Selma native backs up American Idol winner on tour

Published 10:06 pm Friday, April 27, 2018

By Oniska Blevins | The Selma Times-Journal

Whether it was in the church choir or at family functions, Kwamika Fletcher has never been a stranger to using her voice. She’s been singing since she was two years old.

“Singing has always been my passion,” Fletcher said.

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She is now using that passion and is living her dream as a background singer for American Idol season two winner Ruben Studdard.

The 28-year-old Selma native is a 2008 graduate from Southside High School.

After graduating high school, she attended Wallace Community College Selma and then transferred to Auburn University in Montgomery.

However, in 2011, a tragic car wreck left her wheelchair bound for a couple of months and claimed the life of her aunt and uncle. As a result of the wreck, she took a break from school.

“All the plans in my life were put on hold,” she said.

Those plans and dreams resurfaced once her cousin tagged her in a Facebook post about auditions to be a background singer for Studdard. Fletcher said after auditioning, she received a call a couple of days later from Studdard’s team offering her the position.

“When I got that call I was just in awe,” Fletcher remembered.

“Always & Forever: An Evening of Luther Vandross feat. Ruben Studdard” is a one-month tour. It started April 8 in Sacramento, California and will end May 13 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“It’s so exciting,” she said. “Most of the places I have visited are places that I’ve often dreamed [of].”

Although she enjoys traveling with the tour, the most difficult part of traveling is being away from her two-year-old son Jeremy. She said he is the most important person in the world to her, and when she starts to miss him she reminds herself she is doing this all for him.

Darlene Fletcher, Kwamika’s mother, said the news came as no surprise to her family and friends.

“Even from a young age, two or three, she was always singing,” Darlene said.

Darlene said she and Kwamika were together when she received the news that she had been selected to be a background singer on Studdard’s tour. They later told the entire family about the news.

“Everybody was so excited for her,” Darlene said.

Darlene said even if it is just for a few minutes, the two talk everyday while Kwamika is on tour. She is happy her daughter gets to see the world while touring.

“Every young person should be able to get out and experience life other than just from their hometown,” Darlene said. “There’s a whole world out there and some people never get to see it.”

Darlene said she sees this as a great opportunity, and she is grateful to God that Kwamika gets to live out her dreams.

“For her to have an opportunity like this, I can’t tell you how much of a blessing this is,” Darlene said.