### Former 'American Idol' Contestant Caleb Kennedy Sentenced for 2022 DUI Crash

Country music singer Caleb Kennedy, renowned for his stint on 'American Idol,' has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in a 2022 DUI crash that tragically resulted in the death of 54-year-old Larry Duane Parris. Kennedy has received a 25-year prison sentence and a $25,100 fine. However, this sentence has been suspended to eight years with a reduced fine of $15,100.

According to Taste of Country, Kennedy will serve three of the eight years under home detention. He is also credited for two years and nine months already spent in custody, meaning he will spend the next two years and three months in prison. Additionally, Kennedy is required to undergo counseling and will be on probation for five years.

The incident took place in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where Kennedy was arrested in February 2022. Authorities reported that Kennedy crashed into a workshop behind a home, leading to Parris' fatal injuries. A toxicology report from the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Kennedy had THC and Prozac in his system at the time of the crash, the latter being a prescribed medication.

Kennedy’s time on 'American Idol' was not without controversy. In 2021, he reached the Top 5 before a video surfaced showing him as a pre-teen sitting next to someone wearing a hood resembling those worn by Ku Klux Klan members. The video led to his early departure from the show.

The sentencing marks a significant chapter in the young country singer’s life, demonstrating the severe legal and personal consequences of driving under the influence.