Joshua Kuntz, aka “JKPOPSTAR,” is a 21 year-old singer-songwriter originally from Southwest Arkansas, now chasing his dreams in Music City. A lifelong performer, Joshua has been singing and performing across the Southern states since he was 11, building a sound and identity rooted in soulful vocals, pop melodies, theatrical storytelling, and a little bit of sparkle. ​

At 15, Joshua took his shot on American Idol, where he performed for Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, with Katy describing him as “the next Ben Platt.” That moment only fueled his dream of becoming the kind of artist he grew up watching on television.

Now entering his senior year studying songwriting at Belmont University, Joshua is continuing to discover exactly who he is as an artist. With a background in blues, country, musical theatre, and pop, JKPOPSTAR refuses to stay inside one box. Pop is at the heart of it all, but the journey is about exploring every color, sound, and story along the way.​ As an independent artist, Joshua released his debut EP, If You Saw My Name On A Marquee, in 2026. Inspired by the question of what his younger self would think if he ever saw his name in lights, the project introduced listeners to the world of JKPOPSTAR — a world filled with stars, sparkle, heartbreak, growing up, self-discovery, and the belief that there is a place for everyone who has ever felt like they didn't quite fit.​ Now, Joshua is stepping into his next chapter with “Bloody Knuckles,” out October 14. The single marks the beginning of a new musical journey for JKPOPSTAR — one where he gets to explore all things pop, push his sound forward, and show listeners a bigger picture of who he is becoming as an artist.​

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But no matter how far the music evolves, it all comes back to where the story began:

“IF YOU SAW MY NAME ON A MARQUEE, WOULD YOU WALK IN?”