El Paso native Julián Kalel, 19, advocates for mental health through music and has recently taken his mission to season 24 of “American Idol,” promoting authenticity, love and the idea that it is OK to ask for help.

Kalel recalls that music and extracurricular activities were a part of his life from a young age. While his father encouraged him to join sports, which he pursued for some time, his mother always encouraged her children to learn an instrument and express themselves creatively.

Kalel participated in activities such as musical theater and mariachi; later, singing became one of his coping mechanisms during difficult times in his life.

“When I was diagnosed with it [anxiety and depression], my freshman year of high school, music became my lifeline and it still is my life,” Kalel said.

Kalel’s talent earned him a golden ticket on “American Idol” in 2025, but he stepped away because of mental health challenges and later debated whether to return.

“It’s easy to quit and give up and say, ‘This isn’t for me. I’m not cut out for this’… it’s easy to give into your mind,” Kalel said. “I had to really reflect on what it meant to make music and what I wanted out of it. I knew that my dream was to make someone else feel less alone, more understood and more seen. If I could do it for one person, my job is done.”

Kalel has reached far more than one person, emerging as one of El Paso’s fastest-growing artists in recent years, with more than 106,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and a combined total of 200,000 listeners across Spotify and Apple Music.

Kalel’s song “Surrender” reached No. 63 on the Canada iTunes Country Chart and No. 82 on the U.S. iTunes Country Chart. “Lone Guitar” reached No. 53 on the U.S. iTunes Country Chart.

As Kalel advances on “American Idol” and looks ahead to his music career, he has made a strong impression on listeners, from cheering audiences during his performances to the small but meaningful messages he has received.

“That’s why I do this. We’ve gotten hundreds upon hundreds of messages of people being brave enough to share their stories and their struggles, telling me out of all people, ‘You’re the reason I decided to stay one more day,’” Kalel said. “I really can’t express my gratitude because I see myself as just a kid. I’m not a mental health expert, I’m just human.”

Through his work and mission, he hopes to create space for people to feel comfortable saying they are not OK and reaching out for love and support.

“We need to make a safer community and environment for people to talk about how they’re feeling because it’s so stigmatized, especially for men. We are told we need to suck it up and shut up, man up,” Kalel said. “We’re all human here, right? We all have struggles … for me, it’s all about creating a space that says ‘you are loved here.’”

Kalel also hopes to reach his community in El Paso. He hopes to break down the stigma around mental health that persists in many Latino communities and prevents people, especially men, from getting help.

“People think crying is weak, that showing emotion is weak, but that’s the biggest strength you could possibly show. It makes us human,” Kalel said.

In his “American Idol” journey so far, Kalel has learned lessons he now carries with him and shares with others who need them.

Kalel emphasizes that authenticity is a source of resilience and that being yourself can keep you moving forward.

“You would be incredibly shocked by how much your life can change by being a little more compassionate towards yourself, towards others, loving yourself, and most importantly being your authentic self no matter what,” Kalel said. “People don’t see the imperfections and insecurities you see. We are our own biggest critic … try to see yourself through the lens of someone who loves you.”

Kalel intends to stay true to his mission of advocating for mental health and authenticity
throughout the season and into his music career.

Kalel has advanced to the Top 14 on this season of “American Idol.” After what host Ryan
Seacrest called a “truly unprecedented” number of votes, Seacrest did not announce which two contestants would be eliminated at the end of the March 30 episode as expected. Instead, he closed the show by saying the results will be revealed at the start of the April 6 show, leaving the contestants, judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and the audience in shock.

To continue following Julian’s “American Idol” journey, tune in on Monday nights at 8/7c on ABC and next day on Disney+ and Hulu.