Rocker Caleb Johnson says he’s “baffled” as to why the music he released after winning “American Idol” in 2014 has suddenly disappeared from the internet.
Johnson, 33, posted an Instagram video on February 12, 2025, to alert his fans about the situation. He said that without warning, Interscope Records has removed every song on his first album from streaming platforms. Johnson said the label also took down the music video for “Fighting Gravity” from Vevo and YouTube, despite him paying $30,000 to produce it.
Fans are rallying around Johnson online, hoping for a swift remedy. Interscope Records has not responded to EntertainmentNOW’s request for comment.
“That was my first record that I ever did after ‘American Idol,'” Johnson said of his “Testify” album, “and I’m just baffled as to why it’s been pulled down.”
In August 2024, Caleb Johnson Celebrated 10 Years Since ‘Testify’ Album Topped Rock Charts
Interscope Records released “Testify” in 2014, months after Johnson won “American Idol.” In an August 2024 Instagram post celebrating its 10th anniversary, he wrote that the record “debuted at #1 on the iTunes rock charts and #24 on the @billboard top 40 !!”
In the selfie video he posted on February 12 about the music being removed, Johnson said, “I am super pissed and confused and upset as to why this happened. Um, I love that record. I know a lot of you guys love that record.”
Johnson added, “My team and I are working really hard to figure this out and get this music and that video back up online. I paid $30,000 of my own money for that music video, and it’s just really frustrating and upsetting that it’s just gone.”
The rocker, who has toured with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra each holiday season since 2018, added, “Love you guys. Thank you so much for the support. I’m hoping to have some good news for you guys soon and get all that stuff back up online.”
Fans flooded Johnson’s post to express their shock and frustration, and encouraged him not to give up, including one who wrote, “Love you Caleb❤️ This is a horrible development 😮 Don’t give up the fight”
“Nooo this is BS,” someone else wrote. “Love this Record . Caleb we are gonna gonna get it back”
Season 11 “Idol” alum Chelsea Sorrell commented, “What the heck!?!?? 💔💔💔 I’m sorry Caleb! All that work you put in too – I didn’t realize they could just pull it all. And the fact that it’s not on my phone now at all either 🤯🤯 – I’m so sorry! I hope this gets sorted out soon!”
Caleb Johnson Shares ‘Bootleg Version’ of Meaningful Music Video While He Waits for Answers
On February 20, Johnson posted an Instagram update with a “bootleg version” of a video (above) that chronicled the making of his “Fighting Gravity” video, writing, “Why this was taken down along with the rest of the album is totally insane !”
“This video was inspired by a true encounter I had while visiting patients at my hometowns hospital around the holidays back in December of 2014,” he shared. “I literally witnessed a mother watching her child be taken from her by a rare form of pediatric brain cancer. Seeing that emotionally wrecked me and felt moved to tell their story.”
“This is my art,” Johnson wrote, “and I will fight to get all of it back up for y’all to enjoy as soon as possible. 🤘❤️🤘”
In November, Johnson released the single “Blind” featuring acclaimed guitarist Joe Bonamassa.
Comments
Fans Rally Around ‘Idol’ Winner After Record Label Takes Down His Music: ‘It’s Just Gone’