The one word that came to mind when I heard Noah Thompson for the first time was “unexpected.” And I believe that is part of why Thompson won American Idol in 2022. No one, including himself, expected that he could sing so well and then win the competition.

Even though he had a “tumultuous childhood” in rural Western Kentucky, where he was raised, he can always remember music being part of his life. Thompson’s dad was a musician growing up, and he instilled music in him literally from the time he was in his mother’s belly.

“He told me he was playing drums on her belly so that I would be playing music as soon as I came out,” Thompson reported. “It started with a simple drum, and I learned to keep rhythm as a kid, then later on, I started writing my own songs.”

By age 13, Thompson was given a guitar, and he fell in love with that and knew he wanted to do music more than anything else in the world.

But life took over, and straight out of high school he had a little boy and was doing anything to survive and provide for his family. He worked in construction, but his dream never subsided.

His pal, Arthur, signed Thompson up for American Idol without him knowing it. Once he tried out, his raw talent won over the judges, as they were as surprised as I was when first hearing him sing Kameron Marlow’s “Giving You Up.”

He even sang a song dedicated to Arthur, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story. But it was Thompson’s cover of Rhianna’s “Stay” that initially won America’s heart.

Thompson shocked everyone during the Show Stopper Round by covering Rhianna’s massive hit. No one thought a county artist could do it justice, but he showed the world how naturally gifted he was by singing “Stay.” It got him into the top 24.

Throughout the competition, he fittingly covered Larry Fleet’s “Working Man,” brilliantly covered the classic “Stand By Me,” and made Katy Perry proud with his version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Fire.” But his presentation of the Steeldrivers’ “Blue Side of the Mountain” won me over. The song was definitely in Kentucky boy’s vocal, sweet spot.

After narrowly beating out another rising country star, Huntergirl, Thompson was given a record deal where he released the single “One Day Tonight,” written by Nashville greats Trannie Anderson, Brett Sheroky, and Jared Griffin.

Coming from his background, he admitted to having “trust issues.”

Thompson explained, “Coming straight off the show, I had a publicist, a booking agent, I had managers-- and everything. But going into the industry, you have to learn to be comfortable with the people you’re working with.”

In 2023, he released the EP Middle of God Knows Where, which, besides the mega-hit “One Day Tonight,” had the fan favorites “Make You Rich,” his cover of “Stay” and the title track, which did quite well.

Despite his success, the label decided not to renew his contract. He was reminded of Laura Alaina’s quote, “American Idol is a quick way to fame, but it’s not a quick way to success.”

Thompson, who had zero experience with the music industry before winning American Idol, was once again left on his own to figure out what his future could be.

He stated, “I think I was almost in shock for about two years of my life. I still couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that this was my life at that point. It was important for me to go through that because all those feelings and emotions I was going through during that process shaped me to start writing the songs I'm writing now.”

Now an independent artist, Thompson has honed in on his songwriting abilities. He even had a cut on Luke Combs's Fathers & Sons album “Front Door Famous.” Besides Combs, he has written alongside other prolific songwriters like Lukas Scott, Kasey Tyndall, and Nick Columbia.

As many songwriters often aspire, he wants to present his authentic self to his fanbase. He does not deny his past in his first independent song, “Upbringing,” where he states, Granny bought me cigarettes when I was fifteen/ When rent came round and times got hard/ Daddy taught me how to clip the wings off some green/ Sometimes you gotta make your own light in the dark.

He wrote the song “American Dream” entirely on his own, an honest, autobiographical song to which many raised in a similar situation will relate. “Demons in My Whiskey” explores doubts he has experienced since his rise to fame.

Noah Thompson’s new single, “Here Lately,” marks another powerful chapter in his journey as an independent artist, showcasing his continued commitment to vulnerability and authenticity. The tune explores the emotional journey of losing oneself and the powerful, often painful, path to rediscovery. With raw lyrics and a soulful melody, the American Idol winner opens up about the struggles of feeling lost and disconnected, only to find hope and clarity in the process of self-reflection.

Proving that he is still the storyteller that Lionel Richie labeled him, Thompson captures the delicate balance of despair and resilience, reminding listeners that even in our lowest moments, there's always a chance to find our way back to who we are.

As everyone in Nashville is chasing the same thing, he has learned not to get caught in the loophole of chasing fame.

He shared, “I think it's important to stay in your own lane and perfect your craft on what you want to say and who you are. That's what I took time to do- figure out who I was.”

These days, Thompson has made many personal and professional changes in his life. He’s Dad to a 3-year-old son named Walker, who is the catalyst for every decision he makes. Professionally, he has taken complete control of his musical career and, with two hands on the wheel, has started to steer it in a much more honest and vulnerable direction.

If you have loved him before, just wait because his talent and artistry run much deeper than what anyone has been allowed to see. He was born with an innate talent to sing and tell a story. Now, with a new beginning and fully controlling his creative path, he can share his true self with the world.

You can follow Noah Thompson on his website, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and all music streaming platforms.

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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.