Lee University alumni returns to "American Idol" with daughter

On the day of his daughter McKayla Stacey’s birth, Phil Stacey, Lee alumni, auditioned for season six of “American Idol,” where he earned a top six finish. Now he has returned to the show performing alongside McKalya Stacey in her season 22 audition. 

McKayla Stacey earned a ticket to Hollywood with her performance of “She Used to Be Mine” by Sara Bareilles. Her audition on “American Idol” was accompanied by piano — played by her dad. Phil Stacey said he actually did not want to play piano for McKayla’s audition because of his own nerves, but did so because of the encouragement of the producers. 

“In the back of my head, I’ve always known that I want to audition before I age out. I never expected to do it the first year I was eligible, but it was season six of ABCs version of ‘American Idol’ and my dad was on season six of the Fox version. With the encouragement of my family, I took a leap and did it,” said McKayla Stacey. 

After winning a karaoke competition, Phil Stacey auditioned for “American Idol” the same day McKayla Stacey was born in 2006, singing “My Girl” by The Temptations. 

Phil Stacey graduated Lee University in 2002 with a music degree, and now serves as a worship pastor at Central Community Church in Wichita, Kansas. He has authored both Christian and country songs and recently released a book titled “Made to Worship: Empty Idols and the Fullness of God,” which details his journey as a Christian in the music industry.  

“Lee was influential in my decision to audition! For starters, one of my close Lee Singer friends, Bartley Norton, had asked me to be in his wedding. When I told him I’d be deployed then, he told me that he would only forgive me for missing if I auditioned for ‘American Idol,’” said Phil Stacey. Phil Stacey went on to win a karoke contest, sparking Dr. Mauldin, former director of Lee Singers, to suggest he audition for “American Idol.” “We laughed about it together,” said Phil Stacey.

While Phil Stacey did not win the season, he did secure a record deal with Lyric Street Records.

“After ‘American Idol,’ I signed a recording contract with Disney. This led to a new wave of publicity and opportunity. It wasn’t long before I started getting requests from missionaries worldwide to do community events that would help them connect with the local population. Seeing the incredible response gave me a different perspective on why God had given me that enormous platform, and I began dedicating my work to supporting missionaries. As part of those efforts, I traveled to churches nationwide to raise money for the missionaries and organizations I supported,” said Phil Stacey. “One of those churches began asking me to be their worship pastor. Ultimately, I felt like it would give my wife and two daughters an opportunity to belong to a community and begin building relationships. I still get incredible opportunities to travel and perform, but I have truly enjoyed serving a local church body.”

McKayla Stacey hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps both by attending Lee University and competing in the musical competition.

“It was surreal to have my dad with me at my audition! I was his story and he was mine. It was so full circle. It was also fun watching him interact with the producers who were still there from his season,” McKayla Stacey said. 

Image courtesy of Phil Stacey.

“Someday, I hope to be a student at Lee University and follow in my parents footsteps by traveling and doing ministry as a student. I really love musical theatre, but I also love performing and singing mountain man, acoustic, campfire, chill music,” said McKayla Stacey. “I’m only 16, so I feel like I have a little time to really discover my voice and see where God leads!”

Both Phil Stacey’s and McKayla Stacey’s auditions can be found on Youtube. 

Follow McKayla’s American Idol journey on ABC to find out who will win season 22.