'American Idol' Star Receives Prison Sentence for Fatal DUI

Caleb Kennedy first rose to prominence on the nineteenth season of American Idol in 2021. The 20-year-old singer will now be forced to take a step back from the spotlight after receiving an eight-year prison sentence for a deadly DUI accident. 

The incident occurred on Feb. 8, 2022, when Kennedy drove his Ford F-150 truck into a home in Pacolet, SC, hitting and killing 54-year-old Larry Duane Parris. Kennedy was 17 at the time and arrested the same day. 

According to The Greenville News, Kennedy just pled guilty to a felony driving under the influence charge and was sentenced to 25 years in prison and a $25,100 fine. Despite the victim's family seeking the maximum 25-year sentence, Kennedy's punishment was reduced to eight years in prison and a $15,100 payment, as well as five years of probation and required mental health and substance abuse counseling. Three years of the eight-year sentence will be served on home detention. 

Warrants described how Kennedy was driving under the influence of marijuana after using a vape pen. His attorney Ryan Beasley explained that his client felt terrible about what happened and regretted it ever happening. 

"A very good person died, and I feel so bad for the Parris family. Caleb's very remorseful and his heartfelt sympathies are extended to the Parris family," he said. "This sentencing starts the healing process for everybody involved in this situation."

"He's got no record, and he was a minor when this happened," the lawyer continued. "This wasn't such an egregious act that you see most of the time, where people were drinking and driving then they hit somebody at night or going the wrong way down the road. This was a weird reaction from his prescription medicine and possibly THC."

Kennedy's time on American Idol came to an end after social media video resurfaced showing him seated next to someone wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood. He made it to the top five of his season before his departure.