Bond denied for SC ‘American Idol’ teen Caleb Kennedy after fatal crash, DUI charge

Bond was denied Wednesday for former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Kennedy, a teen singer from Upstate South Carolina.

Kennedy was arrested and charged Tuesday with felony driving under the influence resulting in death. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol said 17-year-old Kennedy was driving a 2011 Ford pickup on West Murph Road in Pacolet shortly after noon Tuesday when the truck left the road, traveled down a driveway and crashed into a garage.

Photos from the scene show the truck all the way inside the garage.

Standing outside the garage was 54-year-old Larry Duane Parris, who died several hours later at Spartanburg Regional Hospital.

Kennedy was taken to the same hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. He was arrested at 7:21 p.m. and spent the night in the Spartanburg County Detention Center.

Ryan Beasley, Kennedy’s lawyer, said in an interview Wednesday keeping his client in jail was too harsh a punishment.

“He’s a kid,” Beasley said.

Beasley said he will ask for another bond hearing in General Sessions Court, hopefully to be held Feb. 21.

Beasley said in similar cases defendants are given a bond. He reiterated the claim he made earlier in court that the solicitor’s office was taking a hard line because of Kennedy’s notoriety from “American Idol.”

Solicitor Barry Barnette denied that during the hearing.

Beasley said Kennedy had taken a hit from a vape, given him by a friend at a local store. He had a bad reaction as he drove to his girlfriend’s house in Union.

“He was lost,” Beasley said.

When Kennedy realized what had happened, he tried to resuscitate Parris, holding him in his arms and crying, Beasley said.

Kennedy cried in the courtroom when he heard the 911 tape of Parris’ daughter imploring, “Daddy, please. Daddy, please.”

Several Parris family members were in the courtroom. They asked for Magistrate Daniel Burns to deny bond.

Kennedy’s mother, stepfather and father watched from a separate area.

Kennedy, a Roebuck, S.C., native, sang his way to the final five contestants on “American Idol” in 2021 but left the show May 12 after he told producers about a video that showed him sitting with someone dressed in what appeared to be a Ku Klux Klan hood.

The video was circulated at his school, Dorman High School, and made its way onto social media.

Kennedy’s mother, Anita Guy, said at the time the video was made when her son was 12. The hood was intended to look like one from the movie “The Strangers,” she said. She believed it was leaked by someone jealous of her son’s success.

Kennedy was on season 19 of American Idol, which premiered Feb. 14, 2021.

Kennedy has been performing in local shows in South Carolina since he left “Idol.”

When Kennedy announced on Instagram he was leaving the show last spring, he said the video “displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse.”

He said he knew he hurt and disappointed many people and lost their respect. “I’m so sorry! I pray that I can one day regain your trust in who I am and have your respect!” he said. He said he was taking time away from social media “to better myself.”

Kennedy earned praise for his songwriting talent, even after he left the show, from ‘Idol” judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry.

His song, “Nowhere” was No. 4 on the iTunes music chart in March and he was named one of the best songwriters of 2021 season.

Richie said, “You have a storyteller’s voice,” and later added, “I have great expectations for your life.”

This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 11:57 AM.