Jena Irene Asciutto

Last updated

Jena Irene Asciutto
Jena Irene Asciutto Wolf Trap.jpg
Asciutto in 2014
Background information
Also known asJena Irene
Born (1996-07-13) July 13, 1996 (age 27)
Farmington Hills, Michigan, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active2014–present
LabelsOriginal 1265 Recordings
Website www.jenairene.com

Jena Irene Asciutto (born July 13, 1996), also known as Jena Irene, is an American singer-songwriter who first came to prominence in 2014 as the runner-up on the thirteenth season of American Idol . Asciutto became the first female Wild Card contestant of the series to qualify into the finale and became the second Wild Card contestant, after Clay Aiken in the second season, to make it into the finale. In April 2015, she signed a long-term recording deal with the independent Detroit label Original 1265 Recordings. [1] Asciutto released her debut EP, Innocence , on April 22, 2016, which was followed by her debut album, Cold Fame, on June 2, 2017.

Contents

Early life

Jena Irene Asciutto was born in Farmington Hills, Michigan, on July 13, 1996, to George Asciutto and Julie (née Loiselle). [2] She graduated from North Farmington High School on June 8, 2014. [3] She participated in North Farmington's annual "Coffee House" talent show, and from ages 12–16 was a member of a band called Infinity Hour, before it disbanded in February 2013, prior to her American Idol audition. [4]

Career

2014-present: American Idol, Innocence, and Cold Fame

While on American Idol, she performed under the shortened name of Jena Irene. For her American Idol audition, Asciutto sang "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele. During the audition process, production continually called her "Jena Irene", possibly due to a mistake she made when writing down her name, as "Irene" is not her surname, but rather her middle name. Although she initially made attempts to correct her name, she eventually decided to keep the name professionally. [5]

During the group round, she sang "Too Close" by Alex Clare, alongside Sikenya Thomson, Allie Odom, and Mufarid Zaidi. She made it into the third part of Hollywood week by singing an original song called "Unbreakable Me," which has since been released on iTunes. Asciutto performed the song again during her hometown visit after making it to the top 3. She was announced as the runner-up on May 21, 2014.

Performances on American Idol

EpisodeThemeSong choiceOriginal artistOrderResult
AuditionAuditioner's Choice"Rolling in the Deep" Adele N/AAdvanced
Hollywood Round, Part 1A Capella"Video Games" Lana Del Rey N/AAdvanced
Hollywood Round, Part 2Group Performance"Too Close"
with Sikenya Thompson, Allie Odom, and Munfarid Zaidi		 Alex Clare N/AAdvanced
Hollywood Round, Part 3Solo"Unbreakable Me" (original composition)Jena IreneN/AAdvanced
Top 31 (10 Women)Personal Choice"Paint It, Black" The Rolling Stones 4Wild Card
Wild CardHollywood Solo"Unbreakable Me" (original composition)Jena Irene2Advanced
Top 13This Is Me"The Scientist" Coldplay 8Safe
Top 12Home"Suddenly I See" KT Tunstall 1Bottom 3
Top 11Songs from the Cinema"Decode" Paramore 10Safe
Top 10 Billboard Top 10"Clarity" Zedd feat. Foxes 3Safe
Top 9I'm with the Band!"Bring Me to Life" Evanescence feat. Paul McCoy 9Safe
Top 8Back to the StartDuet "Just Give Me a Reason"
with Alex Preston 		Pink feat. Nate Ruess 3Safe
Solo "Rolling in the Deep"Adele9
Top 8Songs from the 1980s Solo "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" Arrows 1Safe
Duet "It's Only Love"
with Caleb Johnson 		Bryan Adams & Tina Turner 5
Top 7Competitors' ChoiceDuet "Gimme Shelter"
with Caleb Johnson		The Rolling Stones6Safe
Solo "Creep" Radiohead 10
Top 6Rock 'n' Roll"Barracuda" Heart 1Safe
Country"So Small" Carrie Underwood 10
Top 5America's RequestsTrio "Best Day of My Life"
with Alex Preston & Sam Woolf 		American Authors 3Safe
Solo "My Body" Young the Giant 6
Solo "Valerie" Amy Winehouse 9
Top 4Love Songs"Heartbreaker" Pat Benatar 4Safe
"Bad Romance" Lady Gaga 7
"Can't Help Falling in Love" Elvis Presley 11
Top 3 Randy Jackson's Choice"Titanium" David Guetta feat. Sia 3Safe
Judges' Choice"Heart Attack" Demi Lovato 6
Hometown's Choice"Creep"Radiohead9
Finale Simon Fuller's Choice"Dog Days Are Over" Florence + the Machine 1Runner-up
Reprisal Song"Can't Help Falling in Love"Elvis Presley3
Winner's Single"We Are One"Jena Irene5
    Irene 2014 Jena Irene 2014.jpg
    Irene 2014

    Asciutto took part in the American Idols Live! Tour 2014 from June 24 through August 24, 2014. She began work on her debut album immediately after the show as well. [6]

    In April 2015, Asciutto signed a record deal with Detroit-based label Original 1265 Records. [1] In October 2015, the music video for "Unbreakable" was released. [7] The single would later be on both debut EP, Innocence, which was released on April 22, 2016, and her album, Cold Fame, was released in late 2016. [8] [9] The music video for the second single, "Innocence", was released on April 20, 2016.[ citation needed ] On April 22, 2016, "You Gotta Help Me", was featured in the Billboard.com Editors' Picks.[ citation needed ]


    Discography

    Extended plays

    List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
    TitleAlbum detailsPeak
    chart
    positions
    US
    Heat
    Innocence
    • Released: April 22, 2016
    • Label: Original 1265
    • Format: CD, Digital download
    		18
    Cold Fame
    • Released: June 2, 2017
    • Label:Original 1265
    • Format:CD, Digital download

    Singles

    TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
    US
    "We Are One"2014——
    "Unbreakable"2016—Innocence and Cold Fame
    "Innocence"—Innocence
    "You Gotta Help Me"—
    Releases from "American Idol"

    Music videos

    TitleYear
    "Unbreakable"2015
    "Innocence"2016
    "Floating Down the River"2017
    "So I Get High"2017

    Related Research Articles

    <i>American Idol</i> American singing competition

    American Idol is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to April 7, 2016, for 15 seasons. It was on hiatus for two years until March 11, 2018, when a revival of the series began airing on ABC.

    <i>Australian Idol</i> Australian singing competition TV series

    Australian Idol is an Australian singing competition, which began its first season in July 2003 and ended its initial run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive Simon Fuller. Australian Idol was televised on Network Ten for its first seven series and was broadcast on the Southern Cross Austereo Radio Network between 2005 and 2007. The series returned in 2023 after Seven Network announced they would be picking up the show.

    <i>American Idol</i> season 3 Season of television series

    The third season of American Idol premiered on Monday, January 19, 2004, and continued until May 26, 2004. The third season was won by Fantasia Barrino, who defeated Diana DeGarmo by an approximate margin of 2% ; the vote total was then the highest recorded vote total in the show's history. This season also featured future EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, who finished seventh in the competition.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandisa</span> American singer (1976–2024)

    Mandisa Lynn Hundley, known mononymously as Mandisa, was an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist. She began her solo career as a contestant in the fifth season of American Idol finishing in ninth place. Her album Overcomer won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album; she was the fifth American Idol contestant to win a Grammy.

    <i>Idol</i> (Swedish TV series) TV series or program

    Idol is a Swedish reality-competition talent show broadcast on TV4. It first appeared in August 2004, and became one of the most popular shows on Swedish television. Part of the Idols franchise, it originated from the reality program Pop Idol created by British entertainment executive Simon Fuller, which was first aired in 2001 in the United Kingdom.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">LaKisha Jones</span> American singer

    LaKisha Ann Jones is an American singer. She placed fourth on the sixth season of American Idol.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marie Picasso</span> Swedish singer, host and model (born 1979)

    Marie Picasso is a Swedish singer, host and model who first rose to fame as a housemate on the popular reality television show Big Brother, before going on to win the fourth series of the Swedish singing competition Idol.

    The first season of Australian Idol was produced by Fremantle Media subsidiary Grundy Television in association with UK company 19TV, and was broadcast on Network Ten for 19 weeks in the latter half of 2003. The judges were Mark Holden, Marcia Hines and Ian "Dicko" Dickson.

    Felicia Diana Barton is an American singer and songwriter, best known for her appearance on the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. Since 2013, she has joined Warner-Chappell Music and Pulse Recording as a songwriter, and has co-written songs for Demi Lovato, Seohyun and Lea Michele.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Burgess (singer)</span> American musician

    Sarah Burgess is an American singer-songwriter who was a contestant on the sixth season of the television series American Idol. She signed with indie label, PME Records in 2007, and released her album One in 2008 to stores in the US. In 2009, her album was released in Japan stores. In July 2009, Burgess announced she had parted ways with PME Records. Burgess went on a tour in Switzerland in September 2009.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Bowersox</span> American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1985)

    Crystal Lynn Bowersox is an American singer, songwriter and actress who was the runner-up on the ninth season of American Idol. She was the first female finalist in three years.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Colton Dixon</span> American musician

    Michael Colton Dixon is an American singer-songwriter and musician from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He placed seventh on the eleventh season of American Idol.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Skylar Laine</span> American singer

    Skylar Laine is an American singer from Brandon, Mississippi. She placed fifth on the eleventh season of American Idol.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Candice Glover</span> American singer and actress

    Candice Rickelle Glover is an American R&B singer and actress who won the twelfth season of American Idol. Glover is the first winner to have auditioned three times before being cast for the live shows. Her debut album Music Speaks was released on February 18, 2014.

    <i>American Idol</i> season 13 Season of television series

    The thirteenth season of American Idol, styled as American Idol XIII, premiered on the Fox television network on January 15, 2014. Ryan Seacrest returned as host for his thirteenth season. Keith Urban was the only judge from the twelfth season to return. Former judge Jennifer Lopez, who returned after a one-season absence, and Harry Connick Jr. both joined the judging panel following the departures of Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, and Nicki Minaj, although Jackson remained as a mentor, replacing Jimmy Iovine.

    <i>Innocence</i> (Jena Irene Asciutto EP) 2016 EP by Jena Irene Asciutto

    Innocence is the debut extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter Jena Irene Asciutto. It was released through Detroit-based label Original 1265 Recordings on April 22, 2016. Innocence serves as her first release after becoming the runner-up on the thirteenth season of American Idol.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Caleb Johnson</span> American singer (born 1991)

    Caleb Perry Johnson is an American singer who won the thirteenth season of American Idol. Prior to appearing on the series, he was the front man for the band Elijah Hooker. After American Idol, Johnson released his debut solo album, Testify, through Interscope Records. After leaving his label, he formed another group, Caleb Johnson and the Ramblin' Saints, and in 2019, the group self-released its first album, Born from Southern Ground.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Meuse</span> American singer-songwriter

    Jessica Rose Meuse, also known as Jess Meuse, is an American singer-songwriter from Slapout, Alabama. After spending several years as an unsigned musician, she finished in fourth place on the thirteenth season of American Idol. Her debut album, What's So Hard About Bein' a Man, was self-released in 2011, three years before she gained national exposure on reality television. While competing on American Idol, she became the first person in the history of the series to perform an original song during the finals. Her second album, Halfhearted, was released on August 3, 2018, through Warrior Records.

    <i>American Idol</i> season 14 Season of television series

    The fourteenth season of American Idol, also known as American Idol XIV, premiered on the Fox television network on January 7, 2015. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, while Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez, and Keith Urban returned as judges. Randy Jackson stepped down as the in-house mentor and was replaced by Scott Borchetta. Long-time sponsor Coca-Cola ended its relationship with the show.

    La'Porsha Renae Mays, known professionally as La'Porsha Renae, is an American singer-songwriter from McComb, Mississippi. In 2015 she auditioned for the fifteenth season of American Idol, which at that time was the final season. On April 7, 2016, she finished as runner-up on the show, behind winner Trent Harmon. In March 2017, Renae released her debut album Already All Ready.

    References

    1. 1 2 "'Idol' finalist Jena Irene signs record deal with Detroit label". Freep.com. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
    2. ↑ Sue White (February 22, 2014). "'American Idol' finalist Jena Irene Asciutto has strong Bay City ties". MLive.com.
    3. ↑ Shari (May 21, 2014). "American Idol Jena Irene Sings 'Ain't It Fun' with Paramour 5/21/14 – #Idolfinale". Have U Heard. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
    4. ↑ "Who Is Jena Irene Asciutto? American Idol 2014 Contestant Background Info". Wetpaint.com. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
    5. ↑ Perlman, Jake. "'Idol' Exit Interview: Runner-up Jena Irene on her name change, why she won't perform at prom – VIDEO". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
    6. ↑ "Jena Irene looks forward to a debut album | Idol Chatter & Voice Views". Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
    7. ↑ "Blog". Jena Irene. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
    8. ↑ "Jena Irene Asciutto (@JenaAsciutto1) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
    9. ↑ "See what 'American Idol' runner-up Jena Irene Asciutto is up to now". MLive.com. February 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.