Benson Boone made it to the Top 24 on season 19 of American Idol in 2021 but chose to quit the competition shortly after reaching that stage. Despite being predicted by judge Katy Perry to potentially win the show, Boone withdrew to focus on his music career independently, wanting to establish himself without being labeled as an "American Idol" product

. He explained that he wanted to be known for writing hit songs and not just for his association with the show. After leaving American Idol, Boone gained significant popularity on TikTok, was signed by Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds to Night Street Records, and went on to release successful singles like "Ghost Town" and "Beautiful Things," the latter becoming a global hit

. In summary, Benson Boone reached the Top 24 on American Idol but left before the live shows to pursue a music career on his own terms