The new season of American Idol began on January 26, 2026, and after four weeks of auditions, there’s one name we can’t seem to get out of our heads: Julián Kalel.
Julián Kalel is a 19-year-old singer-songwriter from El Paso, Texas. He first auditioned with his sister, Carissa, by his side last year, during the 23rd season of American Idol. After advancing to Hollywood Week, however, Kalel had to take a step back from the spotlight to focus on his mental health. He left the competition only to return a year later, with new footing, strength, and readiness to take the journey.
In his most recent audition, which aired on February 2nd, Julián Kalel opened up about his mental health struggles.
“I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression my freshman year of high school, but I’d been struggling with those feelings for a big part of my life. I mean, through even elementary and middle school,” Kalel explained.
At a breaking point in his teens, he finally told his mom, “I am not okay. I am sad all the time.” Kalel admits he was questioning his life.
Hearing this, his mom describes, was like a knife to the chest. His dad recalls that time, as well, and how it also changed the course of his life. “You have to look in the mirror and recognize that mental health professionals need to get involved… and that there’s no shame in that.”
Why did Julián Kalel leave American Idol the first time?
Julián Kalel describes his first American Idol stint as one of the greatest moments of his life. The judges predicted he could win the whole competition, and were blown away by his performance. Kalel had sung an original song called Surrender, which alluded to the struggles of anxiety and depression.
The star was granted a golden ticket, but unfortunately, his time was cut short. Before hitting the Hollywood stage, Kalel made the choice to prioritize himself and his health, which meant bowing out of the contest. “There were shared concerns about my abilities to balance a journey like American Idol and my mental health,” he explained.
However, he knew this wasn’t the end of his American Idol journey. After taking the time needed to heal and rebuild, he finally felt ready to turn. He admits, “I had so much to smile about with my audition and I just knew I’d really regret it if I didn’t give this another shot.”
He went on to say, in his audition video for American Idol’s 24th season, “I’m just hoping that whatever I’m doing, just reflects the message of not giving up, and most importantly, to not be defined by your struggles, but by your strengths. I choke up just thinking about it because I’m very lucky to be here. Life is a gift.”
How Julián Kalel coped with mental health struggles
Taking time to focus on his mental health was a key part of Kalel’s journey. He needed the space – and the support – to overcome the symptoms of anxiety and depression (which he described as “a big wave crashing on you, and you just drown”).
In an interview with KTSM, a local El Paso news station, Kalel revealed that talking to someone about his struggles was a huge milestone in his mental health journey.
“You can feel so alone. You can feel so isolated. It can be just so hard to speak up about what you’re going through. But I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t put my foot down and talk to someone that I cared about,” Kalel said.
In addition to getting the help and support he needed, he also found solace through music. “My lifeline was music. I started writing. I started journaling. I started making songs out of these thoughts, out of these experiences and sharing them with people,” the musician explained.
At Turnbridge, we encourage our clients to channel their feelings into words and journal their thoughts, as a coping mechanism. We also offer a variety of holistic therapies, often involving art and music, to help clients work through their struggles and find an outlet when in need.
Julián Kalel is back and better than ever
In his latest audition on American Idol, we got to witness first-hand the product of Kalel’s healing journey. In channeling his emotions into music, he wrote the song Lone Guitar, which he also performed in his second attempt at a golden ticket.
Kalel explains that Lone Guitar was written when he was at a crossroads: Should he keep going, or give up on life? It begins with a message of struggle, describing a boy who can’t find peace, but transitions into an anthem of hope: “I should stay,” he echoes.
I should stay. I should stay. Oh, I’ll stitch my holes and learn to love these marks along the way.
His mom described the song as “suicide prevention,” and many other fans would say the same. In fact, the song was turned into a mental health campaign, in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) El Paso, for Suicide Prevention Month. It’s now available on all streaming platforms.
Kalel wants the song to honor the struggles of mental health, while also showing listeners that there is hope and that healing is possible. The song, he explains, “explores those demons that come from anxiety and depression, and suffering from that. But it’s also about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and realizing that there’s so many more reasons to stay, especially for your loved ones, for the people that need you here and for the people that care about you.”
Julián Kalel is a self-proclaimed mental health advocate, according to his Instagram profile, but we can see that in every song he releases and every interview that’s come out so far.
He’s also on his way to stardom. After receiving his second golden ticket, the singer-songwriter posted on Instagram:
Glad I stayed 🤘🏼 This is a dream come true.
If you or someone you love is struggling, please speak up. Reach out. There is always help available.
And if you’re fighting an everyday battle just to survive—I love you, I’m proud of you, and I’m really glad you’re still here 🖤
Julián Kalel’s Hollywood Week performance will be aired on Monday, March 2, 2026 – And we are so excited to see what’s in store.
If you or someone you love is struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health symptoms, know that you are not alone. Mental health can affect people from all walks of life, and often begins in the teen and young adult years. Turnbridge is a mental health treatment provider, specializing in the experiences of youth. We are here for you. Call 877-581-1793 to learn more today.