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00:00:12American Idol, it's sacred, a place where greatness is born, and the finest voices in
00:00:19the nation echo in our history books.
00:00:22And the Grammy goes to Kelly Clarkson, Jeff!
00:00:25From Fantasia, to Carrie Underwood, Gabby Barrett, and Adam Lambert, these names define what
00:00:33it means to be an idol.
00:00:35The winner, Jamal Roberts, and I just feel like I'm in the presence of greatness.
00:00:42On the first note, I had chills.
00:00:45And now it's time to meet our incredible new class.
00:00:56This is American Idol.
00:01:00Come on, class of 2026.
00:01:08First day of school.
00:01:12Who is ready to be an American Idol?
00:01:24What better place to have the auditions than the legendary Belmont University?
00:01:29This is awesome.
00:01:31First day, guys.
00:01:32New season.
00:01:37Oh!
00:01:38It feels good.
00:01:39That hurts.
00:01:40Squat in some heels when they come talk to me.
00:01:42I love that duet.
00:01:44First thing in the world.
00:01:45First thing in the world.
00:01:45Idol University.
00:01:47Class is in session.
00:01:49Class is in session.
00:01:49Class is in session.
00:01:52Ah!
00:01:53Hey, guys.
00:01:54What's up?
00:01:54Hey.
00:01:55How are you?
00:01:56Gosh, this is crazy.
00:01:56I'm good.
00:01:57How are you all?
00:01:57Oh, my gosh.
00:01:58You look like my child.
00:02:00Here, look at this.
00:02:01Hold on.
00:02:01So, I took this picture of Bo the other day.
00:02:03I literally, like...
00:02:06Wow.
00:02:08Could that be...
00:02:09They could be brothers.
00:02:13All right.
00:02:13Well, who are you?
00:02:14I'm Lucas Leon.
00:02:15I'm 17 years old.
00:02:16I'm from Gallatin, Tennessee.
00:02:17Lucas Leon.
00:02:19I love that name.
00:02:20That sounds like a star name.
00:02:21Yeah.
00:02:21Is that the real name?
00:02:22Yes, sir.
00:02:22But is it Leon or is it Leon?
00:02:25It's just Leon.
00:02:25I love it.
00:02:26The country version.
00:02:27What do you do up there in Gallatin?
00:02:29Play a lot of music, write a lot of songs, do some fishing.
00:02:32What are they biting on out there these days?
00:02:34Baby Brush Hog, Texas Rig.
00:02:36Now he sounds like my son.
00:02:38He fishes all day, every day.
00:02:40All right.
00:02:41Well, what are you going to sing today?
00:02:43I'm going to sing an original called Fall In Love Someday.
00:02:45All right.
00:02:46We pray you do.
00:02:48Oh, he will.
00:03:01All the wonder are not lost of ways down the road.
00:03:09Oh, I just wonder what's the cost if you'd ever known.
00:03:14Cause I'm a young gun in North Forerunner, rolling down the coast.
00:03:22I'm coming down Route 66, city with her ghost.
00:03:28So run me to Arizona, Texas, Mexico.
00:03:36Set me by a desert fire.
00:03:40Let it be my home.
00:03:42And I ain't one for love.
00:03:46And I ain't one for love.
00:03:48And I ain't quick to pray.
00:03:50Yeah, but I swear to God, I fell in love today.
00:03:58Oh, I swear to God, I fell in love today.
00:04:12All right.
00:04:14All right.
00:04:15We're all standing.
00:04:16Thank you very much.
00:04:18Thanks.
00:04:19Oh, yeah.
00:04:19I'm loving it.
00:04:20Bring on out the bat, son.
00:04:23It's like your baby face and you're adorable, but there's like this odd, awesome maturity.
00:04:28I feel like you could go pretty far in this competition.
00:04:34Pure, honest, and very talented.
00:04:38Yeah, I was just checking on notable people from Gallatin, Tennessee.
00:04:42Tell us, is he on that list?
00:04:43Well, Zach Duke, he's a former MLB pitcher.
00:04:46He's actually a buddy of mine.
00:04:47Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:04:48There's John Rogan, the second tallest verified human being ever documented.
00:04:55He was eight feet, nine inches tall.
00:04:58I did know that.
00:04:59Not really seeing any notable singers.
00:05:02Maybe old Lucas Leon.
00:05:04Maybe.
00:05:05He's got a spot here on the Wikipedia.
00:05:07I'm just having fun with you.
00:05:09Really great stuff you're doing at the age of 17.
00:05:12Tell me about it.
00:05:12And you have it all.
00:05:14So thank you for bringing your butt down here to us.
00:05:18Yes.
00:05:18Oh, it's my pleasure.
00:05:19Lionel.
00:05:22Yes.
00:05:24Let me think about it.
00:05:25Oh, come on.
00:05:27And yeah, it's a big old yes for me.
00:05:30Oh, wow.
00:05:31Thank you so much.
00:05:32Hollywood week.
00:05:33This is why we're here.
00:05:35Thank you so much.
00:05:36You got me.
00:05:37Yeah, man.
00:05:37I love it.
00:05:39I love it.
00:05:40Take care.
00:05:44All right.
00:05:45That's it.
00:05:45Things are looking up.
00:05:47I'm really excited.
00:05:48Definitely hoping I can join on the Wikipedia page for Galveston Tennessee.
00:05:52That would be great.
00:05:54Idle gold.
00:05:55We're just getting started.
00:05:57Star, star, star, star, star, star right here.
00:06:00Did you have this much confidence when you were?
00:06:02I remember always being confident, but then like my first time I did the Opry and stuff,
00:06:06I mean, I was about to black out.
00:06:08Oh, no.
00:06:09Did it hit you that hard?
00:06:10Absolutely the same thing.
00:06:16All the way.
00:06:17All the way.
00:06:17Good job.
00:06:18There you go.
00:06:19Good job.
00:06:20Good job.
00:06:21Good job.
00:06:22Good job.
00:06:22Good job.
00:06:23Music wasn't a natural passion for me.
00:06:25I knew I could sing.
00:06:27Everybody around me believed in me but me.
00:06:30I wanted to play basketball.
00:06:32How does it feel when it's quiet and calm?
00:06:37My name is Keilah Richardson.
00:06:38I'm from Pensacola, Florida, and I'm 29 years old.
00:06:42Love y'all.
00:06:44Y'all be good, okay?
00:06:45I've been a music teacher for about six years.
00:06:47Good morning.
00:06:48Good morning.
00:06:49Give me something.
00:06:49Give me something.
00:06:49Do the thing.
00:06:50Life Shifting Learning Academy.
00:06:52It's time for music.
00:06:54When those kids step into the class, I see myself a lot of times.
00:06:58Good morning.
00:07:00Good morning.
00:07:02I grew up in the church.
00:07:03Grew up singing.
00:07:06Good job.
00:07:07Cloud.
00:07:08Y'all found yourself good on the ground.
00:07:10But I just felt like I wasn't good enough.
00:07:12Nobody saw me.
00:07:13Nobody heard me.
00:07:14I had to make up in my mind like, you can do this.
00:07:16Whatever you put your mind to do, you can do it.
00:07:22My son means the world to me.
00:07:23He's all I got.
00:07:24He's my best friend.
00:07:25I want you to have a good day today.
00:07:26I love you.
00:07:27Make me proud.
00:07:28Go in there.
00:07:30Crush him.
00:07:31It's just been me and her for most of my life.
00:07:35She's the best mom in the world.
00:07:37She deserves everything.
00:07:43Because of him, I'm here and I will never give up.
00:07:45I'm raising a young man.
00:07:46I'm a single mother by myself.
00:07:48You're the reason I'm here today and why mommy's going to keep going.
00:07:51Okay.
00:07:57Hey guys.
00:07:58How you doing?
00:07:59I'm good.
00:08:00I love it.
00:08:01How are you?
00:08:02Great pants.
00:08:02My name is Keela Richardson.
00:08:04Keela Richardson.
00:08:05And where are you from?
00:08:05I'm from Pensacola, Florida.
00:08:07What made you want to be here at American Idol?
00:08:09I'm 29.
00:08:10I had a long musical journey, but I never give up.
00:08:13So I just want to keep going and give it one more try.
00:08:15Well, good deal.
00:08:16Well, what are you going to sing today?
00:08:18Glitter in the Air by Pink.
00:08:19Love it.
00:08:20Yeah.
00:08:20That's great.
00:08:29You have a voice that will make people stop in their tracks.
00:08:35Drop the mic.
00:08:36Drop the mic.
00:08:39Well, what are you going to sing today?
00:08:41Glitter in the Air by Pink.
00:08:43Love it.
00:08:43Yeah.
00:08:44That's great.
00:08:44Have you ever fed a lover
00:08:47with just your hands?
00:08:52Oh.
00:08:54Close your eyes and trust it.
00:08:58Just trust it.
00:09:03And have you ever thrown a fistful of glitter in the air?
00:09:11How, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:09:14Have you ever looked fear in the face and said, I just don't care?
00:09:21Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:09:24There you are, sitting in the garden, clutching my coffee, calling me sugar.
00:09:36You call me sugar.
00:09:49Calling me sugar.
00:09:56Interesting.
00:09:59Dang.
00:10:01If there's one thing I could tell you, it's that sometimes just let it breathe a little bit, you know?
00:10:09Gotcha.
00:10:09One, two, three.
00:10:11I can imagine you on some songs where you would just blow the roof off of this place because of
00:10:16the range.
00:10:17Yes, sir.
00:10:18Now is how much you don't give us what Carrie said is correct.
00:10:22Yes, sir.
00:10:22What's the lyrics to the first line in that chorus?
00:10:25Will you roll her into that?
00:10:27And let me hear you sing that one more time and I'm going to give you one little thing.
00:10:31Let's see if she does that lick again.
00:10:35Close your eyes and trust in, just trust in.
00:10:43That's so pretty.
00:10:45That's great.
00:10:46Have you ever thrown a fistful of glitter in the air?
00:10:52Right.
00:10:53Stop that.
00:10:54Okay.
00:10:54Do it again.
00:10:55Right.
00:10:56Have you ever thrown a fistful of glitter in the air?
00:11:03Whoo!
00:11:04Keep going.
00:11:06It's only half past the point of no return.
00:11:10The tip of the iceberg, the fire before the burn.
00:11:15The thunder before the lightning and the breath before the phrase.
00:11:19Have you ever felt this way?
00:11:24Yeah.
00:11:26Hey.
00:11:27Drop the mic.
00:11:29Drop the mic.
00:11:30Drop the mic.
00:11:31Who is this?
00:11:31This is my son and my dad.
00:11:33Oh, boy.
00:11:34Hi, Miss Carrie.
00:11:35Hi.
00:11:36How are you?
00:11:37Good.
00:11:38Good.
00:11:38Did you hear your mom?
00:11:39Did you hear how great she did?
00:11:41Wow.
00:11:42You know we love her.
00:11:44Man.
00:11:44Hi, Mr. Lionel.
00:11:45Oh, how are you?
00:11:47Good.
00:11:47So cool, man.
00:11:49Hi, Mr. Luke.
00:11:50Hey, buddy.
00:11:52Hi, Mr. Luke.
00:11:52You see what your mama made me do?
00:11:55Oh, man.
00:11:57When you felt confident, the way you just sang that with confidence, you have a voice that
00:12:02will make people stop in their tracks.
00:12:05Great.
00:12:06Whoo!
00:12:07Gosh, I got, like, snot going on.
00:12:09I do, too.
00:12:10What's your name, buddy?
00:12:11Drew.
00:12:12That's Carrie right there, Drew.
00:12:13I know.
00:12:15I watch American Idol all the time.
00:12:17Whoo!
00:12:18There's a commercial right there.
00:12:19I can't believe you're 29 and you hadn't been in our life yet.
00:12:23I know.
00:12:24That's wonderful.
00:12:26Yes.
00:12:27Lionel Richie?
00:12:28No, excuse me.
00:12:29It's Mr. Lionel.
00:12:30Mr. Lionel.
00:12:31It's a yes for me.
00:12:34Big old yes for me.
00:12:37Oh, yes.
00:12:38Congratulations.
00:12:40You're going through the Hollywood week.
00:12:42Come on.
00:12:43Come on.
00:12:43Come on.
00:12:43Come on.
00:12:45Oh, my God.
00:12:47Thank you so much, y'all.
00:12:49Do you sing, Drew?
00:12:51I have a song that I know how to sing.
00:12:53Oh, let's do it.
00:12:55What song is it?
00:12:56Back on the Oval.
00:12:57Back on the Oval.
00:12:58Come on.
00:12:58Oh, God.
00:12:59Oh, God.
00:13:00My man seems like he's ready to go.
00:13:02What's the song, Drew?
00:13:03It's called God Only Knows.
00:13:05God Only Knows.
00:13:06God Only Knows.
00:13:08God Only Knows what you been through.
00:13:11God Only Knows what they say about you.
00:13:14God Only Knows the real you.
00:13:17And that's the kind of love that God Only Knows.
00:13:22God Only Knows.
00:13:24That was great.
00:13:25That was great.
00:13:26What was that move?
00:13:26What was that move, Drew?
00:13:29Just picking those notes now.
00:13:31I can't believe myself.
00:13:32I think I'm in a dream.
00:13:34Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:13:36It's my pride and joy right here.
00:13:38This is who I do it for.
00:13:39I'm going to do it for him.
00:13:40I'm so proud.
00:13:41All right.
00:13:42I'm proud of you, too.
00:13:43You're going to Hollywood, too, bud.
00:13:44Yeah, yeah.
00:13:45And I'm sung, too.
00:13:47That may have been one of my favorite moments.
00:13:50i've ever had on this show that was great god only knows what you've been through god only knows
00:13:57what they say about you god only knows the real you but that's the kind of love that god only
00:14:05knows god only knows where did you come from where did you go where did you come from cotton
00:14:19i do what's happening
00:14:29what's going on oh yeah here it comes what's going on
00:14:33what's happening hey there we go
00:14:40look at this oh look at this i got a jersey come on i got a jersey
00:14:48i got a third jersey hey hey my name is jason art i'm 24 years old i'm from puquay green
00:14:53in north
00:14:53carolina i'm here today with the texas tailgaters which is in the banana ball championship league
00:14:59might be familiar with the savannah bananas we play with them it's entertainment baseball
00:15:05don't compare us to the harlem globetrotters a lot but it's very competitive too
00:15:12we're all best friends and we all get along and it's great
00:15:19i got into it actually as a singer outside of the actual game we'll put on concerts
00:15:25the whole point is just keep the fans engaged the whole time and make sure they have fun
00:15:29come on now
00:15:33i got it pretty quick though awesome awesome how did i do oh you ought to see me pitch
00:15:41i think we can make that happen oh yeah i'm all good heck i slept on my arm wrong last
00:15:46night
00:15:46i fell asleep for three hours so uh all right well who are you my name is jason r i'm
00:15:5224 years old and
00:15:53i'm from fuquay green in north carolina what are you going to sing for us i'm going to sing fire
00:15:56away by chris stapleton i love it all right you better be able to sing yes sir i'm right
00:16:04oh yeah well honey load up your questions pick up your sticks and your stones
00:16:16and pretend i'm a shelter for heartaches that don't have a home
00:16:27choose the words they cut like a razor
00:16:34and all that i'll see is fire
00:16:44oh no
00:16:48and take your best shot show me what you got honey i'm not afraid
00:17:21i want a team
00:17:26all right carrie you already got the gear on especially a tailgater yeah that's right
00:17:35i think you should go first okay all right okay i'm gonna pass the ball sorry she's uh i think
00:17:40the abs
00:17:48no no no no no no no no no no no no don't don't don't don't do that don't don't
00:17:57don't all right
00:17:57all right so now listen you've got a nice voice yes sir you've got a distinguishable voice
00:18:04and we don't have anything like that yet thank you sir okay i think i've i've got my thoughts
00:18:11together very good i think my thing is if you do end up going forward it's just the taking this
00:18:19part of
00:18:19you seriously you know what i mean like you guys are obviously so much fun i love it and i
00:18:24want to feel
00:18:25you emote i want i want to hear more yes ma'am good i used to try to sing everything
00:18:31as loud as i
00:18:31could it took me years to kind of go you know i don't have to sing loud every time i
00:18:35can kind of
00:18:36calm it down so just think about that all right lionel yes yeah come on that's easy yes what are
00:18:46we
00:18:46what are we what are we the pressure oh look at it oh no no no karen karen look over
00:18:54this way i got my
00:18:54own set of abs to stare at it not mine um i want to know who you are as an
00:19:02artist so i'll say yes
00:19:12you thought we were done
00:19:14okay
00:19:17Yeah, we got the money.
00:19:23Yeah, we got the gas, it gets the wall.
00:19:27Yeah, but that's the way we get down.
00:19:31Oh, stop, oh, stop, oh, stop, stop, stop, oh, no.
00:19:38Oh, no, oh, no.
00:19:40It was pretty crazy.
00:19:41I'm not going to lie.
00:19:43You should be living his best life right now.
00:19:48I didn't expect Luke Bryan to bust a move like that,
00:19:50but I guess you see something new every day.
00:19:53That was good. That was good. That was fun.
00:19:55I'm going to Hollywood Week!
00:20:04The next class is going to teach us all what the future is going to be about,
00:20:07and I'm so excited just to be on the front row of this one.
00:20:11Just a small town girl
00:20:15Living in a lonely world
00:20:20She took the midnight train going anywhere
00:20:27Pocket that thing! Pocket that thing, man!
00:20:30Where you from, Daniel?
00:20:31Moss Point, Mississippi.
00:20:32What happens back in Moss Point, Mississippi?
00:20:35For me, a school teacher.
00:20:36Where do you teach?
00:20:37I teach music.
00:20:38Okay, well then you're in the right place.
00:20:39Yes, sir.
00:20:40I absolutely love working with kids.
00:20:42They are my joy.
00:20:43And I'm doing this for my students, to let them know that you can reach your goals.
00:20:48Never give up.
00:20:49Don't stop believing.
00:20:50That's my motto.
00:20:51Don't stop believing.
00:20:52Don't stop believing.
00:20:58Oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:21:04Streetlight people.
00:21:08Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:21:13Don't stop believing.
00:21:16Baby
00:21:19Love
00:21:25Your students are gonna hail you as the greatest thing that ever showed up in their lives
00:21:30My cheeks hurt because I'm smiling so much. I'm just thinking about how lucky are the kids to have you?
00:21:37Exactly right. Oh, let's vote Carrie
00:21:41Luke
00:21:47Welcome to American Idol. Thank you so much
00:22:06I'm telling you
00:22:12Don't need that guy
00:22:16Black and white stealing your thunder
00:22:23That's a weird
00:22:26Whatever I saw I just feel like the piano playing like wasn't quite there for me
00:22:31I feel like it was distracting you a little bit
00:22:34It was distracting. It was taking away from your vocals
00:22:39That's not my audition song Carrie
00:22:42Wow
00:22:44Look at this praise the Lord. This is awesome. My name is Tate Emmons. I'm 15 years old and I'm
00:22:50from a real small town called Lake, Mississippi
00:22:55We knew from a young age that Tate was extremely talented and what he could do
00:23:00So I could sing before I could talk
00:23:06I was three years old at my church singing Jesus loves me
00:23:10I've been singing ever since
00:23:12Well, last week I met with my vocal coach who happens to be the uncle of Brianna Nix
00:23:18The final person competing in the finale
00:23:20Brianna Nix
00:23:24Can't wait for you to get that golden ticket
00:23:26You're gonna kill it. Lord will sing loud. It's gonna be great. Oh my goodness
00:23:32Well, we know you
00:23:33This is Emerson
00:23:37You're gonna go stay with Carrie
00:23:38Can I pick you up?
00:23:39Oh, that's good
00:23:40You're not shy are you?
00:23:42Did he grow up?
00:23:43That best?
00:23:44Emerson
00:23:45No, no
00:23:46What have I been for the past 10 years?
00:23:49I grew up quick
00:23:4915 years
00:23:50Hey
00:23:51You got some explaining to do
00:23:52My name is Tate Emmons. I'm 15 years old. I'm from a small town called lake, Mississippi
00:23:58That's right about a week ago
00:24:00I'm doing the grandelopery again, and he was there and he's like I want you to hear me sing and
00:24:05I was just blown away
00:24:06I texted immediately. Hey, is it too late for an audition and 20 minutes later?
00:24:11I'm sure you you had some people pick up
00:24:13Got a little cloud. I love that right. He's one of a kind and I really believe in him. Wow
00:24:18Brianna, why don't you come over here with us? Okay
00:24:20Yeah, yeah, here we go. Come on. I miss you guys. How are you? Good to see you?
00:24:26Hands are a little cold
00:24:27Are you nervous? A little bit. You seem cool as a cucumber. Well, thank you. We ready?
00:24:39I'm gonna be singing hard-fought hallelujah by Brandon Lake. Let's go. All right
00:24:54I'm gonna be singing hard-fought hallelujah by Brandon Lake. Well, I don't always feel it
00:24:59Yeah, but that's when I need it the most
00:25:04So I'ma keep on singing
00:25:09Till my soul catches up with my song
00:25:14There's days that my hands go up freely
00:25:18Times that it comes
00:25:24There's days that a praise comes out easy
00:25:28Days that it takes all the strength I've got
00:25:32But I'll bring my heart-fought, heart-failed, been through it, hallelujah
00:25:43And I'll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sailed, story to tell, hallelujah
00:25:53Oh, hallelujah
00:25:59All right
00:26:02First of all, I'm really surprised at your guitar maneuverability at your age
00:26:09Thank you
00:26:09And can I do an exercise with you?
00:26:12Just let me hear you sing
00:26:14heartfelt hallelujah like
00:26:15I mean, I want to hear you give it all on the chorus, you know
00:26:20You don't have to play it
00:26:21You don't have to play it
00:26:21Just close your eyes, don't worry about the guitar and sing, sing, sing
00:26:25Worship
00:26:25So I'll bring my heart-fought, heart-failed, it is well, hallelujah
00:26:34I think guitar, you're perfect
00:26:37But vocally, it does really, really feel even a little younger than 15 to me
00:26:43Which is a predicament
00:26:48I understand exactly what you fell in love with because we just saw it, we heard it
00:26:53It's when do we throw you out there?
00:26:58Our biggest thing is, is all of our mama and daddy hearts are looking at you saying,
00:27:04Do we wreck this kid by feeding him to the entertainment industry?
00:27:10I remember a year ago when I came in, I was just like Tate, freaking out, I was so scared
00:27:15Got it
00:27:18Got to give him a chance, I promise
00:27:21I promise
00:27:23I trust you
00:27:24All right, I'm ready to vote
00:27:29An environment like this could be really beneficial to you
00:27:33So this is school
00:27:35I'm gonna say yes
00:27:36Thank you so much
00:27:40I'm gonna go the opposite
00:27:45Gotta give him a chance, I promise
00:27:47I promise
00:27:49I'm gonna say yes
00:27:50Thank you so much
00:27:51I'm gonna go the opposite
00:27:53Okay
00:27:53I don't want to take your phenomenon and blow you up
00:27:56I just will not let that happen to you
00:27:58Come back and look at this again from another angle, a couple of years of experience
00:28:02I'd love to hear what you sound like
00:28:04Thank you
00:28:04That's just me talking as dad now, okay
00:28:06Thank you
00:28:08It's all up to you
00:28:10No pressure
00:28:11No pressure at all
00:28:14I'm pretty nervous
00:28:16I kind of feel sick
00:28:18It's gonna be great, it's gonna be good
00:28:24It's too soon
00:28:26Okay
00:28:27I'm a no
00:28:28Okay
00:28:28Thank y'all so much, I appreciate y'all listening to me
00:28:31I hope you can understand why I'm saying this
00:28:34I do understand, yes sir
00:28:35I do, I promise
00:28:38Thank you brother, I appreciate you so much
00:28:41And I love you
00:28:41Thank you
00:28:42Thank you for your input
00:28:44Keep doing what you're doing
00:28:45Exactly what you're doing
00:28:46Keep just giving glory where glory is due
00:28:49It's a true honor to meet you
00:28:51Thank you very much
00:28:52Thank you
00:28:53All right Tate
00:28:54My son's named Tate
00:28:55Really?
00:28:56He's 15
00:28:57Oh my goodness
00:28:59Hey
00:29:00It's amazing how you're playing that guitar
00:29:02Thank you
00:29:03Just you keep doing it
00:29:05Yes sir
00:29:05Thank y'all so much
00:29:06Thank y'all
00:29:07It's humbling
00:29:08To think the judges thinks that about me
00:29:10I'm like
00:29:11Gives me a lot of hope
00:29:14Not this stuff
00:29:15Not this stuff
00:29:16Not this stuff
00:29:17Not this stuff
00:29:17Not this stuff
00:29:17Oh
00:29:18That's okay
00:29:19I will support him forever and he's a golden ticket here always
00:29:22Still gonna push you to do this every single year
00:29:24Well I'm always gonna listen to your opinion so I'll always pray about it
00:29:28With the yearly annual text message you're gonna audition for
00:29:32Just be ready and get ready for it
00:29:33I'll be ready
00:29:33I'll be ready
00:29:34Yes
00:29:35You're at peace with that right
00:29:37Yeah
00:29:39You're right
00:29:40You're right
00:29:41You know I forgot how hard this was
00:29:43It is hard
00:29:44It never is easy just when they're looking at you and they they want it so bad
00:29:52What has happened over the years is we've gotten tougher only because we're expecting more now as judges
00:30:00After Jamal
00:30:02Grammy nominated Jamal we've raised the bar to the point where we're gonna be looking for that next level
00:30:09That instantly goes from American Idol stage to that Grammy award-winning artist
00:30:18Lionel they rehearsed that somewhere
00:30:21If we were to go out dancing let me show you what would happen
00:30:25Idol University class of 2026 I can tell you right now is off the chain
00:30:31That was great
00:30:32We're proud of you son
00:30:34Thank you so much man
00:30:35We are going to Hollywood
00:30:39We've had 10 people today that look like they've been trained to sing and you look like you were born
00:30:44to sing
00:30:47It's gonna be a great season
00:30:50And I'm so excited just to be on the front row of this one
00:30:56Here we go
00:30:57Hey guys
00:30:58Hey
00:30:58How are you doing?
00:31:00Good how are you doing?
00:31:01I'm good
00:31:02My name is Jesse Finling and I'm 19 years old
00:31:05What do you do?
00:31:06I'm a college student right now
00:31:09But I've been singing ever since I was little with my brother and sister we would pull up
00:31:14Karaoke tracks and we would we would just sing with each other and since then I did
00:31:20Choirs in school if you haven't noticed I have us I have a stutter
00:31:25And that's really where kind of my love for singing came
00:31:30I've had a stutter ever since I was little
00:31:38And it's something that I've that I've struggled with since elementary school
00:31:46It was something embarrassing for me you know something that I really had a hard time with I wouldn't raise
00:31:50my hand in school
00:31:51And it was just something that that made me feel alone and something that I felt like I had to
00:31:56hide so it was definitely hard
00:32:00Singing has always felt freeing for me because when I sing I don't stutter
00:32:04When I sang it was a way for me to express myself in a way
00:32:07Where I didn't have to worry about being embarrassed or what people would think or somebody would laugh
00:32:12So it was an outlet for me when I was little and it's still an outlet for me now
00:32:22Walking out with a golden
00:32:25Ticket would mean that everything that I've I've I've struggled with in the
00:32:31Past it's all led me here and I can do whatever I want if I work hard
00:32:38I've come a long way with it. I'm like, it's it doesn't hold me back. There you go. Well, you're
00:32:43doing great
00:32:44So you your siblings saying are you a musical family or you just all love music?
00:32:48Me and my brother sing with each other and he also has a stutter
00:32:51So it's really special when we sing together. It's crazy to see how far he's come. It's insane
00:32:58I want to you know be a role model for him because I knew how hard it was for me
00:33:02in school. I love your attitude
00:33:04I love your answer for sure. And you can tell that you are a good big brother
00:33:07What you gonna sing for us? I'm gonna be singing in the stars by benson boone
00:33:11It's a song me and my brother always singing together gonna be thinking of him when I sing it very
00:33:16good
00:33:22Sunday mornings were your favorite
00:33:27I used to meet you down on woods creek road
00:33:34You did your hair up like you were famous
00:33:40Even though it's only church where we were going
00:33:47Now Sunday mornings are just sleeping
00:33:53It's like I buried my faith with you
00:33:59I'm screaming out of God
00:34:02I don't know if I believe in
00:34:06Cause I don't know what else I can do
00:34:12Oh, I'm still holding on to everything that's dead and gone
00:34:18I don't want to say goodbye
00:34:21I don't want to say goodbye
00:34:22This one means forever
00:34:25And now you're in the stars and six feet's never fell so far
00:34:31Here I am alone between the heavens and the embers
00:34:37Oh, it hurts so hard
00:34:43For a million different reasons
00:34:50You took the best of my heart
00:34:56And left the rest in pieces
00:35:01Thank you
00:35:10Luke, you jumped up awful quick
00:35:12I don't think I blinked one time
00:35:14I mean, wow, you're a real singer
00:35:17Thank you
00:35:17Man, I'm really proud of you
00:35:19I love this show
00:35:20I love this show because we get to meet kids like you
00:35:24Your voice is beautiful
00:35:26You have a beautiful vibrato
00:35:28A beautiful tone
00:35:29We could understand everything you were singing
00:35:32And you were in the song emotionally
00:35:35Which just took us right there with you
00:35:38So it was just beautiful
00:35:41Problem? What problem?
00:35:43You don't have a problem
00:35:43The only thing wrong with you is you got to figure out
00:35:46How you're going to navigate this career
00:35:48Wow
00:35:49What's up, fam?
00:35:50What's up?
00:35:51Ah
00:35:54Look at that
00:35:56I love you
00:35:57I love you
00:35:58I think we can vote
00:35:59Yes, indeed
00:36:01Yes
00:36:04Yes
00:36:05Yes
00:36:05Yes
00:36:06I think you could go really far in this competition
00:36:09We just haven't had voices like yours coming through those doors
00:36:13I'm really excited to give you a big old yes
00:36:16And see what you guys do with it
00:36:17Oh, great
00:36:18Thanks, Gary
00:36:18We will see you in Hollywood week
00:36:21Did it
00:36:22You did it
00:36:23We did it
00:36:24Yeah, we did it
00:36:25We did it
00:36:25When I was singing that song
00:36:26I was thinking of younger me
00:36:28Who wouldn't speak in class
00:36:30Who was scared of what people thought of him
00:36:32And the fact that I got this
00:36:34Is just proof that everything's working out how it should
00:36:37Well, he's got a pretty voice
00:36:39Oh, he does
00:36:39I'm going to Hollywood week
00:36:41I love you
00:36:43You can do anything you put your mind to
00:36:46And I'm always here for you
00:36:47I'm very proud of you
00:36:48Love you
00:36:49Love you
00:36:49But you'll feel right, kid
00:36:55You're going to Hollywood week, my friend
00:37:00All right
00:37:01He has a great voice
00:37:02He has a good voice
00:37:04I'm hitting the restroom
00:37:06I just saw that we're in the Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams Paisley ballroom
00:37:10Oh, yeah
00:37:12We're in your ballroom, Paisley
00:37:16Yeah, you know what I mean
00:37:22Oh, I can't wait to ruin this whole show
00:37:25This is going to be somewhere
00:37:26We're counting on you
00:37:29Now you are going to wind Luke up a little bit to get Carrie, right?
00:37:32Yeah, yeah, yeah
00:37:33So we're putting your piece in Luke's ear
00:37:35It's basically, I'm going to try to make Luke say ridiculously awkward stuff
00:37:40We're not ruining someone's audition
00:37:42So you can really have some fun with it
00:37:43Here's our contestant
00:37:45Nice to see you again
00:37:45Nice to meet you, Dylan
00:37:46You want a safe word?
00:37:52What's our safe word, Luke?
00:37:53This safe word is hot chicken
00:37:55Don't chicken out
00:37:56Don't hot chicken out
00:38:00Sorry, kids
00:38:01Here we go
00:38:02Number nine
00:38:04Luke, I want you to turn to Carrie right now and say
00:38:06Hey, Carrie, how much do you think I can bench press?
00:38:09Carrie
00:38:11Sure, how much can I bench press?
00:38:15I don't know
00:38:16What kind of question is that?
00:38:19165, Carrie
00:38:20165
00:38:21Really, huh?
00:38:22What are you benching these days?
00:38:24I don't know
00:38:25Why don't you know these things?
00:38:27You're in all these fitness ads
00:38:28I am, but I'm not looking for like personal records
00:38:31You understand?
00:38:32Who are you?
00:38:33My name is Dylan Holmes
00:38:34I'm from Spring Lake, Michigan
00:38:36I can't stand Michigan
00:38:38I can't stand Michigan
00:38:40Oh, that's it
00:38:41What is happening?
00:38:43We just lost all of Michigan
00:38:44I don't even like Illinois
00:38:46And Illinois is falling off too
00:38:48Well, there's two states
00:38:50You can only tour in 48 states now
00:38:52Oh, okay
00:38:52Did you go take shots?
00:38:54Let's see what you got
00:38:57Let's see what you got
00:39:00Pass
00:39:01Pass
00:39:04Will you just let the poor boy sing?
00:39:06Let the man
00:39:07Why don't you sing a Lionel Richie song?
00:39:09Come on
00:39:09Sing a Lionel Richie song
00:39:10No, no, no
00:39:11Don't sing a Lionel Richie song
00:39:12I'll do it
00:39:12We are the world right now
00:39:13We are the world
00:39:14No
00:39:16There comes a time
00:39:18Somebody come and get moved
00:39:20All right, you're good
00:39:22Good? All right
00:39:26I'm gonna try to bench 175 tomorrow
00:39:31I'm benching 175 tomorrow
00:39:33She keeps on loving me
00:39:37Loves me the way I
00:39:42She's not just along for the ride
00:39:46She keeps on loving
00:39:49Should I keep on wondering why
00:40:01I need more hot chicken
00:40:02Every time you take a sip
00:40:05I need more hot chicken out of you
00:40:07He's doing the hot chicken reference
00:40:09Which is his bail
00:40:10What the heck does hot chicken?
00:40:11Why do I look like a waiter?
00:40:13Carrie, guess what?
00:40:14My physical trainer's here
00:40:15That's helping me bench press
00:40:17Carrie, guess what?
00:40:18My physical trainer's here
00:40:19He's awesome
00:40:21The sexiest trainer I've ever seen
00:40:23What is happening?
00:40:24And he's been telling me
00:40:25What to say this whole time
00:40:26And this trainer's been telling me
00:40:28Everything to say this whole audition
00:40:30What are you doing?
00:40:31Good to see you, man
00:40:32Is that where you were
00:40:33When you went to the bathroom?
00:40:35What is happening?
00:40:37Not for like 20 minutes
00:40:38Is that why we started hating on Michigan?
00:40:41Yeah, I was just telling him what to say
00:40:42We really like Michigan, by the way
00:40:44I thought he had fallen
00:40:46Yeah, he's having an episode
00:40:48You want to hear something great?
00:40:49I didn't think anything looked wrong
00:40:54Business as usual
00:40:59I think that should just be
00:41:01like our exclamatory word
00:41:03That should be our bottle
00:41:04for the school class
00:41:05Hot chicken
00:41:05Hot chicken
00:41:24Hot chicken
00:41:25Hot chicken
00:41:26Hot chicken
00:41:27Thank you so much
00:41:28Yeah
00:41:29That's how you do that
00:41:32Hey guys, a little hot chicken
00:41:33to celebrate the auditions in Nashville.
00:41:36Yes, we do it all!
00:41:37Woo!
00:41:38Woo!
00:41:39Woo!
00:41:43My world.
00:41:44My world.
00:41:53Really well done.
00:41:55It's a yes.
00:41:56Hot chicken!
00:41:56Thank you!
00:41:57Oh, my gosh.
00:41:59Woo!
00:42:01Woo!
00:42:01Woo!
00:42:04You know I can't stand it.
00:42:07You're running around.
00:42:09You know better die.
00:42:12I can't stand it cause you put me down.
00:42:17No, no, no.
00:42:19I put a spell on you.
00:42:26Because you are my.
00:42:36You have a bring the house down voice.
00:42:40I'm already standing up.
00:42:42It's a yes for me.
00:42:43Hot chicken.
00:42:44Hot chicken.
00:42:45Woo!
00:42:47Cheers, Ron.
00:42:48Cheers.
00:42:49Woo!
00:42:49I'm gonna go with some pickles.
00:42:51Yeah.
00:42:52Woo!
00:42:54My name is Genevieve Hayward.
00:42:55My group of people that I brought with me are wearing my iconic, if I do say so myself,
00:43:00pickle shirt.
00:43:01Woo!
00:43:02Woo!
00:43:03I'm a big fan of pickles.
00:43:04I just love them.
00:43:06Woo!
00:43:06Yeah, I have about a million people with me.
00:43:10Oh, my God, Kyle!
00:43:12Oh, no.
00:43:13Oh, no.
00:43:13Oh, no.
00:43:13Oh, no.
00:43:13I told you to be there.
00:43:14I told you he broke this table.
00:43:17Oh, Genevieve!
00:43:19Oh, my God.
00:43:20I love pickles.
00:43:22Who doesn't?
00:43:23Sweet or dill?
00:43:25Dill.
00:43:25Sliced or whole?
00:43:27Whole.
00:43:27Rigid or flat?
00:43:29Rigid.
00:43:29Do you make your own pickles?
00:43:31I do.
00:43:31I love pickling things.
00:43:32I like pickling things, too.
00:43:34Girl, me, too.
00:43:34Let's go.
00:43:36I make pickles.
00:43:36Give me some recipes.
00:43:37I'm here for it.
00:43:38Dad, I don't think I've seen you in a pickle shirt yet.
00:43:41Thanks for whooping it out today for me.
00:43:43Put me in a pickle more than once.
00:43:44Yeah.
00:43:48What are you going to sing for us?
00:43:49So, today, I'm going to be doing Magic Man by Heart.
00:43:52Oh, you're kidding.
00:43:54Woo!
00:43:55Okay.
00:43:56Let's hear it.
00:43:57Okay.
00:44:02Cold late night so long ago when I was not so strong, you know.
00:44:07Pretty man came to me.
00:44:10Never seen eyes so blue.
00:44:12You know, I could not look the way it seemed.
00:44:15We'd seen each other in a dream.
00:44:18Seemed like he knew me.
00:44:20He looked right through me.
00:44:24Yeah.
00:44:28Come on home, girl.
00:44:31Mama cried on the phone.
00:44:34Too soon to lose my baby.
00:44:36And my girl should be at home.
00:44:39But try to understand.
00:44:41Try to understand.
00:44:44Try to understand.
00:44:47Try to understand.
00:44:47Try.
00:44:49Try.
00:44:51Try.
00:44:51Try.
00:44:52Try.
00:44:52Try.
00:44:52To understand.
00:44:55And your mother is a magic man.
00:45:01Whey, great.
00:45:04Great, there you go.
00:45:04There you go.
00:45:04inindo unknown standing for me.
00:45:05What the heck?
00:45:07I mean, that's a tall order right there.
00:45:09That's a tall order, right there.
00:45:09Yeah.
00:45:10It takes some pickles!
00:45:15I gave him this morning.
00:45:17To cover that, yeah.
00:45:18I gave him this morning.
00:45:18But you made it your own.
00:45:19You weren't trying to emulate.
00:45:20You even changed the melody a little bit.
00:45:23Yeah.
00:45:23cool rasp at the top end of your voice i want to hear more yeah carrie's funny carrie wrote pickle
00:45:29girl on her i just want to make sure i remember let's go i think you're going to still yet
00:45:35have
00:45:36to push yes even more with some of the singers we have but you did well thank you you've got
00:45:41the
00:45:41tools to do pretty much anything you want to do is just don't think just let your voice do what
00:45:45it's supposed to do cool all right yeah carrie what's your vote my vote is yes wow luke yes thank
00:45:52you i'm going to stand up on this one it's a yes for me and you're going to hollywood week
00:46:11she's the real dill how does it feel to be pickle girl you know it's not who i thought i
00:46:19would be
00:46:19but i think it's who i was born to be and we can't always pick that that was pretty kosher
00:46:26that was very good i'm going to be the best version of pickle girl i could be
00:46:38hot chicken hot chicken
00:46:44i'm going to be the best version of pickle girl you know this one i do
00:46:47sherry
00:46:54sherry baby
00:47:17thank you that's not an easy one to pull off it's not i like the frankie
00:47:22i'm looking for your identity okay yeah you have a lane and you're really good at it but in the
00:47:28context of american idol like that's just not what this is so it's a no for this but a yes
00:47:36for you there you go and just keep being awesome
00:47:43goodness oh did i get that yeah yeah you did yeah
00:47:48oh this year we have a very unique talent hi guys i'm jules i'm 25 years old and i'm from
00:47:56charlotte
00:47:56north carolina today i will be singing bust the windows out my car oh goodness that's it thank
00:48:03you thank you very much everybody thank you i saw that movie my broken heart i'll probably always
00:48:11have these ugly scars wow that's like but right now i don't care about that part it's really magnetic
00:48:19when you see these kids with with a different sound i travel each and every highway and more
00:48:32much more than this i did it my way man you have a great voice but you're in a deal
00:48:44where
00:48:45you want to do the Elvis stuff right yeah sometimes people that are a little left of center you you
00:48:51have to maybe work on them on the fly they think that i'm talking foolish now you sing that in
00:48:58your
00:48:58voice you may think that i'm talking you're from maine you don't say that like that we're picking on you
00:49:06right now because you have something come back and show us who you are and i guarantee you you will
00:49:13leave with a golden ticket but it's a no right now i'll bust the windows out your car i feel
00:49:19like you
00:49:19deserve a shot to bring the bigger notes i think it's in there i say yes i'll bring it out
00:49:24i would
00:49:25not bust no window out your car i know i can bring it i know you and i will not
00:49:30be disappointed at all
00:49:31i'm a no really i am you'll never have to hear that voice again in your life give you one
00:49:36more chance
00:49:37i promise i'm dug in i'm dug in what does dug in mean dug in like a tick like not
00:49:43moving oh
00:49:45i'm sorry i think you made a wrong decision tell me about your music history how do people respond
00:49:54to your voice when you uh when you sing i think it's unique i would say i can't wait does
00:49:59that mean
00:49:59that mean we should get ready for some uniqueness if you want yeah so who are you i'm brooks rosser
00:50:08i'm 22 years old i'm from bel air maryland what do you do up there in maryland i work at
00:50:13a dementia
00:50:14care facility as a medication technician nice very cool how many shows are you playing a year
00:50:21i've gone to a couple gigs but i've only just played guitar um i've never really performed
00:50:31it ain't all right the hardness of my hair
00:50:39morning john hey brooks good morning
00:50:44morning skip hey how are you buddy not bad doing all right i was just looking at this article on
00:50:52the
00:50:52next generation of accelerators oh yeah i like trains you sleep good yeah for the last two years
00:51:02i've been working in the dementia care field and it's been extremely fulfilling i've made a lot of
00:51:08friendships with so-called patients they're actually just friends can you sing me a song today yeah
00:51:14it ain't all right uh growing up i was i was a shy kid i didn't really know how to
00:51:22make my own friends
00:51:24my grandmother was always my biggest fan you know she was one person that i never had trouble talking to
00:51:30when she first started showing dementia-like symptoms i picked up the guitar and that was
00:51:34one way where we could both practice speaking from the heart but it's still all right
00:51:41it would help her learn her words back and it would help me get mine out
00:51:49after taking care of my grandmother i realized this was a passion of mine
00:51:53to be there for people even if they don't remember me
00:51:56standing out on the left with no way to get down music it's one thing that you can't forget
00:52:04i think your town is far above most people thank you next week i'm going to nashville to try out
00:52:15for
00:52:15american idol and see if they uh like me i have no experience playing in front of people it's gonna
00:52:23be
00:52:23a lot different but i'll just pretend the celebrity judges are just more of my friends and residents
00:52:31i think you're gonna do fine if you play like that if i play like that and you sing like
00:52:37that
00:52:37all right i'm gonna root you on
00:52:46all right what you got what you singing uh your place at my place by joshua sloan
00:52:51okay perfect
00:53:10running out of ways to fix us i thought i loved you it was only just a mix up
00:53:16that's what you said when you were crying because you missed us you don't even know how bad i wish
00:53:24i could fix
00:53:45i thought i loved you it was only just a mix up
00:53:52i thought i loved you it was only just a mix up
00:53:54crying because you missed us you don't even know how bad i wish i could fix trust
00:54:09thank you wow gosh i just want to hear more yeah and you haven't played out much
00:54:17and why is that i'm working too much well stop doing that do you understand why we're so excited
00:54:25because you do you understand why no man no matter what you sing it's going to be
00:54:31beautifully unique yeah everybody kind of sounds like somebody else or is emulating someone else
00:54:37so when you kind of meet somebody that you're a unicorn like there's it's one of one that's really
00:54:45cool thank you so much what's your favorite song to sing at the place you work probably knock it on
00:54:51heaven's door let's hear it wow
00:55:14i'ma take this badge off me
00:55:21i can't use it anymore
00:55:29it's getting dark too dark to see
00:55:33i feel i'm knocking on heaven's door
00:55:45knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:55:53knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:56:01knock knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:56:09knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:56:18it's so good so good man thank you so much
00:56:24thank you so good you have a unique style all your own i have not heard another voice like this
00:56:31ever congratulations thank you so much major major stuff here thank you so much did you watch the
00:56:36show last year yeah do you remember thunderstorm yeah well he's he's over there that's him over there
00:56:42listening we've been having uh people dropping by it's fun what do you think thunderstorm man it's
00:56:47amazing dude like your voice is crazy isn't that great i'm obsessed brother thank you so much
00:56:53thunderstorm thunderstorm you want to vote that's all yeses for me you don't get a yes i don't know
00:57:00what's going on oh man thank you for being in our life i mean it's like when you hear van
00:57:06morrison
00:57:07yeah real iconic crazy i think it's another countdown right yeah one two three you're going to hollywood week
00:57:15would you love me thank you so much oh i've always been shy and insecure so hearing compliments from
00:57:31people as big as the judges really means something and that will forever be with me we are so lucky
00:57:37guys
00:57:37oh there's choices too there's choices on oh we're so lucky that's crazy skippers remember when i told
00:57:49you i was going to audition for american idol yeah they said yes that looks classy you want to hold
00:57:57it
00:57:58that is great thank you for your support all you have to do is win
00:58:12what are you gonna do when you see lionel i'm gonna scream hey hey look
00:58:18look at that this is for you lionel richie that guy's got aura oh my gosh i read the whole
00:58:25thing
00:58:25this weekend lionel likes to use his legend status lionel's got rings dude legend card what is that i love
00:58:33it
00:58:36what's your name kindle kindle kindle who is here today with you this is my mom and my dad hi
00:58:42my husband are you excited yes growing up we watched american idol a lot like as a family
00:58:50i'm 29 and i live right here in nashville tennessee and i am a singer-songwriter full-time
00:58:58i'm 16 years old so just being here i'm really excited i've been pursuing music as far back as i
00:59:04can remember i've never wanted to be a lawyer or a doctor or i just wanted to do music
00:59:13i started singing in my youth group it kind of got me out of my shell a bit
00:59:17but i've never met anybody huge or famous or anything so it's going to be really different
00:59:22definitely a little nerve-wracking though
00:59:26to be a songwriter it's my favorite thing in the world because eventually one person kind of like
00:59:33understand you know what you've written about or what you're singing about and that's my favorite
00:59:39part about it how are you i'm great how are y'all good what's your name my name is laney
00:59:45grace i'm
00:59:4616 years old and i'm from prattville alabama what do you do as a 16 year old in alabama i
00:59:52work at
00:59:52chick-fil-a that's really fun there you go tell us a little bit about your family i've got 12
00:59:59siblings
00:59:59two brothers and 10 sisters wow there's a lot of us let's say a prayer for your brothers are they
01:00:06here today with you i have two of my sisters and my dad out there yes so not the whole
01:00:11crew we have
01:00:12a big farm and my mom had to stay back and handle that okay head inside and wait your audition
01:00:16is next
01:00:18what's on your farm like six cows lots of chickens we've got three goats cool what are you gonna be
01:00:24singing for us i'm gonna be singing honest by kindle inskeep how did you discover that she is kind
01:00:30of a small artist i discovered her music through my sister actually and i was like what is this song
01:00:35i love it cool that's cool okay are you playing i am playing awesome variation wow
01:00:50oh
01:00:51every time i walk out of the house put on another face just to blend in with the crowd so
01:00:57nobody sees me
01:01:00you would never believe me
01:01:05i'll tell you that i'm old but i'm still healing i'll tell you that i'm happy but i'm grieving
01:01:11thought i was a fighter
01:01:15but i'm still in the fire
01:01:18and if i'm being honest
01:01:22i'm not being honest
01:01:26i'll give you roses just hoping you don't see the weeds in my garden
01:01:33i'll tell you that i'm old but i'm still healing
01:01:37i'll tell you that i'm happy but i'm grieving
01:01:40i even thought i was a fighter
01:01:43but i'm still in the fire
01:01:47if i'm being honest
01:01:51i'm not being honest
01:01:55i'm sitting here waiting and praying for someone to show me what love is
01:02:01i'm just being honest
01:02:05i'm just being honest
01:02:13all right
01:02:17minus the concentration of trying to play the piano you have some vocal chops thank you
01:02:23there were a lot of kind of timid things that you were doing that will only improve the more you
01:02:28play out but i mean i feel like you have a lot of potential thank you
01:02:33everything about you is 16 but you have a tone and sound in your voice it's really undeniable
01:02:40correct correct you are by no means ready for this but i don't think i can fight the urge
01:02:47say yes i think i have to tell her yes oh my god thank you um i think it's a
01:02:54not quite yet for me
01:02:56no listen hey if i put you through now i feel like all the other big voices that have been
01:03:04playing out for
01:03:04years they are going to wash you away i would rather give you did one without the piano she could
01:03:11just
01:03:11trust singing to the top of her lungs you think she's you think she could win this like right now
01:03:19we're in well then there's your answer it's i mean it's up to lana we still have one more dog
01:03:24in the fight
01:03:27i think you've got some real grown-up qualities in there i like very much i might need to hear
01:03:33a
01:03:35little more well the the song that you sang um the songwriter kendall is actually
01:03:45here now right now right now kind of coming up behind you right now kind of walking over your
01:03:51shoulder can you guys sing that together just give her a stool
01:04:03you sing it we got you a stool well first of all are you auditioning i'm auditioning today wow and
01:04:09hopefully changing one vote yeah let's hear y'all do it yeah okay
01:04:17perjay fill this room up i'm just being honest yeah
01:04:25i'll give you roses just hoping you don't see the weeds in my garden
01:04:34yeah come on girl i'm sitting here waiting and praying for someone to show me what love is
01:04:50i'm just being honest oh you're so good oh that was so great sorry what do you think lionel
01:05:01um i i must tell you i i i'm debating if you have a master of it yet
01:05:17good oh that was so great what do you think lionel
01:05:23um i i must tell you i i have luke's heart i'm telling you
01:05:32come back to see us it's a no for me this time but that was very it was thank you
01:05:39very very great
01:05:40very inspiring thank y'all all right we'll see you back here all right thank y'all y'all have
01:05:45a great
01:05:46day all right
01:05:46cheers baby i gotta know no i'm so proud of you luke said he liked me and carrie and lionel
01:06:01said
01:06:01i had a little bit of growing to do but i got to meet kendall inskeep and i got to
01:06:05sing with her
01:06:05so he's really mind-blowing give me a second and i'll make it out of this oh i'm in
01:06:17i know i've been reckless but one day i know i'll be all again
01:06:26it might be today and it might be tomorrow when i wash my hands of the shame that i borrowed
01:06:38i'm sorry to unload like this i just can't keep it in
01:07:04i know i've been reckless but one day i know
01:07:14i know i'll be whole i'll be whole again
01:07:19might be today and it might be tomorrow when i wash my hands of the shame i've borrowed
01:07:31i'm sorry to unload like this i just can't keep it in
01:07:41so
01:07:47thanks
01:07:49kendall you got stuff you got stuff you got stuff you got stuff thank you so much i like the
01:07:55song i
01:07:56love your voice felt like we were in your world when things kind of took off and hitting those baby
01:08:03that that note like from here it was like yeah thank you i commend you on the fact of just
01:08:09taking
01:08:10your time exploring who you are i think that's just so brilliant you you've got artists written all
01:08:17over you and i'm loving every minute of it thank you so much thank you i was really impressed when
01:08:23you
01:08:24stepped on the gas and you had that extra level of stuff in your range thank you i think we
01:08:31can vote
01:08:31i can vote i can vote go for it we can all vote let's tell her the good news you're
01:08:37going to hollywood
01:08:38me wait can i like can i shake your hands can i help you please you guys are so cool
01:08:44oh you are so cool
01:08:54oh my gosh wait can i tell you something what the girl before me auditioned with honest
01:09:05i just love the song and i love how much he's spoken to me through your lyricism and it's just
01:09:11been so amazing and should you be able to sing with you it was absolutely so inspiring you're just
01:09:16to be able to meet you you're so sweet thank you i love you i love you babe we're besties
01:09:22now we're
01:09:23friends okay this is what it feels you both got this yeah
01:09:30group selfie oh leave me up oh vinyl is that you this next kid went viral because he's posting
01:09:42singing from the shower
01:09:47hi my name is alona and i am so excited to be here today i am actually not singing though
01:09:53my boyfriend
01:09:54bryant is and no one has any idea what he looks like the camera is never on him it's always
01:10:00just
01:10:00on me doing my hair and makeup so it's just me reacting so we're gonna not watch him sing so
01:10:07just
01:10:07make him feel comfortable yeah we got we gotta ease him into this i hear him walking here i hear
01:10:14him
01:10:14it's getting close life with bryant is oh i'm gonna cry sorry
01:10:20i'm gonna pull it together
01:10:28he's made me come out of my shell a lot too as a person
01:10:34i didn't think that love ever existed like this until i met him
01:10:40i can't see a thing i'm so excited to be on this journey with him and
01:10:45this is such a big deal all right we can bring these down
01:10:50hop from behind the pillar don't look at me we're not we're not looking okay all right who are you
01:10:56my
01:10:57name is brian thomas i'm from mobile alabama alabama well you sound like you're from alabama roll tide
01:11:03roll tide i am a singer songwriter i grew up in the church singing music how many fans do you
01:11:10have
01:11:10like 110 000. wow so the fans have never seen your face
01:11:15blowing your cover well this is the first time we've ever allowed one of these to go this way
01:11:20yeah so a new era of america night all right what are you gonna sing for us i'm singing against
01:11:26all odds
01:11:26by phil collins fantastic
01:11:36how can i just let you walk away just let you leave without a trace
01:11:44when i stand here taking every breath with you
01:11:49oh you're the only one who really knew me at all
01:11:57wow so take a look at me now
01:12:04there's just an empty space and there's nothing left here to remind me just the memory of your face
01:12:15so take a look at me now this is just an empty space but you coming back to me is
01:12:27against the odds but it's
01:12:29what i've got on the face take a good look at me now
01:12:57take a look at me now
01:13:05uh wow wow wow wow wow where to do it thank you guys so much the reveal
01:13:15good job here i am you know i'm overwhelmed i can't i can't lie to you you know i'm just
01:13:22gonna be like like luke and i'm gonna make jokes okay that's great you're still kind of covered
01:13:27because you've got your shades on but i get it there's the fool
01:13:30Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
01:13:33Carrie, what you think?
01:13:34Your voice is outrageous.
01:13:38Thank you so much, it means a lot to me
01:13:40to hear that from someone like you.
01:13:42It's incredible, it really is.
01:13:43Even over there behind a pillar,
01:13:46you can feel just so much emotion and life in your voice.
01:13:51So, well done.
01:13:53What you think Lionel about Bryant?
01:13:54I think we got ourselves a hit record here.
01:13:57You've got star power vocals, man.
01:14:03And that little rasp you have is just on fire.
01:14:08Thank you so much.
01:14:09You were all the way there, and I'm loving it, man.
01:14:13Thank you so much.
01:14:14Yeah, man, great job, and really, really soulful voice.
01:14:18I feel like I'm hallucinating right now, honestly.
01:14:20It's a fever dream.
01:14:21Like, is this a projection, is this AI?
01:14:24Well, let's vote, Lionel.
01:14:25What you think about your Alabama boy?
01:14:26I think for the University of Idle,
01:14:29I would deem it very excited to put you in as part of this class.
01:14:34It's a yes for me.
01:14:36I'm a heck yes.
01:14:38Woo, woo.
01:14:39I'm a yes.
01:14:40I love it.
01:14:41Congratulations.
01:14:42You got a lot of family in there behind you.
01:14:44They're coming in.
01:14:45What's up?
01:14:46How are y'all?
01:14:47Good.
01:14:48Are you the girlfriend?
01:14:49I am.
01:14:50You started all this?
01:14:51I did.
01:14:52Come on, guys.
01:14:53Center in.
01:14:54There you go.
01:14:55Well, he's going through the Hollywood week, and he's a great singer.
01:14:59I appreciate y'all bringing him to us.
01:15:01I have one thing to say?
01:15:02Yes.
01:15:02Yes.
01:15:12I told you, you know, when we started this whole journey, you know, that you were the
01:15:17one for me.
01:15:19To be honest, whether I got a golden ticket or not, I was going to do this.
01:15:23And I just want you to know that, like, my journey started with you, and it's going
01:15:27to end with you.
01:15:28And I promise you that.
01:15:31It's okay.
01:15:32Can you say something?
01:15:33Yes.
01:15:34Yes.
01:15:36Can you say something?
01:15:36Ah, congratulations.
01:15:39All the American Idol.
01:15:41Aw.
01:15:42Oh, if this, oh, my God, this is beautiful.
01:15:45Oh, my God, guys.
01:15:46Congratulations.
01:15:49Oh, my God.
01:15:50Oh, my God.
01:15:52Way to go, man.
01:15:53Oh my god, I mean how did you sing knowing you had to do that?
01:16:02I'm telling you something right now with the voice you have
01:16:05Skies could be the limit of where you're going. Congratulations, man
01:16:13I've been behind the scenes and I feel like I'm made for the stage and the spotlights
01:16:17So I'm ready to assume my role in the front of this boat and take us all the way home
01:16:30Awesome day y'all I must say you the class is getting very impressive and each one unique unto themselves
01:16:41That's what makes it so beautiful
01:16:44All right
01:16:47Hey, how are you? How are you? I don't believe you are a contestant. I am not a contestant
01:16:55My name is Heather Wyatt. I'm here to introduce Chloe
01:17:00Chloe is a young girl who about a year ago
01:17:03Wrote and performed a song in honor of my daughter Aubrey that we lost to suicide in 2023
01:17:12So sorry for your loss that is just unimaginable
01:17:18Here's an original song that I wrote dedicated to Aubrey Wyatt called Forever 13
01:17:23I first heard Chloe's song about a year ago and immediately cried. It was beautiful. It was
01:17:30What Aubrey had gone through
01:17:34Forever 13 had some big dreams
01:17:44Aubrey is my forever 13 year old daughter
01:17:47Aubrey is my forever 13 year old daughter
01:17:50She is bright, beautiful, talented
01:17:54And she endured years of bullying, social media pressures, and took her life September 4th, 2023.
01:18:09Um, just very unexpected.
01:18:23Something kept telling me to write that song, so I did.
01:18:25You didn't know her?
01:18:26I hadn't. No, I've never met her.
01:18:28But you couldn't get this story out of your mind?
01:18:29I couldn't. It did just relate. I just, I don't know. I felt it so much in my heart to
01:18:33write this song.
01:18:34Chloe does not know that I'm here today.
01:18:36I have not met Chloe, so this will be the first time meeting her and thanking her for the song.
01:18:41Oh, my God.
01:18:49Oh, my God.
01:18:52Oh, my God.
01:18:58This is the world of me. You don't even know.
01:19:01Thank you. Thank you.
01:19:03This is Chloe.
01:19:05Hi.
01:19:05Hi, Chloe.
01:19:06Hi.
01:19:07Sorry.
01:19:08No, you're great.
01:19:09Do you want to tell us your name? Tell us a little bit about yourself?
01:19:13All right. My name is Chloe Grace. I'm 15 years old, and I'm from Jacksonville, Florida.
01:19:17I went through some of the things Aubrey had went through, and it was really hard.
01:19:21So I was like, if I could write something that could just very small help someone, then it's totally worth
01:19:26me writing this song.
01:19:27Music is very powerful, and it can help let people know that they're not alone.
01:19:32So we're excited to hear the song.
01:19:42She was only 13, had some big dreams, and you took them all away.
01:19:49She had her whole life ahead of her, and you watched her drift away.
01:19:57You never thought that what you said could mess up someone else's head, but maybe you think now that she's
01:20:09gone.
01:20:11A young girl had to lose her life so that you could feel somewhat satisfied in this sick and twisted
01:20:20world.
01:20:21You wouldn't think that a few young girls could do any harm, but look where we are.
01:20:29Now she's dancing up in heaven with no tears, no worry, no weight on her shoulders today.
01:20:45I've never felt that kind of pain, but I can't imagine how it feels.
01:20:53To be a mom and lose her daughter, it must feel so certain.
01:21:00Like, how can she be gone?
01:21:03She blames herself for doing wrong, but I hope that she knows it ain't her fault.
01:21:11Even though she is gone, her story will forever live on.
01:21:24And I'm gonna say her name, cause no one deserves that kind of pain.
01:21:40Forever 13, had some big dreams, and you took them all away.
01:21:51Oh, thank you.
01:22:01Oh, goodness.
01:22:04I'm just so moved.
01:22:07Heather, that's a gift right there.
01:22:08That's, that's God looking back at you.
01:22:11It is.
01:22:12Just a very moving moment.
01:22:14Yeah, I feel like the maturity that you possess is quite incredible.
01:22:20The way you, the way you, the way you had your heart broken for someone you didn't even know, you
01:22:35know, and take that and basically say that something positive is going to come out of it.
01:22:50And to potentially even think about all the people that hear that and see you and hear this story and
01:22:58maybe decide to change their mind about something.
01:23:04You know, it's pretty, you know, the fact that she wrote about what you were going through, not knowing you,
01:23:12shows a potential in you as a singer and a songwriter and someone that can really do a lot of
01:23:20good in this world.
01:23:22Yeah.
01:23:24Yeah.
01:23:24I'm a yes.
01:23:27I don't even have to think about it.
01:23:28I'm a yes.
01:23:31A yes for me.
01:23:32Welcome to the class.
01:23:33Welcome to the class.
01:23:37Well, thank you so much.
01:23:38You're special.
01:23:39You know that, right?
01:23:41Thank you so much.
01:23:42You're special.
01:23:44You're one of my biggest inspirations?
01:23:46Because I was seven years old.
01:23:49Well, now who's the inspiration?
01:23:52It's pretty incredible.
01:23:53Thank you so much.
01:24:05I've always dreamed of holding one of these in my hand and for it to be like this.
01:24:10And to get it singing a song I wrote and a song I poured my whole heart into is insane.
01:24:19Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
01:24:28We pray for the one who's going to leave the class.
01:24:32It's you.
01:24:34Why have we not seen you yet?
01:24:36I have an announcement.
01:24:38I'm Brittany Bateman.
01:24:40The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
01:24:45You're crazy talented, crazy unbelievable.
01:24:48I don't even know if you know what you could be capable of.
01:24:52I don't think we've seen a star, star, star like you yet.
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