Arthur Gunn is a super talented singer from season 18 of American Idol. And guess what? He’s back on American Idol — in season 19!
Arthur returned to the show as part of Idol’s “comeback twist.” He was one of the season 18 finalists who hit the Idol stage in hopes of getting a second chance in the competition. Arthur performed for America’s vote and got enough votes to secure a place in the season 19 top 10.
1. He’s from Nepal.
Arthur was born in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1997. He grew up with his parents and four sisters. In 2008, some of his family members moved to Kansas. Arthur was just 11 years old at the time, but he decided to stay in Nepal to finish school. It wasn’t until 2014 that he joined the family in Kansas after he finished high school at home. However, Arthur learned English before moving to the U.S. and credits singing along to American songs with helping him learn the language.
2. He came in second place on ‘Idol.’
Arthur was the American Idol season 18 runner-up. Just Sam won season 18. The finale had to film remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After the finale, he wrote on Instagram, “Last night was the finale of @americanidol. The history was made! Wholeheartedly, I want to thank you all for supporting me in my American Idol journey and voting me through it all.”
3. Arthur Gunn is not his real name.
Arthur’s birth name is actually Dibesh Pokharel. Dibesh means “light.” Arthur admitted he just came up with his stage name quickly and that it was “gathered from different dimensions.”
4. He recently released a new album.
Arthur dropped the album KHOJ in March 2021. He released his first album, Grahan, in 2018, followed by a second album, Self-Titled, in 2020. Arthur grew up singing and playing guitar, but it wasn’t until the year before he left Nepal that he begin considering it as more than a hobby. When he moved to Kansas, he began to learn more about bluegrass music and quickly realized he wanted to make a career out of being a singer/songwriter. He began performing in coffee shops and auditioned for Idol in 2019.
5. He has a successful YouTube channel.
Arthur’s official YouTube channel has over 400,000 subscribers. His “Nyano Ghar” video has over 11 million views. He posts music videos, live acoustic sessions, and more on his page.