‘American Idol’ Finalist Cries in Car, Bravely Admitting She’s ‘Lost So Many People’ Since Show

Chasing dreams has come at a cost for “American Idol” season 21 top 8 finalist Haven Madison, who bravely admitted on May 21, 2025, that she’d experienced a major low and a huge high all in the same day.

Posting a video as she sat behind the wheel of her car, the 19-year-old pop singer was crying happy tears over achieving a major milestone with her newest single, “Castle,” mixed with tears of sadness over the friends she’s lost since competing on the show and signing a record deal with 19 Recordings, a subsidiary of BMG, in late 2023.

“I have been pursuing music my entire life,” Madison said, noting that she tried out for “American Idol” when she was 16. “I signed a record deal when I was 17, and I have been working so hard.”

“I’ve lost so many people and so many friends along the way, and it has literally been anything but easy,” Madison said tearfully, but then she shared a document with her fans that showed “Castle” was the second most-added song on Top 40 radio stations, only behind Morgan Wallen’s duet with Tate McRae, “What I Want.”

Haven Madison Makes Heartbreaking Admission About Feeling Like She Didn’t Matter Anymore

“Let me show you what happened today,” Madison said before pulling up the document and pointing to “Castle” in second place on the list. She then admitted that hours before getting that news, she was in her therapist’s office, thinking of giving up.

“To put it in perspective, literally at therapy this morning, I was just like, so broken,” she said, getting choked up again as she said she had been feeling that her songs were not making any impact on the music industry and that “the world wouldn’t be different if I wasn’t here.”

“And I just think this moment is about so much more than me,” Madison continued, wiping away her tears. “I just want whoever’s watching to know that you have such a divine purpose, and it might take a long time. It might be at the cost of losing some people you thought you wouldn’t lose, but what’s meant for you can’t pass you by. You are so, so important.”

Madison concluded, “And to anybody who follows me or listens to my music, or has supported me in literally any way, thank you so much. Like, you don’t even know how much it means. It’s been really hard, it’s been a long road, and it’s only the beginning. But I’m just so grateful.”

Fellow ‘American Idol’ Contestants Flood Haven Madison’s Post With Support

Madison received a flood of support in the comment section of her post, including from some of her fellow “American Idol” contestants.

“Yes queen yes,” wrote fellow season 21 finalist Blake Proehl, with whom she’s remained close friends.

Another friend she made on the show, Jordan Anthony, wrote, “UR AMAZING SUGARRRR ❤️”

Lucy Love, a top 12 contestant on season 21, wrote, “Right on time 🙌❤️ Congratulations Hay 😘🙌🏾”

Kayko, a top 10 finalist from season 22, chimed in, “Hi my name is haven Madison AND IM A BADASS AND I WRITE FIRE MUSIC”

Melinda Doolittle, a beloved contestant from season 6, commented, “That milestone is amazing, and you have been amazing leading up to it, and you will continue to be amazing way past it”