Skip to playerSkip to main content
Retro.Render
  • 2 days ago
American Idol S24E01
Transcript
00:00:00American Idol is sacred. A place where greatness is born. And the finest voices in the nation echo in our history books.
00:00:23And the Grammy goes to Kelly Clarkson. From Fantasia to Carrie Underwood, Gabby Barrett and Adam Lambert. These names define what it means to be an idol. The winner, Jamal Roberts. I just feel like I'm in the presence of greatness. On the first note, I had chills. And now it's time to meet our incredible new class.
00:00:53This is American Idol.
00:01:00Hello, class of 2026.
00:01:08First day of school.
00:01:12Who is ready to be an American Idol?
00:01:19Idol, Idol, Idol.
00:01:23What better place to have the auditions than the legendary Belmont University?
00:01:28This is awesome.
00:01:29First day, guys.
00:01:30New season.
00:01:32Oh, that feels good.
00:01:33That hurts.
00:01:34Squat in some heels when they come talk to me.
00:01:35I love that duet.
00:01:36First thing in the morning.
00:01:37Idol University.
00:01:38Class is in session.
00:01:39Class is in session.
00:01:40Class is in session.
00:01:41Ah.
00:01:42Hey, guys.
00:01:43What's up?
00:01:44Hey.
00:01:45How are you?
00:01:46Gosh, this is crazy.
00:01:47I'm good.
00:01:48How are you all?
00:01:49Oh, my gosh.
00:01:50You look like my child.
00:01:51Here, look at this.
00:01:52Hold on.
00:01:53So, I took this picture of Bo the other day.
00:01:55I literally, like...
00:01:56Wow.
00:01:57Look.
00:01:58How are you all?
00:01:59Look.
00:02:00How are you all?
00:02:01Oh, my gosh.
00:02:02You look like my child.
00:02:03Here, look at this.
00:02:04Hold on.
00:02:05So, I took this picture of Bo the other day.
00:02:06I literally, like...
00:02:07Wow.
00:02:08Look.
00:02:09That'd be...
00:02:10They could be brothers.
00:02:12All 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.
00:02:18I love that name.
00:02:19That's the one star name.
00:02:20Is that the real name?
00:02:21Yes, sir.
00:02:22But is it Leon or is it Leon?
00:02:24It'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.
00:02:30Write a lot of songs.
00:02:31Do some fishing.
00:02:32What are they biting on out there these days?
00:02:34Baby Brush Hog.
00:02:35Texas Rig.
00:02:36Now he sounds like my son.
00:02:37He fishes all day, every day.
00:02:40All right.
00:02:41Well, what are you going to sing today?
00:02:42I'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.
00:02:49Oh, he will.
00:02:50Oh, the one who are not lost, love ways down the road.
00:03:08Oh, I just wonder what's the cost, if you'd ever known.
00:03:15Cause I'm a young gun in North Foreruner, rolling down the coast.
00:03:22I'm coming down Route 66, a city with her ghost.
00:03:28So wrong me to Arizona, Texas, Mexico.
00:03:35Send me by a desert fire.
00:03:39Let it be my home.
00:03:42And with my heart.
00:03:43Now, he will.
00:03:45I ain't one for love.
00:03:46I ain't quick to pray.
00:03:47Yeah.
00:03:48But I swear to God I fell in love today.
00:03:58Oh, I swear to God, we're fell in love today.
00:04:12All right.
00:04:14All right.
00:04:15We're all standing.
00:04:17Thank you very much.
00:04:18Thanks.
00:04:19Oh, yeah.
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.
00:04:33Pure, 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.
00:05:08I'm just having fun with you.
00:05:09Really great stuff you're doing at the age of 17.
00:05:12Tell me about him.
00:05:13And you have it all.
00:05:14So thank you for bringing your butt down here to us.
00:05:18Oh, it's my pleasure.
00:05:20Lionel.
00:05:22Yes.
00:05:23Let 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.
00:05:32We're going to Hollywood Week.
00:05:33This is why we're here.
00:05:35Thank you so much.
00:05:36You got me.
00:05:37Yeah, man.
00:05:38I love it.
00:05:40Take care.
00:05:44All right.
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.
00:05:53That would be great.
00:05:55Idol gold.
00:05:56We're just getting started.
00:05:57Star, star, star, star, star right here.
00:06:00Did you have this much confidence when you were...
00:06:03I remember always being confident, but then, like, my first time I did the Opry and stuff,
00:06:07I 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.
00:06:11All the way, all the way.
00:06:17Good job.
00:06:18There you go.
00:06:20Good job.
00:06:20Good job.
00:06:21Good job.
00:06:24Music wasn't a natural passion for me.
00:06:26I knew I could sing.
00:06:27Everybody around me believed in me but me.
00:06:30I wanted to play basketball.
00:06:33How does it feel when it's quiet and calm?
00:06:37My name is Keela Richardson.
00:06:39I'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.
00:06:51Life Shipping 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, grew up singing.
00:07:04Good job, Cloud.
00:07:08Y'all got to show me what I'm doing, right?
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.
00:07:19Is it over?
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.
00:07:27I 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.
00:07:46I'm raising a young man.
00:07:47I'm a single mother by myself.
00:07:48You're the reason I'm here today, and why mommy's going to keep going.
00:07:52Okay?
00:07:52You son.
00:07:53Hey, guys.
00:07:58How you doing?
00:07:59How you doing?
00:07:59I'm good.
00:07:59I love it.
00:08:01Who are you?
00:08:02Great pants.
00:08:03My name is Keela Richardson.
00:08:04Keela Richardson.
00:08:05And where are you from?
00:08:06I'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, so I just want to keep going and give it
00:08:15one more try.
00:08:16Well, 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.
00:08:21That's great.
00:08:21You have a voice that will make people stop in their tracks.
00:08:35Drop the mic.
00:08:36Drop the mic.
00:08:37Woo!
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 with just your hands?
00:08:51Oh, close your eyes and trust in, just trust in, and have you ever thrown a fistful of glitter
00:09:08in the air in the air?
00:09:09Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:09:14Have you ever looked fear in the face and said, I just don't care?
00:09:20Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:09:24There you are, sitting in the garden, clutching my coffee, calling me sugar.
00:09:33Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
00:10:03I could tell you is that sometimes just let it breathe a little bit, you know, gotcha
00:10:12I can imagine you on some songs where you would just blow the roof off of this place because of the range
00:10:18Now is how much you don't give us what carrie said is correct
00:10:22What's the lyrics to the first line in that course?
00:10:26Will you roll her into that and let me hear you sing that one more time and i'm gonna give you one little thing
00:10:31Let's see if she does that lick again
00:10:36Close your eyes and trust in just trust in
00:10:44That's so pretty it's great
00:10:53Stop that do it again, right
00:11:01Oh
00:11:05Keep going
00:11:06It's only half past the point of no return the tip of the iceberg the fire before the burn
00:11:15The thunder before the lightning and the red before the phrase have you ever felt this way
00:11:23Hey, hey, hey, hey
00:11:25Hey
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, my dad
00:11:33Oh my gosh
00:11:33Oh boy
00:11:34Hi, Miss Carrie
00:11:35Hi, how are you?
00:11:36Good
00:11:38Did you hear your mom?
00:11:40Did you hear how great she did?
00:11:41Wow
00:11:42You know we love her
00:11:44Hi, Mr. Lionel
00:11:45Oh, how are you?
00:11:46Good
00:11:47So cool, man
00:11:49Hi, Mr. Luke
00:11:50Hey, buddy
00:11:52You see what your mama made me do?
00:11:56Oh, man
00:11:57When you felt confident the way you just sang that with confidence
00:12:00You have a voice that will make people stop in their tracks
00:12:07Gosh, I got like snot going on
00:12:10What's your name, buddy?
00:12:11Drew
00:12:12That's Carrie right there, Drew
00:12:14I know
00:12:15I watch American Idol all the time
00:12:16I can't believe you're 29 and you hadn't been in our life yet
00:12:23I know
00:12:24Thank you
00:12:24That's wonderful
00:12:25Thank you
00:12:27Yes
00:12:27Amen
00:12:27Lionel Richie
00:12:28No, excuse me, it's Mr. Lionel
00:12:30Mr. Lionel
00:12:31It's a yes for me
00:12:33Thank you
00:12:34Big old yes for me
00:12:35Thank you
00:12:36Thank you
00:12:37Oh, yes, congratulations
00:12:39Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you
00:12:40You're going through the hollywood week
00:12:42I'm on the hollywood week
00:12:43Come here, Drew, come here, Drew
00:12:46Oh, my God
00:12:47Thank you
00:12:47Thank you so much, y'all
00:12:49Thank you
00:12:49Thank you
00:12:50We'll be right here with you
00:12:50Do you sing, Drew?
00:12:51I have a song that I know how to sing
00:12:53Oh, let's do it
00:12:54Whoa
00:12:55Back on the Oval
00:12:56Back on the Oval
00:12:58Wait, here we go
00:12:58Oh, God
00:12:59Oh, God
00:13:00My man seems like he's ready to go
00:13:02Uh, what's the song, Drew?
00:13:04It's called God Only Knows
00:13:05God Only Knows
00:13:06Yes
00:13:08God only knows what you've 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
00:13:23Show it out
00:13:24That was great
00:13:26What was that move?
00:13:26What was that move, Drew?
00:13:29Just picking those notes out
00:13:31I can't believe myself
00:13:32I think I'm in a dream
00:13:36Yes
00:13:37My pride and joy right here
00:13:38This is who I do it for
00:13:39I'm gonna do it for him
00:13:40I'm so proud
00:13:41And thank you, Drew
00:13:42I'm proud of you, too
00:13:43You're going to Hollywood, too, bud
00:13:44Yeah
00:13:45Yeah
00:13:45That's the song, too
00:13:47That may have been
00:13:49One of my favorite moments
00:13:50I've ever had on this show
00:13:52That was great
00:13:53God only knows what you've been through
00:13:56God only knows what they say about you
00:13:59God only knows the real you
00:14:02But that's the kind of love
00:14:04That God only knows
00:14:05God only knows what you've been through
00:14:08All right
00:14:09I would have popped it out
00:14:10I would have popped it out
00:14:13But I've been forgotten I do
00:14:14I've been married a long time ago
00:14:16Where did you come from?
00:14:17Where did you go?
00:14:18Where did you come from?
00:14:19Cotton I do
00:14:20But I've been forgotten I do
00:14:22I've been married a long time ago
00:14:23Where did you come from?
00:14:24Where did you come from?
00:14:25Where did you come from?
00:14:26Where did you come from?
00:14:27Where did you come from?
00:14:27Where did you come from?
00:14:28Where did you come from?
00:14:29Where did you come from?
00:14:29What's happening?
00:14:29What's going on?
00:14:30Oh, yeah
00:14:31Oh, here it comes
00:14:32What's going on?
00:14:33What's happening to me?
00:14:34What's happening to me?
00:14:36Hey!
00:14:38Here we go
00:14:39Where did you come from?
00:14:39Where did you go?
00:14:40Where did you come from?
00:14:40Look at this
00:14:41Oh!
00:14:42Look at this
00:14:42Oh!
00:14:43Look at this
00:14:44I got a jersey
00:14:45Come on!
00:14:45I got a jersey.
00:14:48I got a third jersey.
00:14:50My name is Jason Art.
00:14:51I'm 24 years old.
00:14:52I'm from Pequo, Arena, North Carolina.
00:14:54I'm here today with the Texas Tailgaters,
00:14:57which is in the Banana Ball Championship League.
00:14:59You might be familiar with the Savannah Bananas.
00:15:02We play with them.
00:15:03It's entertainment baseball.
00:15:05They'll compare us to the Harlem Globetrotters a lot,
00:15:08but it's very competitive, too.
00:15:12We're all best friends, and we all get along,
00:15:14and it's great.
00:15:15I got into it, actually, as a singer.
00:15:22Outside of the actual game, we'll put on concerts.
00:15:25The whole point is just to keep the fans engaged the whole time
00:15:27and make sure they have fun.
00:15:29Come on, now.
00:15:30Ow!
00:15:32Pull the handy.
00:15:34I got it pretty quick, though.
00:15:36Awesome, awesome.
00:15:37How did I do?
00:15:39Oh, you ought to see me pitch.
00:15:41I think we can make that happen.
00:15:43I'm all good.
00:15:44Heck, I slept on my arm wrong last night
00:15:46and fell asleep for three hours.
00:15:49All right, well, who are you?
00:15:51My name is Jason R.
00:15:52I'm 24 years old,
00:15:53and I'm from Fuquay, Verena, North Carolina.
00:15:55What are you going to sing for us?
00:15:56I'm going to sing Fire Away by Chris Stapleton.
00:15:58Love it.
00:15:58All right.
00:15:59You better be able to sing.
00:16:00Yes, sir.
00:16:01I'm right.
00:16:01Oh, yeah.
00:16:05Well, honey, load up your questions
00:16:09and pick up your sticks and your stones.
00:16:13And pretend I'm a shelter for heartaches that don't have a home.
00:16:27Choose the words that cut like a razor
00:16:31And all that I'll say
00:16:37Is fire away
00:16:44Oh, no.
00:16:47And take your best shot
00:16:50Show me what you got
00:16:51Honey, I'm not afraid
00:16:56Rear back and take it
00:17:01And fire away
00:17:05Fire away
00:17:10Oh, fire away
00:17:16Yeah, baby, come on.
00:17:19Big Dave.
00:17:21Big Dave.
00:17:23I want a team.
00:17:24All right, Carrie
00:17:27You already got the gear on
00:17:29I do, I do
00:17:30Especially a tailgater
00:17:31Yeah, that's right
00:17:32I think you should go first
00:17:37Okay, all right, okay
00:17:38I'm going to pass the ball
00:17:39Sorry, she's, I think the abs
00:17:41It's very distracting
00:17:42The abs mess it up
00:17:44The abs mess it up
00:17:45Well, if it's that easy to distract you
00:17:48No, no, no, no
00:17:50No, no, no
00:17:53No, no, no, no
00:17:54Luke, don't, don't, don't do that
00:17:55Don't, don't
00:17:56All right, all right
00:17:58All right, so now listen
00:18:00You've got a nice voice
00:18:01Yes, sir
00:18:02You've got a distinguishable voice
00:18:03And we don't have anything like that yet
00:18:06Thank you, sir
00:18:07Okay, I think I've
00:18:09You calm down now?
00:18:10I got my thoughts together
00:18:11All right, good, very good
00:18:12I think my thing is
00:18:13If you do end up going forward
00:18:16It's just the taking this part of you seriously
00:18:21You know what I mean?
00:18:22Like you guys are obviously so much fun
00:18:23I love it
00:18:24And I want to feel you in moat
00:18:26I want, I want to hear more
00:18:28Yes, ma'am
00:18:29Good
00:18:29I used to try to sing everything as loud as I could
00:18:32It took me years to kind of go
00:18:33You know, I don't have to sing loud
00:18:35Every time I can kind of calm it down
00:18:36So just think about that
00:18:38All right, Lionel
00:18:38Yes
00:18:40Yeah
00:18:41Yeah
00:18:41Yeah
00:18:42Yeah
00:18:43Yeah
00:18:44Come on
00:18:45That's an easy yes
00:18:46What are we, what are we
00:18:47What are we
00:18:48The pressure
00:18:49Oh, look at her
00:18:51Oh, no, no
00:18:52Karen, Karen, look over this way
00:18:54I got my own set of abs to stare at
00:18:56Not mine
00:18:57There you go
00:18:59Um, I want to know who you are as an artist
00:19:03So I'll say yes
00:19:04Yeah
00:19:04Yeah
00:19:05Yeah
00:19:06Huge fan
00:19:07Yes
00:19:08Yeah
00:19:09You thought we were done?
00:19:14Okay
00:19:15Wait a minute
00:19:16Here we go
00:19:17Hey
00:19:19Hey
00:19:20Hey
00:19:21Hey
00:19:22Hey
00:19:23Hey
00:19:24Hey
00:19:25Hey
00:19:26Hey
00:19:27Hey
00:19:28Hey
00:19:29Hey
00:19:30Hey
00:19:31Hey
00:19:32Hey
00:19:33Hey
00:19:34Hey
00:19:35Hey
00:19:37Oh, no
00:19:38No
00:19:39Hey
00:19:40Hey
00:19:41Hey
00:19:42Hey
00:19:43Hey
00:19:44Hey
00:19:45Hey
00:19:46Hey
00:19:47Hey
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.
00:19:54That was good.
00:19:54That was fun.
00:19:55I'm going to Hollywood Week.
00:20:04The next class is going to teach us all
00:20:06what 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,
00:20:16living in a lonely world.
00:20:21She took the midnight train going anywhere.
00:20:27Pocket that thing.
00:20:28Pocket that thing, man.
00:20:30Where are you from, Daniel?
00:20:31Moss Point, Mississippi.
00:20:33What happens back in Moss Point, Mississippi?
00:20:35For me, I'm a school teacher.
00:20:37Where do you teach?
00:20:37I teach music.
00:20:38OK, well, then you're in the right place.
00:20:40Yes, sir.
00:20:40I absolutely love working with kids.
00:20:42They are my joy.
00:20:44And I'm doing this for my students to let them know
00:20:46that 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.
00:20:53Don't stop believing.
00:20:58Hold on to that feeling.
00:21:02Oh, it's all.
00:21:03Oh.
00:21:05Oh, streetlight people.
00:21:08Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:21:10Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:21:13Don't stop believing.
00:21:18Love, love, love, love.
00:21:22love your students are gonna hail you as the greatest thing that ever showed up in their lives
00:21:30wow my cheeks hurt because i'm smiling so much i'm just thinking about how lucky are the kids
00:21:37to have you all right exactly all right oh let's vote kerry yes luke yes and i'll go down low yes
00:21:47welcome to american island thank you so much
00:22:07i'm telling you
00:22:12don't need that guy
00:22:14oh that's a weird no no whatever i'll suck i just feel like the piano playing like wasn't quite
00:22:31there for me i feel like it was distracting you a little bit it was distracting it was taking away
00:22:38from your vocals that's not my audition song kerry wow look at this praise the lord this is awesome
00:22:47my name is tate emmons i'm 15 years old and i'm from a real small town called lake mississippi
00:22:55we knew from a young age that tate was extremely talented in what he could do
00:23:00so i could sing before i could talk
00:23:07i was three years old at my church singing jesus loves me i've been singing ever since
00:23:12well last week i met with my vocal coach who happens to be the uncle of brianna nicks the final
00:23:19person competing in the finale brianna nicks
00:23:22i can't wait for you to get that golden ticket you're gonna kill it lord will sing loud it's gonna
00:23:28be great oh my goodness
00:23:31oh we know you what does happen hey hi this is emerson you're gonna go stay with carrie can i pick
00:23:38you up all right you're not shy are you no did he grow up right emerson no no
00:23:46what have i been for the past 10 years i grew up quick 15 years hey you got some explaining to do
00:23:53my name is tate emmons i'm 15 years old i'm from a small town called lake mississippi all right mississippi
00:23:58that's right about a week ago i'm doing the grand opry again and he was there and he's like i want
00:24:04you to hear me sing and i was just blown away i texted immediately hey is it too late for an audition
00:24:10and 20 minutes later i'm sure you you had some people pick up yeah got a little cloud i love that
00:24:15right he's one of a kind and i really believe in him wow brianna why don't you come over here with us
00:24:20okay yeah yeah here we go come on i miss you guys baby how are you good to see you hands are a little
00:24:27cold fancy chairs let you see are you nervous a little bit you seem cool as a cucumber well thank
00:24:33you we ready let's do it he's like why don't we wait now let's go come on tate i'm going to be singing
00:24:42hard-fought hallelujah by brandon lake let's go all right well i don't always feel it
00:24:59yeah but that's when i need it the most
00:25:03so i'ma keep on singing till my soul catches up with my song there's days that my hands go up freely
00:25:19times that it comes
00:25:25there's days that a praise comes out easy days that it takes all the strength i've got
00:25:33but i'll bring my heart fought heart failed been through it hallelujah
00:25:43and i'll bring my storm-tossed torn sail story to tell hallelujah
00:25:53oh hallelujah
00:25:59all right all right
00:26:01first of all i'm really surprised at your guitar maneuverability at your age thank you and can i do
00:26:11an exercise with you just let me hear you sing heartfelt hallelujah like i mean i want to hear
00:26:17you give it all on the chorus you know you don't have to play you have to play it just just close your
00:26:22eyes don't worry about the guitar and sing sing sing worship so i'll bring my heart found heartfelt it is well
00:26:31hallelujah i think guitar you're perfect but vocally it does really really feel
00:26:40even a little younger than 15 to me which is a predicament i understand exactly what you
00:26:50fell in love with because we just saw it we heard it it's when do we
00:26:55we throw you out there our biggest thing is is all of our mama and daddy hearts are looking at you
00:27:04saying do we wreck this kid by feeding him to the entertainment industry
00:27:09i remember a year ago when i came in i was just like tate freaking out i was so scared
00:27:18gotta give him a chance i promise i promise
00:27:23i trust you lord all right i'm ready to vote
00:27:27an environment like this could be really beneficial to you so this is school i'm gonna say yes thank
00:27:37you so much i'm gonna go the opposite
00:27:45gotta give him a chance i promise i promise i'm gonna say yes thank you so much i'm gonna go the
00:27:52opposite okay i don't want to take your phenomenon and blow you up i just will not let that happen to
00:27:58you come back and look at this again from another angle a couple of years of experience i'd love to
00:28:03hear what you sound like thank you that's just me talking as dad now okay thank you it's all up to you
00:28:10no pressure no pressure at all i'm pretty nervous i kind of feel sick it's gonna be great it's gonna be good
00:28:22it's too soon okay i'm gonna know okay thank you all so much i appreciate y'all listening to
00:28:31i hope you can understand why i'm saying this i do understand yes sir i do i promise
00:28:39thank you brother i appreciate you so much and i love you thank you thank you for your input
00:28:44keep doing what you're doing exactly what you're doing keep just giving glory where glory is
00:28:50it's a true honor to meet you thank you very much thank you all right tate my son's name tate
00:28:55really he's 15. oh my goodness hey it's amazing how you're playing that guitar thank you
00:29:04just you keep doing it yes sir thank y'all so much thank y'all it's humbling to think the judges
00:29:09thinks that about me i'm like gives me a lot of hope
00:29:12not this stuff not this stuff not this stuff oh that's okay i will support him forever and he's
00:29:21a golden ticket here always still gonna push you to do this every single year well i'm always gonna
00:29:26listen to your opinion so i'll always pray about it but the yearly annual text message you're gonna
00:29:31you're gonna audition just be ready and get ready for it i'll be ready i'll be ready yes you're at peace
00:29:36for that right yeah you're right you're right you know i forgot how hard this was it is hard it never
00:29:45is easy just when they're looking at you and they they want it so bad what has happened over the years
00:29:54is we've gotten tougher only because we're expecting more now as judges after jamal grammy
00:30:02nominated jamal we've raised the bar to the point where we're going to be looking for that next level
00:30:09that instantly goes from american idol stage to that grammy award-winning artist
00:30:18lino they rehearsed that somewhere
00:30:20we need nods if we were to go out dancing let me show you what would happen idol university class
00:30:26of 2026 i can tell you right now is off the chain that was great we're proud of you son thank you so
00:30:35much we're going to hollywood we've had 10 people today that look like they've been trained to sing
00:30:43and you look like you were born to sing i see smiles and a ticket this is gonna be a great season
00:30:50and i'm so excited just to be on the front row of this one here we go hey guys hey how are you
00:30:59doing good how are you doing i'm good my name is jesse finling and i'm 19 years old what do you do
00:31:06i'm a college student right now um but i've been singing ever since i was uh little with my brother
00:31:13and sister we would pull up karaoke tracks and we would we would just sing with each other and since
00:31:18then i did choirs in school if you haven't noticed i have us i have a stutter um and that's really
00:31:26where kind of my love for singing came i've had a stutter ever since i was little
00:31:38and it's something that i've that i've uh struggled with since elementary school
00:31:43it was something embarrassing for me and it was something that i really had a hard time with i
00:31:50wouldn't raise my hand in school and it was just something that that made me feel alone and something
00:31:55that i felt like i had to hide so it was definitely hard singing has always felt freeing for me because
00:32:02when i sing i don't stutter when i sang it was a way for me to express myself in a way where i didn't have
00:32:08to worry about being embarrassed or what people would think or somebody would laugh so it was an
00:32:13outlet for me when i was little and it's still an out for me now walking out with a golden ticket would
00:32:27mean that everything that i've i've i've struggled with in the past it's all led me here and i can do
00:32:35whatever i want if i work hard i've come a long way with it i'm like it doesn't hold me back there
00:32:42you go well you're doing great so you your siblings sing are you a musical family or you just all love
00:32:48music me and my brother sing with each other and he also has a stutter so it's really special when we
00:32:53sing together it's crazy to see how far he's come it's insane i want to you know be a role model for him
00:33:01because i knew how hard it was for me in school i love your attitude i love your answer and you can
00:33:06tell that you are a good big brother but what you gonna sing for us i'm going to be singing in the
00:33:10stars by benson boone it's a song me and my brother always singing together i'm going to be thinking of
00:33:15him when i sing it very good sunday mornings were your favorite i used to meet you down on woods creek road
00:33:35you did your hair up like you were famous
00:33:38even though it's only church where we were going now sunday mornings are just sleeping
00:33:53it's like i've buried my faith with you
00:34:00i'm screaming at a god i don't know if i believe in
00:34:06because i don't know what else i can do oh i'm still holding on to everything that's dead and
00:34:18gone i don't want to say goodbye this one means forever and now you're in the stars and six feet's
00:34:29never found so far here i am alone between the heavens and the embers oh it hurts so hard
00:34:43for a million different reasons
00:34:50you took the best of my heart
00:34:53and left the rest in pieces
00:35:09thank you luke you jumped up awful quick i don't think i blinked one time yeah i mean yeah wow you're
00:35:16a real singer thank you man i'm really proud of you i love this show i love this show because we get
00:35:22to meet kids like you your voice is beautiful you have a beautiful vibrato a beautiful tone we could
00:35:30understand everything you were singing and you were in the song emotionally which just took us right
00:35:37there with you so it was just beautiful problem what problem you don't have a problem the only thing
00:35:44wrong with you is you got to figure out how you're going to navigate this career wow what's up fam
00:35:55look at that i love you i love you i think we can vote yes indeed yes
00:36:05yes yes i think you could go really far in this competition we just haven't had voices like yours
00:36:12coming through those doors i'm i'm really excited to give you a big old yes see what you go do with
00:36:17it we will see you in hollywood week did it you did it we did it yeah we did it when i was singing
00:36:26that song i was thinking of of younger me who wouldn't who wouldn't speak in class who was who was
00:36:31scared of what people thought of him and the fact that i got this is just proof that everything's working
00:36:36you know how it should well he's got a pretty voice oh it does i'm going to hollywood week
00:36:42i love you you can do anything you put your mind to and i'm always here for you
00:36:47i'm very proud of you love you love you you'll feel right kid
00:36:55you're going to hollywood week my friend
00:36:57all right great voice he has a good voice i'm hitting the restroom i just saw that we're in the
00:37:07brad paisley and kimberly williams paisley ballroom oh yeah we're in your ballroom paisley
00:37:14oh i can't wait to ruin this whole show this is going to be something we're counting on you
00:37:29now you are going to wind luke up a little bit to get carrie right yeah yeah so we're putting
00:37:33your piece in luke's here basically i'm going to try to make luke say ridiculously awkward stuff
00:37:40we're not ruining someone's audition so you can really have some fun with it
00:37:43here's our contestant nice to see you nice to meet you dylan
00:37:51you want a safe word what's our safe word luke this safe word is hot chicken don't chicken out
00:37:57don't hot chicken out sorry kids here we go number nine luke i want you to turn to carrie right now and
00:38:06say hey carrie how much do you think i can bench press carrie sure how much can i bench press
00:38:15i don't know what kind of question is that 165 carrie 165 really huh what are you benching these
00:38:23days i don't know why don't you know these things you're in all these fitness ads i am but i'm not
00:38:29looking for like personal records who are you my name is dylan holmes i am from spring lake michigan
00:38:37i can't stand michigan i can't stand michigan oh that's it what is happening we just lost all
00:38:44of michigan i don't even like illinois and illinois is falling off too well there's there's two states
00:38:50you can only tour in 48 states now okay did you go take shots let's see what you got let's see what
00:38:57you got pass pass
00:39:05will you just let the poor boy sing let the man why don't you sing a lionel richie song come on
00:39:09sing a lionel richie song no no no don't sing a lionel richie song we are the world right now we are the
00:39:14world no no no there comes a time somebody come and we need a certain call all right you're good
00:39:23all right she comes from silver spoon golden rule i'm gonna try to bench 175 tomorrow i'm benching 175
00:39:33uh um i need more hot chicken
00:40:02every time you take a sip i need more hot chicken out of you he's doing a hot chicken
00:40:08reference which is his bail what the heck does hot do why do i look like a waiter carrie guess what
00:40:14my physical trainer's here that's helping me bench press carrie guess what my physical trainer's here
00:40:20he's awesome the sexiest trainer i've ever seen what is happening and he's been telling me what to say
00:40:26this whole time and this trainer's been telling me everything to say this whole audition what are you
00:40:31doing is that where you were when you went to the bathroom what is happening for like 20 minutes is
00:40:38that why we started hating on michigan yeah i was just telling him what to say we really like michigan
00:40:44by the way i thought he had fallen yeah he's having a an episode you want to hear something great
00:40:50i didn't think anything was wrong business as usual
00:40:58oh my god i think that should just be like our exclamatory word that should be our
00:41:04somebody's great for the school class hot chicken that's your wheelhouse kind of the southern rock
00:41:23thing i'm a yes hot chicken
00:41:37you know i can't stand it
00:42:07you're running around you know better die i can't stand it cause you put me down
00:42:17no no no no
00:42:19oh i put a spell on you
00:42:22you have a bring the house down voice i'm already standing up it's a yes for me
00:42:43hot chicken hot chicken cheers ron cheers i'm gonna go with the pickles yeah
00:42:54my name is genevieve hayward my group of people that i brought with me are wearing
00:42:58my iconic if i do say so myself pickle shirt
00:43:03i'm a big fan of pickles i just love them today i have about a million people with me
00:43:07oh my god kyle oh my god kyle oh no it's supposed to be there i thought he broke this table
00:43:15oh my god i love pickles who doesn't sweet or dill dill sliced or whole whole rigid or flat
00:43:29rigid do you make your own pickles i do i love pickling things i like pickling things girl let's
00:43:35go give me some recipes i'm here for it dad i don't think i've seen you in a pickle shirt yet
00:43:41thanks for whipping it out today for me put me in a pickle more than once yeah
00:43:48what are you going to sing for us so today i'm going to be doing magic man by heart
00:43:52oh you're kidding okay let's hear it okay
00:44:02cold late night so long ago when i was not so strong you know pretty man came to me never
00:44:10seen eyes so blue you know i could not look away it seemed we seen each other in a dream seemed like he
00:44:19you knew me you looked right through me yeah
00:44:28come on home girl mama cry on the phone too soon to lose my baby and my girl should be at home
00:44:38home but try to understand try to understand
00:44:51he's a magic man
00:45:02great oh my god there you go standing for me what the heck
00:45:07thank you i mean that's a tall order that's right there it takes some some pickles
00:45:12to uh to uh i gave him to cover that yeah but you made it your own you weren't trying to like
00:45:20emulate you even change the melody a little bit you have this cool rasp at the top end of your voice
00:45:26i want to hear more yeah carrie's funny carrie wrote pickle girl on her i just want to make sure
00:45:32i remember let's go i think you're gonna still yet have to push yes even more with some of the
00:45:38singers we have but you did well thank you you've got the tools to do pretty much anything you want
00:45:43to do is just don't think just let your voice do what it's supposed to do cool all right yeah carrie
00:45:48what's your vote my vote is yes wow luke yes thank you i'm going to stand up on this one it's a yes
00:45:55for me and you're going to hollywood week yay oh my god they all have their search on
00:46:04pickle girl pickle girl pickle girl yeah let's go baby she's the real dill
00:46:15how does it feel to be pickle girl you know it's not who i thought i would be but i think it's who i
00:46:20was born to be and we can't always pick that that was pretty kosher
00:46:25oh that was very good i'm going to be the best version of pickle girl i could be
00:46:39hot chicken
00:46:45you know this one
00:46:47i do
00:46:58wow
00:47:03thank you that's not an easy one to pull off it's not i like the frankie i'm looking for your
00:47:23identity okay okay you have a lane and you're really good at it but in the context of american
00:47:30idol like that's just not what this is so it's a no for this but a yes for you there you go and just
00:47:38keep being awesome
00:47:43goodness oh did i get there yeah yeah you did
00:47:49this year we have a very unique talent hi guys i'm jules i'm 25 years old and i'm from charlotte north
00:47:57carolina today i will be singing bust the windows out my car oh goodness that's it thank you very
00:48:04much everybody thank you good night i saw that movie my broken heart i'll probably always have these
00:48:12ugly scars wow that's like but right now i don't care about that part it's really magnetic when you see
00:48:20these kids with with a different sound man you have a great voice but you're in a deal where you
00:48:45want 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 your
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
00:49:13will leave 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 deserve a shot to bring the bigger notes i think it's in there i'll say yes i'll bring it out
00:49:24i would not bust no window out your car i know i can bring it i know you and i will not be disappointed
00:49:30at all i'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 i promise i'm dug in i'm dug in what does dug in mean dug in like a tick like
00:49:43not moving i'm sorry i think you made a wrong decision tell me about your music history how do
00:49:53people respond to your voice when you uh when you sing i think it's unique i would say i can't wait
00:49:59does that mean that mean we should get ready for some uniqueness if you want yeah so who are you i'm
00:50:07brooks rosser i'm 22 years old i'm from bel-air maryland what do you do up there in maryland
00:50:13i work at a dementia care facility as a medication technician nice very cool how many shows are you
00:50:19playing a year i've gone to a couple gigs but i've only just played guitar um i've never really performed
00:50:32ain't all right the hardness of my head
00:50:36good morning 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 the
00:50:53next generation of acceleros oh yeah i like trains you sleep good yeah for the last three years i've been
00:51:03working in the dementia care field and it's been extremely fulfilling i've made a lot of friendships
00:51:09with so-called patients they're actually just friends can you sing me a song today yeah
00:51:17growing up i was i was a shy kid i didn't really know how to make my own friends
00:51:25my 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
00:51:35one 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
00:51:50after 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
00:52:01music it's one thing that you can't forget i think your town is far above most people
00:52:12thank you next week i'm going to nashville to try out for american idol and see if they uh like me i have
00:52:19no experience playing in front of people it's going to be a lot different but i'll just pretend
00:52:26the celebrity judges are just more of my friends and residents i think you're going to do fine if
00:52:33you play like that i play like that and you sing like that all right i'm gonna root you on
00:52:39all right what you got what you singing uh your place at my place by joshua sloan okay perfect
00:53:09i'm running out of ways to fix us i thought i loved you it was only just a mix up that's what you
00:53:18said when you were crying because you missed us you don't even know how bad i wish i could fix
00:53:24i thought i loved you it was only just a mix up that's what you said when you were
00:53:54crying because you were crying because you missed us you don't even know how bad i wish i could fix
00:54:00trust wow wow wow wow thank you wow gosh i just want to hear more yeah and you haven't played out much
00:54:18and 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 beautifully unique
00:54:33yeah everybody kind of sounds like somebody else or is emulating someone else so when you kind of meet
00:54:39somebody that you're a unicorn like there's it's one of one that's really cool thank you so much what's
00:54:47your favorite song to sing at the place you work probably knock it on heaven's door let's hear it wow
00:55:09i'ma take this patch off me
00:55:22i can't use it anymore
00:55:25it's getting dark it's getting dark too dark to see
00:55:37i feel i'm knocking on heaven's door
00:55:41knock knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:55:57knock knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:56:06knock knock knock knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:56:18wow
00:56:19it's so good
00:56:20it's so good man
00:56:22So good.
00:56:23Thank you so much.
00:56:25So good.
00:56:25You have a unique style all your own.
00:56:28I have not heard another voice like this ever.
00:56:32Congratulations.
00:56:33Thank you so much.
00:56:33This is major, major stuff here.
00:56:35Thank you so much.
00:56:35Did you watch the show last year?
00:56:37Yeah.
00:56:38Do you remember Thunderstorm?
00:56:40Yeah.
00:56:40Well, he's over there.
00:56:41That's him over there listening to you.
00:56:42We've been having people dropping by.
00:56:44It's fun.
00:56:45What do you think, Thunderstorm?
00:56:47Man, it's amazing, dude.
00:56:48Like, your voice is crazy.
00:56:50Isn't that great?
00:56:51I'm obsessed, brother.
00:56:52Thank you so much.
00:56:53Thunderstorm, you want to vote?
00:56:56That's all yeses for me.
00:56:58You don't get a yes.
00:56:59I don't know what's going on.
00:57:01Oh, man.
00:57:03Thank you for being in our life.
00:57:05I mean, it's like when you hear Van Morrison.
00:57:07Yeah, real iconic.
00:57:09Crazy.
00:57:09I think it's another countdown, right?
00:57:11Yeah.
00:57:12One, two, three.
00:57:14You're going to Hollywood week.
00:57:19Thank you so much.
00:57:21Yeah.
00:57:22I've always been shy and insecure, so hearing compliments from people as big as the judges
00:57:33really means something, and that will forever be with me.
00:57:36We are so lucky, guys.
00:57:38Oh, there's choices, too.
00:57:39There's choices on.
00:57:40Oh.
00:57:41We're so lucky.
00:57:43That's crazy.
00:57:44Skippers.
00:57:46Remember when I told you I was going to audition for American Idol?
00:57:50Yeah.
00:57:54They said yes.
00:57:55That looks classy.
00:57:57You want to hold it?
00:57:58That is great.
00:58:01Thank you for your support.
00:58:03All you have to do is win.
00:58:04What are you going to do when you sing Lionel?
00:58:15I'm going to scream.
00:58:17Hey.
00:58:18Hey, book signing.
00:58:19Hello.
00:58:19Oh, look at that.
00:58:20Is this for you?
00:58:21Lionel Richie.
00:58:22That guy's got aura.
00:58:23Oh, my gosh.
00:58:24I read the whole thing this weekend.
00:58:26Lionel likes to use his legend status.
00:58:29Lionel's got ribs, dude.
00:58:31Legend called it.
00:58:32What is that?
00:58:33I love it.
00:58:36What's your name?
00:58:37Kendall.
00:58:37Kendall.
00:58:39Kendall, who is here today with you?
00:58:40This is my mom and my dad.
00:58:42Hi.
00:58:42Husband.
00:58:44Are you excited?
00:58:45Yes.
00:58:47Growing 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,
00:59:01I'm really excited.
00:59:02I've been pursuing music as far back as I can remember.
00:59:05I'd never wanted to be a lawyer or a doctor, or I just wanted to do music.
00:59:10Oh, my gosh.
00:59:13I started singing in my youth group.
00:59:14It 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.
00:59:24To be a songwriter, it's my favorite thing in the world.
00:59:29Because, eventually, one person kind of, like, understand, you know, what you've written about
00:59:36or what you're singing about, and that's my favorite part about it.
00:59:40Hello.
00:59:41How are you?
00:59:42I'm great.
00:59:42How are y'all?
00:59:43Good.
00:59:44What's your name?
00:59:45My name is Lainey Grace.
00:59:46I'm 16 years old, and I'm from Prattville, Alabama.
00:59:49What do you do as a 16-year-old in Alabama?
00:59:52I work at Chick-fil-A.
00:59:53Nice.
00:59:54That's really fun.
00:59:55There you go.
00:59:55Tell us a little bit about your family.
00:59:57I've got 12 siblings, two brothers, and 10 sisters.
01:00:01Wow.
01:00:02There's a lot of us.
01:00:03Let's say a prayer for your brothers.
01:00:05Are they here today with you?
01:00:07I have two of my sisters and my dad out there.
01:00:10Yes.
01:00:11So, not the whole crew.
01:00:12We have a big farm, and my mom had to stay back and handle that.
01:00:15Okay, head inside and wait.
01:00:16Your audition is next.
01:00:18What's on your farm?
01:00:19Like, six cows, lots of chickens.
01:00:21We've got three goats.
01:00:23Cool.
01:00:23What are you going to be singing for us?
01:00:25I'm going to be singing Honest by Kendall Inskeep.
01:00:28How did you discover that?
01:00:29She is kind of a small artist.
01:00:31I discovered her music through my sister, actually, and I was like, what is this song?
01:00:36I love it.
01:00:36Cool.
01:00:37That's cool.
01:00:38Okay.
01:00:39Are you playing?
01:00:40I am playing.
01:00:40Awesome.
01:00:41Oh.
01:00:43Variation.
01:00:43Love.
01:00:51Every time I walk out of the house, put on another face.
01:00:55It's just a blend in with the crowd.
01:00:57So nobody sees me.
01:01:00You would never believe me.
01:01:05I tell you that I'm old, but I'm still healing.
01:01:09I tell you that I'm happy, but I'm grieving.
01:01:12Thought I was a fighter.
01:01:15But I'm still in the fire.
01:01:17And if I'm being honest, oh, I'm not being honest.
01:01:26I'll give you roses just hoping you don't see the weeds in my garden.
01:01:32I tell you that I'm old, but I'm still healing.
01:01:36I tell you that I'm happy, but I'm grieving.
01:01:40Thought I was a fighter.
01:01:42But I'm still in the fire.
01:01:44But I'm still in the fire.
01:01:47If I'm being honest, oh, I'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.
01:02:07I'm just being honest.
01:02:13All right.
01:02:17Minus the concentration of trying to play the piano, you have some vocal chops.
01:02:23There were a lot of kind of timid things that you were doing that will only improve the more you play out.
01:02:29But, I mean, I feel like you have a lot of potential.
01:02:33Everything about you is 16, but you have a tone and sound in your voice that's really undeniable.
01:02:41Correct.
01:02:42You are by no means ready for this, but I don't think I can fight the urge.
01:02:47Say yes.
01:02:48I think I have to tell her yes.
01:02:50Oh, God.
01:02:53I think it's a not 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 playing out for years, they are going to wash you away.
01:03:08I would rather give you...
01:03:09What if she just did one without the piano?
01:03:10She could just try singing to the top of her lungs.
01:03:15You think she could win this?
01:03:18Like, right now we're in...
01:03:20Well, then there's your answer.
01:03:22I mean, it's up to Lina.
01:03:23We still have one more dog in the fight.
01:03:26Say yes.
01:03:27Say yes.
01:03:28I think you've got some real grown-up qualities in there I like very much.
01:03:33I might need to hear a little more.
01:03:34Well, the song that you sang, the songwriter, Kendall, is actually here.
01:03:46Now.
01:03:46Right now.
01:03:47Right now.
01:03:48Kind of coming up behind you.
01:03:50Right now, kind of walking over your shoulder.
01:03:52Oh, my God.
01:03:53Hi, girl.
01:03:54Can I really hug you?
01:03:56Oh, my God.
01:03:58That was so beautiful.
01:03:59Isn't that great?
01:04:00Can you guys sing that together?
01:04:02Yeah.
01:04:02Give her a stool.
01:04:03You sing it.
01:04:04We got you a stool.
01:04:06Well, first of all, are you auditioning?
01:04:07I'm auditioning today.
01:04:09Wow.
01:04:09And hopefully changing one vote.
01:04:13Yeah.
01:04:14Let's hear y'all do it.
01:04:15Yeah.
01:04:15Okay.
01:04:17Project.
01:04:18Fill this room up.
01:04:20I'm just being honest.
01:04:22Yeah.
01:04:24I'm not being honest.
01:04:26Sing it to him.
01:04:28I'll give you roses just hoping you don't see the wind.
01:04:32Is in my garden.
01:04:35Yeah.
01:04:36If I'm being honest.
01:04:39I'm at my darkest.
01:04:42Come on, girl.
01:04:43I'm sitting here waiting and praying for someone to show me what love is.
01:04:50I'm just being honest.
01:04:53Good.
01:04:54Good.
01:04:54Oh, you're so great.
01:04:55Good.
01:04:56Oh, that was so great.
01:04:57Sorry, I had to fall.
01:04:58What do you think, Lionel?
01:05:02Um, I must tell you, I'm debating if you have a master of it yet.
01:05:08Good.
01:05:18Oh, that was so great.
01:05:20What do you think, Lionel?
01:05:21Um, I must tell you, I have Luke's heart.
01:05:28I'm telling you, come back to see us.
01:05:35It's a no from me this time, but that was very, very inspiring.
01:05:38It was.
01:05:40Very, very great.
01:05:41Very inspiring.
01:05:42Thank y'all.
01:05:42All right, we'll see you back here.
01:05:44All right.
01:05:44All right.
01:05:45Thank y'all.
01:05:45Y'all have a great day.
01:05:46All right.
01:05:46Thank you, babe.
01:05:48I've been doing my best, but my best it just don't.
01:05:52Oh, my God.
01:05:53I got to know.
01:05:55No.
01:05:56I'm so proud of you.
01:05:58Luke said he liked me, and Carrie and Lionel said I had a little bit of growing to do.
01:06:02But I got to meet Kendall and Skeet, and I got to sing with her, so it was really mind-blowing.
01:06:07Give me a second, and I'll make it out of this woman.
01:06:17I know I've been reckless, but one day I know I'll be whole again.
01:06:25And it might be today, and it might be tomorrow, when I wash my hands of the shame that I borrowed.
01:06:39I'm sorry to unload like this.
01:06:43I just can't keep it in.
01:06:48Amen.
01:06:49Amen.
01:06:49Give me a second, and I'll make it out of this woman.
01:07:09I know I've been reckless, but one day I know I'll be whole again.
01:07:18It might 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.
01:07:36I just can't keep it in.
01:07:41Amen.
01:07:42Amen.
01:07:44Amen.
01:07:45Okay.
01:07:48Kendall, you got stuff.
01:07:51You got stuff.
01:07:52You got stuff.
01:07:52Thank you so much.
01:07:54I like the song.
01:07:56I love your voice.
01:07:57It felt like we were in your world when things kind of took off.
01:08:01And hitting those, baby, that note, like, from here, it was like, yeah, thank you.
01:08:07I commend you on the fact of just taking your time exploring who you are.
01:08:13I think that's just so brilliant.
01:08:16You've got artists written all over you, and I'm loving every minute of it.
01:08:20Thank you so much.
01:08:22I was really impressed when you stepped on the gas, and you had that extra level of stuff
01:08:28in your range.
01:08:30I think we can vote.
01:08:32I can vote.
01:08:33I can vote.
01:08:33Go for it.
01:08:34We can all vote.
01:08:35Let's tell her the good news.
01:08:37You're going to Hollywood a week.
01:08:39Ah!
01:08:41Wait, can I, like, can I shake your hands?
01:08:42Please.
01:08:43Yes, please.
01:08:43You guys are so cool.
01:08:44Oh, you are so cool.
01:08:46Nice to meet you.
01:08:47Good job.
01:08:47Thank you guys so much.
01:08:48Yeah.
01:08:49We'll see you on a movie.
01:08:54Oh, my God.
01:08:58Oh, my gosh.
01:08:59Wait, can I tell you something?
01:09:01What?
01:09:02The girl before me auditioned with Honest.
01:09:06I just love the song, and I love how much you've spoken to me through your lyricism, and
01:09:11it's just been so amazing.
01:09:12And to be able to sing with you, it was absolutely so inspiring.
01:09:15You're so sweet.
01:09:16Just to be able to meet you.
01:09:17You're so sweet.
01:09:20I love you.
01:09:20I love you, babe.
01:09:22We're besties.
01:09:23Now we're good.
01:09:23Okay.
01:09:24This is what it feels like.
01:09:26You both got this.
01:09:27Yeah.
01:09:30Group selfie.
01:09:32Oh, leave me up.
01:09:35Oh, Lionel, is that you?
01:09:38This next kid went viral because he's posting singing from the shower.
01:09:44Oh, wait.
01:09:45Hey.
01:09:47Hi, my name is Alona, and I am so excited to be here today.
01:09:51I am actually not singing, though.
01:09:53My boyfriend, Bryant, is, and no one has any idea what he looks like.
01:09:58The camera is never on him.
01:10:00It's always just on me doing my hair and makeup, so it's just me reacting.
01:10:04So we're going to not watch him sing.
01:10:07So just make him feel comfortable.
01:10:08Yeah, we've got to ease him into this.
01:10:12I hear him walking.
01:10:14I hear him.
01:10:14It's getting close.
01:10:17Life with Bryant is...
01:10:19Oh, I'm going to cry.
01:10:20Sorry.
01:10:20I'm going to pull it together.
01:10:26He'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.
01:10:38I can't see a thing.
01:10:42I'm so excited to be on this journey with him, and this is such a big deal.
01:10:47All right, we can break these down.
01:10:50Hop from behind the pillar.
01:10:52Don't look at me.
01:10:53We're not looking.
01:10:54We can't see you.
01:10:55Okay.
01:10:55All right, who are you?
01:10:57My name is Brian Thomas.
01:10:58I'm from Mobile, Alabama.
01:11:00Alabama.
01:11:01Well, you sound like you're from Alabama.
01:11:02Roll Tide.
01:11:03Roll Tide.
01:11:04I am a singer-songwriter.
01:11:07I grew up in the church singing music.
01:11:09How many fans do you have?
01:11:11Like 110,000.
01:11:13Wow.
01:11:13So the fans have never seen your face.
01:11:16Correct.
01:11:16Blowing your cover.
01:11:17Well, this is the first time we've ever allowed one of these to go this way.
01:11:20Yeah.
01:11:21So...
01:11:21A new era of America night.
01:11:23All right, what are you going to sing for us?
01:11:25I'm singing Against All Odds by Phil Collins.
01:11:28Fantastic.
01:11:36How can I just let you walk away?
01:11:40Just let you leave without a trace.
01:11:44When I stand here taking every breath with you.
01:11:50Ooh.
01:11:51You're the only one who really knew me at all.
01:11:58Wow.
01:11:58That's really great, great.
01:11:59So take a look at me now.
01:12:04There's just an empty space.
01:12:06There's nothing left here to remind me.
01:12:12Just the memory of your face.
01:12:15So take a look at me now.
01:12:20This is just an empty space.
01:12:24But you coming back to me is against the odds.
01:12:29But it's what I've got to face.
01:12:31Take a good look at me now.
01:12:34Hey!
01:12:35Yes, I'll still be standing here.
01:12:40And you coming back to me is against all odds.
01:12:45But it's what I've got to face.
01:12:48Take a look at me now.
01:12:59Oh, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.
01:13:07Way to do it.
01:13:13Thank you guys so much.
01:13:14The reveal.
01:13:15Good job.
01:13:16The reveal.
01:13:16Here I am.
01:13:17How does it feel?
01:13:18You know, I'm overwhelmed.
01:13:19I can't lie to you, you know.
01:13:21I'm just going to be like Luke and I'm going to make jokes.
01:13:25That's great.
01:13:26You're still kind of covered because you got your shades on.
01:13:28But I get it.
01:13:29Yeah.
01:13:29There's the full reveal.
01:13:31Oh, wow.
01:13:31The reveal.
01:13:32Whoa.
01:13:33Carrie, what you think?
01:13:34Your voice is outrageous.
01:13:38Thank you so much.
01:13:39It means a lot to me to hear that from someone like you.
01:13:41It's incredible.
01:13:42It really is.
01:13:43Yeah.
01:13:43Even over there behind a pillar, you 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.
01:14:11And I'm loving it, man.
01:14:13Thank you so much.
01:14:14Yeah, man.
01:14:15Great job and really, really soulful voice.
01:14:18I feel like I'm hallucinating right now, honestly.
01:14:21I'm like, is this a projection?
01:14:22Is this AI?
01:14:24Well, let's vote.
01:14:25Lionel, what you think about your Alabama boy?
01:14:27Well, I think for the University of Idle, I 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.
01:15:00I have one thing to say.
01:15:02Yes.
01:15:03Yes.
01:15:03So, I told you, you know, when we started this whole journey, you know, that you were the one 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 to end with you.
01:15:29And I promise you that.
01:15:31It's okay.
01:15:32Can you say something?
01:15:33Yes, yes, yes.
01:15:36Oh, congratulations.
01:15:40Only on American Idol.
01:15:41Oh, my God.
01:15:44This is beautiful.
01:15:45Oh, my God.
01:15:46Guys, congratulations.
01:15:48Congratulations.
01:15:49Oh, my God.
01:15:52Way to go, man.
01:15:53Oh, my God.
01:15:54Way to go.
01:15:55Way to go.
01:15:58I mean, how did you sing knowing you had to do that?
01:16:00I'm telling you something right now.
01:16:03With the voice you have, the sky could be the limit of where you're going.
01:16:07Congratulations, man.
01:16:10We're getting married.
01:16:11I've been behind the scenes, and I feel like I'm made for the stage and the spotlights, so I'm ready to assume my role in the front of this boat and take us all the way home.
01:16:24Awesome day, y'all.
01:16:32It's a good day.
01:16:33I must tell you the class is getting very impressive and each one unique unto themselves
01:16:40That's what makes it so beautiful
01:16:43All right
01:16:46Hello
01:16:47Hi, how are you?
01:16:49How are you?
01:16:50I don't believe you are a contestant
01:16:52I am not a contestant
01:16:54My name is Heather Wyatt
01:16:57I am here to introduce Chloe
01:16:59Chloe is a young girl who about a year ago wrote and performed a song in honor of my daughter Aubrey
01:17:07That we lost to suicide in 2023
01:17:10So sorry for your loss
01:17:14Thank you
01:17:15That is just unimaginable
01:17:17Here'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
01:17:28It was beautiful
01:17:29It was what Aubrey had gone through
01:17:32Forever 13 had some big dreams in you
01:17:38Aubrey is my forever 13 year old daughter
01:17:48She is bright, beautiful, talented, and she endured years of bullying, social media pressures, and took her life September 4th, 2023
01:18:04Um, just very unexpected
01:18:17Something 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
01:18:30It did just relate
01:18:31I just, I don't know
01:18:32I felt it so much in my heart to write this song
01:18:33Chloe does not know that I'm here today
01:18:36I have not met Chloe
01:18:38So this will be the first time meeting her and thanking her for the song
01:18:41Oh my god
01:18:42Oh my god
01:18:42Oh my god
01:18:47Oh my god
01:18:51Hi
01:18:53Hi
01:18:53Hi
01:18:55This means the world of me, you don't even know
01:19:00Oh, thank you
01:19:02Thank you
01:19:02Thank you
01:19:02This is Chloe
01:19:04Oh
01:19:05Hi
01:19:05Hi
01:19:06Hi
01:19:06Hi
01:19:06Sorry
01:19:07No, you're great
01:19:09Do you want to tell us your name?
01:19:11Tell us a little bit about yourself
01:19:13All right
01:19:13My name is Chloe Grace
01:19:15I'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, it was really hard
01:19:21So I was like, if I could write something that could just very small help someone
01:19:25Then it's totally worth me writing this song
01:19:27Music is very powerful and it can help
01:19:30Let people know that they're not alone
01:19:32So we're excited to hear the song
01:19:34She 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
01:20:05But maybe you think now that she's gone
01:20:10A young girl had to lose her life so that you could feel somewhat satisfied
01:20:18In this sick and twisted world, you wouldn't think that a few young girls could do any harm
01:20:27But look where we are
01:20:29Now she's dancing up in heaven with no tears, no worry, no weight on her shoulders today
01:20:40I've never felt that kind of pain, but I can't imagine how it feels
01:20:52To be a mom and lose her daughter, it must feel so certain
01:20:58Like how can she be gone, she blames herself for doing wrong
01:21:06But I hope that she knows it ain't her fault
01:21:11Even though she is gone
01:21:16Her story will forever live on
01:21:23And I'm gonna say her name
01:21:29Cause no one deserves that kind of pain
01:21:39Forever 13 had some big dreams and you took them all away
01:21:49Oh, thank you
01:21:54Thank you
01:21:58Oh, goodness
01:22:03I'm just so moved
01:22:06Heather, that's a gift right there
01:22:08That's God looking back at you
01:22:11It is
01:22:11Just a very moving moment
01:22:13Yeah, I feel like the maturity that you possess is quite incredible
01:22:20The way you
01:22:21Cause what about, what about Andrew?
01:22:28The way you had your heart broken for someone you didn't even know, you know
01:22:35And 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
01:22:58And maybe decide to change their mind about something
01:23:05You know, it's pretty incredible
01:23:07Yeah, the fact that she wrote about what you were going through
01:23:11Not knowing you
01:23:12Shows a potential in you as a singer and a songwriter
01:23:17And someone that can really do a lot of good in this world
01:23:21Yeah
01:23:22I'm a yes
01:23:25Thank you
01:23:26I don't even have to think about it
01:23:28I'm a yes
01:23:29It's a yes for me
01:23:32Welcome to the class
01:23:33Welcome to the class
01:23:34Oh my God, thank you so much
01:23:38You're special
01:23:39You know that, right?
01:23:42Thank you so much
01:23:43You're special
01:23:43You're one of my biggest inspirations
01:23:46Cause I was seven years old
01:23:49Well, now who's the inspiration?
01:23:52It's pretty incredible
01:23:54Thank you so much
01:24:06I've always dreamed of holding one of these in my hand
01:24:09And for it to be like this
01:24:10And to get it singing a song I wrote
01:24:13And a song I poured my whole heart into is insane
01:24:19We pray for the one who's gonna lead the class
01:24:33It's you
01:24:34Why have we not seen you yet?
01:24:37I have an announcement
01:24:38I'm Brittany Bateman
01:24:41The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
01:24:43We are
01:24:45You're crazy talented
01:24:47Crazy unbelievable
01:24:48I don't even know if you know
01:24:50What you could be capable of
01:24:53I don't think we've seen a star star star like you yet
Comments