Brooks Rosser gave his girlfriend, Rae Boyd, a special shout-out during the April 27 episode of American Idol. Just one week after the Season 24 couple confirmed their relationship on the show, Brooks shared an update on where things stand in their romance.
He took the stage to sing “She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5, and explained that he can relate to the song “a little more because I have a girlfriend [now].”
When Brooks was asked if he and Rae have used “the L word” yet, he confirmed they have. He also gushed, “I hope Rae feels loved,” at the end of his introduction package. Then, when host Ryan Seacrest asked why he chose that particular song to sing, Brooks confirmed, “Because I’m in love, Ryan!”
Brooks and Rae met during American Idol auditions in the fall of 2025 and formed a friendship. Then, before the Live Shows began in March, they spent time together in Maryland, where they’re both from. The two contestants secretly began dating before hard-launching the relationship during the April 20 episode, one week after Rae’s elimination.
Rae confirmed to Swooon that she and Brooks were already planning on sharing news of their relationship with fans during the episode, but noted that her coming on stage to do so was a surprise for Brooks.
“It was kind of a last-minute thing, but I was really close to the area, and it was a way to see my man again!” she shared. “It was really fun and turned out to be one of the most special nights ever. It was just so fun. It was great.”
Fans had already been speculating that something was going on between Brooks and Rae before the hard-launch, and the pair’s fellow finalists were also catching on. “Nobody knew, but it’s the same thing as the fans … they were all kind of like, ‘Are they dating?’” Rae noted. “Everyone kind of shipped us or whatever. But we kept it secret.”
American Idol, Season 24, Mondays, 8/7c, ABC
