Just days after his emotional elimination from American Idol Season 24, Brooks Rosser is looking back on his journey with gratitude and looking ahead to one more big return to the Idol stage.

After being sent home during the April 27 Top 7 episode alongside Daniel Stallworth, Brooks opened up about his true feelings regarding the results, admitting he never expected to make it as far as he did in the competition.

“I did not think I would make it this far,” Brooks shared during an appearance on the official American Idol podcast with Danielle Fishel. “I was so surprised I even got the golden ticket, so I’m just so happy I made it this far. It’s been such a good journey.”

Rather than focusing on disappointment, Brooks said he left the competition feeling proud of himself and grateful for the support he received from both the judges and his fellow contestants.
“I’m so proud of myself for how far I came,” he said. “I love that the judges are so supportive, on and off camera. They all just gave me a hug and said, ‘This is not the end at all.’ It’s awesome that they said that.”

Although his journey as a competitor has ended, Brooks is not done with American Idol just yet. He confirmed that he will be heading back to Los Angeles on May 11 for the Season 24 finale, where previously eliminated contestants will return to perform as America crowns its next winner.

And he will not be making that trip alone.

Brooks will reunite in Los Angeles with girlfriend and fellow former contestant Rae Boyd, who was eliminated earlier in the season after her Top 11 performance on April 13. The pair, who officially confirmed their romance during the April 20 episode, have quickly become one of the most talked-about couples of the season.

Just days after Brooks’ elimination, the two reunited back home in Maryland, where they are both from. Brooks shared a sweet photo from their recent date night on his Instagram Story, showing the couple smiling together after the intense competition schedule.

Rae later reposted the image on her own Story and captioned it simply, “Night out :).”

Their reunion came shortly after Rae had emotionally supported Brooks from afar during his final live performances. While she was not in the studio audience for the April 27 episode, she watched from a local watch party in Maryland as Brooks performed “Love Story” by Taylor Swift and “She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5.

After watching him perform, Rae shared her feelings online, writing, “I love him so much. I have no words.”

Brooks also made sure Rae was part of his final Idol moments. In his pre-taped package before performing “She Will Be Loved,” he gave her a heartfelt shout-out, saying, “I hope Rae feels loved,” while also revealing that the couple had already said “I love you” to each other.

Their relationship first began quietly after auditions and Hollywood Week were filmed in Maryland last fall. Although they kept things private for months, Rae surprised Brooks on stage during the April 20 episode and famously declared, “The princess is here to claim her prince!” officially confirming their romance to viewers.

Now, with both of them preparing to return for the finale and focusing on life after the show, Brooks and Rae are embracing both their careers and their relationship beyond the competition.

As Rae previously shared, they are simply looking forward to “being in a normal relationship” and continuing to support each other while chasing their music dreams.

For Brooks, leaving American Idol may have ended one chapter but with Rae by his side and one final performance still ahead, the next chapter may be even bigger.