genre was outside his comfort zone.

Despite the mixed reactions, Insite’s risk paid off—he earned a Golden Ticket, meaning he’s officially heading to Hollywood for the next round of the competition.

When he’s not rocking the American Idol stage, Insite teaches drums and vocals at School of Rock Naples. Now, with his ticket to Hollywood in hand, he’s ready to take the next big step in his musical career.

This article originally appeared on B103.9