Early life
Benami was born in New York before moving to Tennessee at the age of 7. Her father is Israeli and her first name, Vered means ‘rose’ in Hebrew. She spent most of her formative years in Knoxville, Tennessee. Benami was raised Jewish.
Education
Benami is a 2005 graduate of West High School. She started singing in the fifth grade. In school, she performed the role of Marty in the musical “Grease” and frequently performed the national anthem in front of various crowds
American Idol
Benami auditioned for American Idol in Los Angeles, California, where she has lived for four years. She has credited her friend, Rebecca Joy Lear, as one of the reasons she auditioned for American Idol.