Leah LaBelle‘s come a long way since her run on American Idol.

After topping out at twelfth place on Season 3 just under a decade ago (we’re all old), the soulful songstress began lending her pipes as backup for the likes of Keri Hilson (Keri Hilson!) and Jordin Sparks, as well as heading out on tour with Robin Thicke. Persistence paid off, leading to a joint record deal in 2011 between LA Reid‘s Epic Records, Jermaine Dupri‘s So So Def Recordings and Pharell‘s new label, I Am Other. (You know, no pressure or whatever.)

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