Janelle Oredith Arthur (born December 12, 1989) is an American singer and songwriter, who came in fifth place on the twelfth season of American Idol.
Early life Arthur was born on December 12, 1989, in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, to Gentile Dean and Judy Arthur. She grew up in the congregation of the Churches of Christ at Oliver Springs and is still an active member. When Arthur was eight years old, she portrayed Dolly Parton in a theatrical production of Dolly's life at Dollywood theme park. In 2001, Arthur was hired as a child performer for the Country Tonite Theater, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Arthur later returned to the Country Tonite Theater stage as an adult performer and remained with the cast for another four years. She performed in over 3,000 shows in the Pigeon Forge area from 1998 to 2009.
In 2010, Arthur moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue her music career.
Career
2012–13: American Idol
Arthur auditioned in Charlotte, North Carolina. She had auditioned twice before, in the tenth and eleventh seasons. In the tenth season, she was cut in the group round, and in the eleventh season she made it to the Las Vegas round. In the semi-finals of the twelfth season, she performed "If I Can Dream" by Elvis Presley. On March 7, 2013, she was voted into the top 10. She was eliminated on April 18, 2013, and came in fifth place.
Performances and results
Season 11 EpisodeThemeSong choiceOriginal artistOrder #ResultAuditionAuditioner's ChoiceNot airedNot airedN/AAdvancedHollywood Round, Part 1A CapellaNot airedNot airedN/AAdvancedHollywood Round, Part 2Group PerformanceNot airedNot airedN/AAdvancedHollywood Round, Part 3SoloNot airedNot airedN/AAdvancedLas Vegas RoundGroup Performance"Be My Baby"The RonettesN/AEliminated
Season 12 EpisodeThemeSong choiceOriginal artistOrder #ResultAuditionAuditioner's Choice"Where the Blacktop Ends"/ "Walkin' The Country"Keith UrbanN/AAdvancedHollywood Round, Part 1A Capella"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"Hank WilliamsN/AAdvancedHollywood Round, Part 2Group PerformanceQuartet "Be My Baby"with Angie Miller and Breanna Steer and Kez BanThe RonettesN/AAdvancedHollywood Round, Part 3Solo "I Told You So"Randy TravisN/AAdvancedLas Vegas RoundPersonal Choice"Just a Kiss"Lady Antebellum9AdvancedTop 20 (10 Women)Personal Choice"If I Can Dream"Elvis Presley4AdvancedTop 10 RevealVictory Song"Home"Dierks Bentley6N/ATop 10Music of the American Idols"Gone"Montgomery Gentry26thTop 9The Beatles"I Will"The Beatles9SafeTop 8Music of Motor CityDuet "Like a Prayer"with Kree HarrisonMadonna2SafeSolo "You Keep Me Hangin' On"The Supremes4Top 7RockSolo "You May Be Right"Billy Joel5Bottom 2Trio "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"with Kree Harrison and Amber Holcomb7Top 6Burt Bacharach and Hal David"I'll Never Fall in Love Again"Jerry Orbach and Jill O'Hara5SafeSongs They Wish They'd Written"The Dance"Garth Brooks11Top 5Year they Were Born"When I Call Your Name"Vince Gill2 EliminatedDivas"Dumb Blonde"Dolly Parton7 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Arthur was in the bottom two, but declared safe as Burnell Taylor was eliminated.
2013–2017: Recordings and Grand Ole Opry Arthur took part in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2013, beginning on July 19 and ending on August 31, 2013. Arthur has been a frequent performer at the Grand Ole Opry, appearing 16 times over the past two years.
Janelle's post-idol debut single, What You Asked For was released on May 6, 2014.
Her first EP, Janelle, was released in November 2015.
On April 21, 2017, Arthur released "Light Myself on Fire" written by herself and Dana Jorgensen and produced by Brad Hill.
2018–present: Runnin' from My Roots Arthur played country music star Faith Winters in the film Runnin' from My Roots that was released on December 11, 2018.
Discography
Janelle Produced by Brad Hill
Singles TitleYearAlbum "Light Myself on Fire" 2017 "Runnin' from My Roots" 2019 Runnin' from My Roots (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) "White Horse"2020 rowspan=3 "Chasing Ghosts" "Hand Me Downs" 2021
Filmography + Film and television Year Title Role2013American IdolContestant2018Runnin' from my RootsFaith Winters2025 Five Date RuleHattie Fisher
References
External links
Janelle Arthur on American Idol