American Idol singer and BYUI student finds her voice

In January 2026, Season 24 of American Idol aired, featuring Carmen Martin, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a current student at Brigham Young University Idaho.

Martins audition went viral online due to the presence of her aunt, Britani Bateman, a member of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. However, Martin revealed that having her aunt at the audition wasnt her idea it was the producers.

It turned into the Britani show, Martin said. The world knows nothing about me they know that Im Britanis niece. I wish I couldve been portrayed for who I am.

Martin said she had always dreamed of getting out and trying her hand in the music world, so when a friend was able to put her in contact with one of the American Idol producers, she decided to go for it. Within two days, she received the invite to come film in Nashville.

Martins experience on the show had both ups and downs. While she enjoyed the audition and the opportunity to speak with the judges, there were lots of challenges following. This included Hollywood Week, which Martin described as a traumatic experience.

Even though the world of reality TV and competition isnt for Martin, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the lessons learned.

If I didnt do American Idol, I definitely would not have known that that world is maybe not for me, Martin said.

One of the main things that got her through the difficult experience was her faith. Martin said after the show aired, she ended up deleting social media and taking some time for personal reflection.

For two months straight, I just had a one-on-one with my Heavenly Father, she said. Thats what brought me to college, thats what brought me to amazing people. Its changed my view on music and doing it as a career, and just trying to find more fulfillment in life.

Martin said shes always been able to feel the spirit strongly through music. As a child, she took piano and voice lessons and discovered that she loved performing.

One of my absolute favorite things in the entire world is to sing about Jesus Christ in sacrament meeting, Martin said.

She elaborated that there are some things about her testimony that can be expressed better through song than just speaking.

Martin also talked about her experience with battling anxiety. She remembers quitting a lot of sports as a child because she was anxious, but her parents made her stick with piano and voice.

The more I trained my voice and the better I got at music, the more I found myself, Martin said. Eventually getting on the stage was a relief rather than some scary thing, because I was doing something that I felt confident in.

She said she's been able to carry that confidence into other aspects of her life, allowing her to interact with others on a deeper level.

Regarding her future with singing, Martin wants to eventually write and record a Christian album.

During her mission as a Latter-day Saint, she found that one way she could serve others was by writing gospel songs and posting them on Facebook. Martin said she wants to be able to continue to provide others with music that brings peace and strengthens faith.

I dont need to make money off of it; its just a way that I can bring the gospel to people without being there, Martin said.

While her American Idol experience wasnt everything she hoped for, Martin is continuing to use her talents to bless and uplift those around her.