When American Idol premieres its ninth season on ABC tonight (Season 24 general), it begins with a dedication to former music supervisor Robin Kaye because the singing competitors continues to mourn her loss. Kaye and her husband, Tom DeLuca had been allegedly murdered of their Encino house in July 2025 by 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian.
In her honor, the opening title card for the collection reads:
“Season 24 of American Idol:
Devoted to Robin Kaye
‘We’ll prevent a seat.’”
Here is all the pieces to find out about Robin Kaye, and why American Idol determined to honor her.
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Who’s Robin Kaye?
Kaye was a music supervisor for American Idol up till her loss of life. She was chargeable for securing licensing for songs carried out by the contestants on American Idol. After a profession at file labels, together with MTM, MCA and PolyGram, she started engaged on the present in 2009 and is credited with greater than 300 episodes, together with some firsts.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she shared how she satisfied Led Zeppelin to permit a canopy of “Entire Lotta Love” to be carried out by Adam Lambert on Season 8.
“I stated, ‘That is the time to contemplate it. When you’re ever going to attempt it, that is the time.’ I don’t know if Robert Plant knew, however his supervisor did as a result of his youngsters had been large Adam followers. They watched the present in England.”
Who killed American Idol‘s Robin Kaye?
Raymond Boodarian was charged with two counts of homicide and one rely of residential housebreaking two days after the murders of Robin Kaye and her husband, however in November 2025, he was declared mentally incompetent to face trial and ordered to be dedicated to a state hospital, in accordance with ABC7 in Los Angeles.
Per Web page Six, in December, Boodarian’s particular analysis was not confirmed, however the decide added, “The defendant lacks the capability to make choices relating to psychotropic treatment.” He was ordered to be dedicated to a state hospital.
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How did Robin Kaye die?
Robin Kaye and Tom DeLuca had been each killed of their house. Of their investigation, the LAPD concluded that the killings seemed to be random and that DeLuca and Kaye weren’t particularly focused by Raymond Boodarian.
Slightly, surveillance footage indicated that Boodarian allegedly entered their house by means of an unlocked door whereas the couple was on the grocery retailer. A “violent wrestle” ensued after they returned house, throughout which they had been killed with their very own gun.
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How did American Idol reply to Robin Kaye’s loss of life?
Again in July 2025, on the time of the murders, American Idol issued an official assertion about Kaye’s loss of life: “We’re devastated to listen to of Robin and her pricey husband Tom’s passing. Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol household since 2009 and was really cherished and revered by all who got here involved together with her. Robin will stay in our hearts endlessly and we share our deepest sympathy together with her household and mates throughout this tough time.”
The Hollywood Reporter spoke to a number of of the artists that Kaye labored with over the course of the present, together with Danny Gokey from Season 8, who stated, “Most of our interactions had been in regards to the songs I wished to sing on the present. She was at all times actually candy, accommodating and humble. She at all times tried her finest to get the songs that we wished to sing cleared, but when she obtained a ‘no,’ she would work rapidly to search out alternate options for us. I’m shocked by her passing. It’s a tragic loss for the complete Idol household.”
American Idol returns Monday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Streams subsequent day on Hulu.
