Malik Bilbrew, a Penn State Class of 2022 alum, delivered a heartfelt audition on season 23 of “American Idol,” ultimately securing a golden ticket to Hollywood. 

Growing up, Bilbrew always found himself surrounded by music. At a young age, Bilbrew discovered his passion for performing, with dreams of one day taking it on professionally.

Stepping foot in Happy Valley in 2018 to pursue musical theatre, Bilbrew immersed himself in the arts immediately, taking advantage of any chance he could to show off his talents and perform on a stage. 

While performing and expanding his craft at Penn State, Bilbrew not only learned more about the world of theatre, but he also learned more about himself, as he began to grow into the person he is today. 

“I developed and gained a further understanding of vulnerability and the grit that you have to develop to show up for that kind of rigor,” Bilbrew shared. “I kind of metastasized and grew while I was there… A lot of my college experience was learning how to take care of myself and love myself better and show up better for these things that I want to show up for in the fullest and most authentic capacity.” 

During his tenure as a musical theater student, Bilbrew starred as the lead character in several shows, such as Gomez Addams in “The Addams Family” and Lucky in “The Lucky Boy,” a musical written by his former classmates and friend Kirsten Childs, to name a few. Through his classes, he developed a better understanding of how to best utilize his skills, and his time on stage allowed him to showcase them.

However, during his final days at Penn State, his senior year, Bilbrew’s world was turned upside down, as he faced a death in his family that hit close to home. 

“I had a really kind of extenuating circumstance because a couple of days before I graduated, my mom passed away, and that just blew my mind and rocked my world,” Bilbrew shared. “I had to step back and reevaluate what was important to me. I had to do a lot of grieving. I had to really ground myself and take a step back from what I thought I needed to do, and get real with what I actually needed to do.”

After taking time for himself to refocus and grieve, Bilbrew moved to New York and found what he calls a “survival job,” while starting to audition again. Eventually, he booked his first professional gig at one of the most prestigious regional theaters in the country, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, while performing in a production of the hit Broadway show “Rent” as a swing. 

“I ended up booking that job six months out of college, and that was because of my connections at Penn State. So that was really special,” Bilbrew said.

While working at that job, “American Idol” presented itself when one of the casting agents reached out to him after coming across his impressions of actor and singer Ben Platt via TikTok. Bilbrew then quickly started the auditioning process, singing for the show’s agents before eventually for its producers.

When it came time to decide on the song he would be performing for both judges, and eventually to the show’s nationwide audience, Bilbrew had the perfect song in mind: “Remedy” by Adele. The song not only allowed him to showcase his talents, but it was also one he felt personally connected to. 

“Adele has always been an artist that my family loves and an artist that my mom loved. And so, I was like, ‘Oh, this is a no-brainer,” Bilbrew shared.

Finally, in early October 2024, the day had finally come for Bilbrew to audition in New York in front of American Idol judges and award-winning singer-songwriters Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood.

In the thick of it all, Bilbrew spent his time waiting for his audition slot by meeting like-minded singers and growing his connections within the field. 

“It was a really special experience to be in the energy of people that love to do what they do and love to sing specifically,” he said. “It was really inspiring to see all of these artists have a vision and chase that vision, and to be a part of that and to be around greatness was incredible. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience and a more adverse experience.”

Immediately following his moving performance, which aired on March 30, Bilbrew achieved a personal milestone, as all three judges said “yes,” granting him a golden ticket. As one of 150 people who made it through auditions, Bilbrew took the next steps to start preparing for Hollywood by preparing another song — this time by singer-songwriter and “American Idol” veteran Tori Kelly. 

During this time, Bilbrew experienced the “go, go, go” hustle he once felt while at Penn State. However, his time on “American Idol” ended, as he didn’t make it through Hollywood Week.

“The fact that I got my golden ticket and went into that room and experienced all of that was insane,” Bilbrew shared. “That was just another step, and kind of like momentum propelling onto the next thing…The people that you meet here and the connections that you make are going to impact your next job or the next creative opportunity or the next relationship that you develop.”

Although he didn’t make it through the televised singing competition’s Hollywood Week, Bilbrew didn’t let that stop him from auditioning for more professional opportunities. Rather than being bummed out, Bilbrew looked at the glass half full and used that experience as a stepping stone. 

“I’m a very spiritual person, and I’ve come to realize that my identity is not in what I do, but more so in what I want to share, which is love and light and laughter and goodness,” he shared. “Singing feels amazing to me, and it was a gift I was given that I feel called to share with others.”

While he continues to audition in New York, reflecting on his previous experiences, Bilbrew has come to realize that without Penn State, he wouldn’t have accomplished such a life-changing and eye-opening experience.  

“I think going to Penn State also helped me realize that life is so beautiful,” Bilbrew shared. “It’s so special, and it’s also so precious and so short, that if you just get intentional now about how you want to live it, it’ll be as beautiful as you want it to be.”