Blake Proehl, a former NFL player from Charlotte with connections to the Carolina Panthers, is set to showcase his talents on the stage in the upcoming season premiere of “American Idol.” Proehl was a standout wide receiver at East Carolina University before signing with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Unfortunately, he missed his entire rookie season due to a torn ACL, but returned to the field in 2022, spending the season on the practice squad. The Vikings waived him in 2023. Proehl’s father, Ricky Proehl, played 17 years in the NFL, including three for the Carolina Panthers, while his brother, Austin Proehl, was drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills and now plays for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL. During his audition for Season 22 of “American Idol” on ABC, Proehl brought his grandmother along for support.
Proehl shared in a preview of the show’s premiere on YouTube that he grew up in a family that was passionate about football. Unfortunately, he suffered a severe injury that left him uncertain if he would ever be able to run again. Despite this setback, Proehl has gained a significant following of almost 600,000 on TikTok, where he showcases his musical talents by covering emotional pop songs such as “Wish You The Best” and “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi. In 2021, Proehl posted a TikTok of himself playing the piano and singing for the first time in front of his grandmother, which received nearly 4 million likes. Proehl credits his grandmother for inspiring him to pursue music and for giving him the confidence to audition for “American Idol.” During his audition, he sang a cover of Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know,” which earned him a seal of approval from judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. The Season 22 premiere of “American Idol” will air on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. on ABC, where viewers can find out if Proehl will receive the coveted golden ticket.
