Benson Boone didn’t want to be known as a product of American Idol. During an appearance on Zach Sang Show, the 22-year-old singer opened up about why he exited the competition series after making it to season 19’s top 24 in 2021.

“The reason I quit American Idol is because I wanted to do music. I decided that I wanted to do music,” Boone said. “I don’t want people to be like, ‘Oh, Benson Boone. American Idol blew him up. That’s where he comes from.’ No. I want to be Benson Boone because I write smash hits and they love my music. That’s why I quit. I just didn’t want that label on me.”

The move ultimately worked out in Boone’s favor, as he went on to release hit songs including “Beautiful Things” and even open for Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour.

Benson Boone’s Risky Decision to Leave ‘American Idol’

“I think I’m a big risk taker and that’s how I’ve been my whole life,” Boone said. “I’ve been that way in sports, or in cliff jumping, or stuff like that. I always like to feel the thrill of not knowing fully how something’s going to go. Obviously, this is a very different category than jumping off a cliff into 10-foot water.”

While he favors taking chances, that’s not the only reason Boone believes he was able to jump into headfirst into unknown waters.

“I really have great parents. I think they played a big part in this,” he said. Continuing, Benson added “I talked to my mom while I was on American Idol. When I told them I wanted to quit, they don’t know anything about music, so they were very confused about why I wanted to quit.”

“Once I explained it—like, ‘I don’t want to have this label posted on me for life, that I’m the American Idol kid. But if I really want to do music, and I really think I can do it, then I’m going to try my best to get as far as I can.’—they just believed in me,” Boone continued. “I think it was because they believed in me that I really thought I could do it.”

Benson Boone: “I Didn’t Know How to Write a Song”

Even with his parents’ support, Boone had questions about if he’d be able to make it on his own.

“I’d never written a song. I didn’t know if I could write a song, I didn’t know how to write a song. I didn’t know where to start to write a song,” Boone said. “[There were] just a lot of things I didn’t know and I just kind of expected it to go well as a 19, 18-year-old does. I just saw an opportunity and I took it.”

One person who never doubted Boone was Idol judge Katy Perry. During Boone’s audition for the series, Perry was quick to laud the then-18-year-old.

“They’re gonna swoon over Benson Boone,” Perry predicted after Boone’s performance of “I mean, I’m going to tell you something that you may not believe, but if you believe it, it might happen. I mean, I literally see American Idol and I see you, and I see you winning American Idol if you want.”