During Sunday’s episode of American Idol, Sarah Beth Liebe — the 25-year-old mother of three with bright red hair who made waves after claiming Katy Perry “mom-shamed” her during auditions — wowed the judges with her performance of The Police hit Roxanne during the Hollywood round.
However, before taking the stage, Liebe revealed to the cameras that she was feeling homesick and guilty about leaving her young family behind to pursue the competition. “I don’t think I realized quite how hard it would be to be away from my kids,” she said.
Despite impressing judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, Liebe shocked viewers and the judges when she announced that she was leaving the competition. “This opportunity is really rad but this is actually going to be my last performance ’cause my heart’s at home, so I’m gonna get home to my babies. They kinda need me,” she said following her performance.
Liebe’s decision to leave the competition may have come as a surprise, but it’s clear that she values her role as a mother above all else.
The judges were confused by Liebe’s sudden announcement and asked her to return to the stage. Perry in an effort to persuade Liebe to stay said, “life is scary,” and “I also know that it’s easier to walk away than to be rejected, but then I also know that you lose out on your fullest potential. I know that you love your family for your kids — I know that as a mother. But remember, self-love is just as big as motherly love. Don’t leave the competition.”
She added: “You’ve opened a door you never thought you would open, and you got a yes. You may get another yes in the future. Do not give up.”
The contestant only said “thank you” and then proceeded to walk off the stage. “Man, that sucks,” Bryan said to Perry and Richie about Liebe’s decision.
“I’m really humbled and grateful and Katy had some really nice things to say,” Liebe said backstage. “If my kids were a little older… I understand how big of an opportunity this is, but I still kinda wanna go home.”
In spite of making it to the next round, She explained to a producer backstage, “I feel like I’m not going to win the show anyway, so I should just go home.”
Later, in an interview, Liebe expressed her doubts, saying, “I’m sure that when I get home, I’ll regret it.” She further added, “I probably will go, ‘Damn, Sara, you should have stayed and you should have done it.”
After her shocking exit on Sunday, Sara Beth shared a note on her Tik Tok thanking her fans and followers for their support:
@sarabethliebeGratitude is the ONLY word that comes to mind. I can’t wait to continue supporting my new friends and to continue making music. 🤍 that’s what it’s all about afterall. Oh and also, can we talk about how gooooood Katy looked in that shade of purple and how Lionel SLAYED that orange jacket? 😩👌🏻😍♬ original sound – Sara Beth
She explained that she was actually “scouted” to audition for the show, rather than auditioning on her own initiative. In the tearful video, she shared her thoughts, “Sometimes you’re presented big opportunities and situations and we have to make big decisions. A lot of people don’t realize that I was scouted to audition. They reached out to me.”
Despite the circumstances that led to her being on the show, Liebe expressed gratitude for the experience, saying, “And I’m so grateful. I’ve never had this much support with singing. And it’s mind-blowing and so humbling and has made me realize how badly I want to do music. Six months ago, I didn’t know that yet. But I’m also allowed to make hard choices that are best for me.”
“I took a chance on something big and said yes to a huge and very unexpected opportunity that was presented to me and while it may not have been for me, in the process, found myself again with the most talented people I’ve had the honor of meeting, many of which are now close friends and fell in love with music again,” she stated.
Would you like to see more American Idol News? Please let us know!
In a different TikTok video she shared a snippet of her new song, Bruises, a boppy tune that she plans to release “very soon!”
During Liebe’s audition on American Idol, the judges were taken aback by her youthful appearance and even more shocked when she revealed that she had three children. “If Katy lays on the table, I think I’m gonna pass out,” Libe exclaimed, giddy at the response.
Quipping back Perry said: “Honey, you’ve been laying on the table too much.”
However, after the show aired, Liebe took to her TikTok account to address the incident. She expressed her discomfort with the joke, saying, “It wasn’t super kind.” She added, “It was embarrassing to have that on TV and it was hurtful, and that’s that. But I did want to take this opportunity to just say that I think that women supporting and uplifting other women is so cool, and I think that mom shaming is super lame.”
American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.
