- 7 weeks ago
American Idol - Season 24 - Episode 01: Auditions (1)
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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?
00:09:09Love it.
00:09:18Yeah.
00:09:21Oh.
00:09:22Oh.
00:09:24There you are,
00:09:26Oh.
00:09:26Ah.
00:09:36You call me sugar
00:09:50Calling me sugar
00:09:55Interesting.
00:09:59Dang.
00:10:01If there's one thing I could tell you
00:10:04is 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
00:10:13where you would just blow the roof off of this place
00:10:16because of the range.
00:10:17Yes, sir.
00:10:18Now is how much you don't give us
00:10:20what 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
00:10:30and 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
00:10:39Just trust in
00:10:42That's so pretty.
00:10:45That's great.
00:10:46Have you ever thrown
00:10:48A fistful of glitter in the air
00:10:51Stop that.
00:10:54Do it again.
00:10:55Right.
00:10:56Have you ever thrown
00:10:58A fistful of glitter in the air
00:11:04Keep going.
00:11:05It's only half past
00:11:08The point of no return
00:11:09The tip of the iceberg
00:11:12The fire before the burn
00:11:14The thunder before the lightning
00:11:17And the breath before the phrase
00:11:19Have you ever felt this way
00:11:23Hey, hey, hey
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, Ms. Carrie.
00:11:35Hi.
00:11:36How are you?
00:11:37Good.
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.
00:11:44Hi, 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.
00:11:52Mr. Luke.
00:11:53You see what your mama made me do?
00:11:55Oh, man, when you felt confident, the way you just sang that with confidence, you have
00:12:01a voice that will make people stop in their tracks.
00:12:05Great.
00:12:06Oh, gosh, 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.
00:12:14I watch American Idol all the time.
00:12:17Woo!
00:12:18There's a commercial right there.
00:12:19I can't believe you're 29 and you haven'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 from me.
00:12:34Big old yes from me.
00:12:37Oh, yes.
00:12:38Congratulations.
00:12:40You're going through the Hollywood week.
00:12:42Come on, girl.
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.
00:12:49We'll be right here waiting now.
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.
00:12:56Let's do it.
00:12:56Back on the Oval.
00:12:58Come on.
00:12:58Here we go.
00:12:59Oh, God.
00:12:59Oh, God.
00:13:00Oh, 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.
00:13:07Yes.
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.
00:13:24That was great.
00:13:25Yeah.
00:13:26What was that move?
00:13:26Where was that move, Drew?
00:13:28Yeah.
00:13:29Just taking, taking those notes now.
00:13:31I can't believe myself.
00:13:32I think I'm in a dream.
00:13:35Yes.
00:13:37I'm a pride and joy right here.
00:13:38This is what I do it for.
00:13:39I'm going to do it for him.
00:13:40I'm so proud of you. Thank you, Dave.
00:13:42I'm proud of you, too. You're going to Hollywood, too, bud.
00:13:44Yeah, yeah.
00:13:45And I sung, too.
00:13:47That may have been one of my favorite moments I've ever had on this show.
00:13:51That 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 that God only knows.
00:14:05God only knows what you've been through.
00:14:08All right. I would have popped it out.
00:14:10I would have done it.
00:14:12God, not you. I've been married a long time ago.
00:14:16Where did you come from? Where did you go?
00:14:18Where did you come from?
00:14:25What's happening?
00:14:29What's happening?
00:14:29Who's going on?
00:14:30Oh, yeah.
00:14:31Oh, here it comes. What's going on?
00:14:33What's happening here?
00:14:36Hey!
00:14:36I've been married a long time ago.
00:14:38There 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.
00:14:43Look at this.
00:14:44I got a jersey.
00:14:45Come on.
00:14:46I got a jersey.
00:14:48I got a third jersey.
00:14:49Hey, hey, hey.
00:14:50My name is Jason R.
00:14:51I'm 24 years old.
00:14:52I'm from Pequo, Green, North Carolina.
00:14:54Oh, fun.
00:14:54I'm here today with the Texas Tailgaters, which is in the Banana Ball Championship League.
00:14:59Oh, wait a minute.
00:15:00You might be familiar with the Savannah Bananas.
00:15:02We play with them.
00:15:03It's entertainment baseball.
00:15:04Yeah.
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.
00:15:20I 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 and make sure they have fun.
00:15:28Come on, now.
00:15:30Ow.
00:15:32Hold it, honey.
00:15:33I got it pretty quick, though.
00:15:36Awesome.
00:15:36Awesome.
00:15:37How did I do?
00:15:38It was good.
00:15:39Oh, you ought to see me pitch.
00:15:41I think we can make that happen.
00:15:43Oh, yeah?
00:15:43I'm all good.
00:15:44Heck, I slept on my arm wrong last night, and I fell asleep for three hours.
00:15:48So, all right, well, who are you?
00:15:51My name is Jason R. I'm 24 years old, and I'm from Fuquay, Verena, North Carolina.
00:15:54What are you going to sing for us?
00:15:56I'm going to sing Fire Away by Chris Stapleton.
00:15:57Love it.
00:15:58All right.
00:15:59You better be able to sing.
00:16:00Yes, sir.
00:16:01I'm right.
00:16:04Oh.
00:16:05Oh, yeah.
00:16:05Well, honey, load up your questions, and pick up your sticks and your stones, and pretend
00:16:17I'm a shelter for heartaches that don't have a home.
00:16:26Choose the words that cut like a razor, and all that I'll say is fire away, and take
00:16:49your best shot, show me what you got, because honey, I'm not afraid, rear back and take
00:16:59it, and fire away, fire away, oh, fire away.
00:17:17Yeah, baby, come on!
00:17:23I want a team.
00:17:26All right, Carrie, you already got the gear on.
00:17:29I do, I do.
00:17:30Especially a tailgater.
00:17:31Yeah, that's right.
00:17:35I 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.
00:17:42Yeah, yeah, the abs mess it up.
00:17:46Well, if that, if it's that easy to distract you, I'll just.
00:17:49No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
00:17:54no,
00:17:54Luke, don't, don't, don't do that.
00:17:56Don't, don't, don't.
00:17:56All right, all right, all right.
00:17:59All right, so now, listen, you've got a nice voice.
00:18:01Yes, sir.
00:18:02You've got a distinguishable voice, and we don't have anything like that yet.
00:18:06Thank you, sir.
00:18:08Okay, I think I've, I've, I've, I've, I've got my thoughts together.
00:18:11All right, good, very good.
00:18:11I think my thing is, if you do end up going forward, it's just the taking this part of
00:18:19you seriously.
00:18:21You know what I mean?
00:18:21Like, you guys are obviously so much fun.
00:18:23I love it, and I want to feel you emote.
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, you know, I don't have to sing loud every time.
00:18:35I can kind of calm it down, so just think about that.
00:18:38All right, Lionel.
00:18:40Yes.
00:18:40Yeah!
00:18:42Yeah!
00:18:43Yeah!
00:18:45Come on, that's an easy yes.
00:18:46What are we, what are we, what are we, what are we, what are we, what are we, what are
00:18:48we,
00:18:48the pressure.
00:18:50Oh, look at her.
00:18:51Oh, no, no.
00:18:53Karen, Karen, look over this way.
00:18:54I got my own set of abs to stare at.
00:18:56Hey!
00:18:56Not mine, my husband.
00:18:58There you go.
00:18:59Um, I want to know who you are as an artist, so I'll say yes.
00:19:04Yeah!
00:19:05Yeah!
00:19:06Huge fan.
00:19:07Yes!
00:19:08Yeah!
00:19:10You know what I'm getting around, that love that we're all.
00:19:13You thought we were done?
00:19:14Okay.
00:19:15Wait a minute.
00:19:16Here we go.
00:19:17Yeah, now we let it rip.
00:19:19Hey!
00:19:20Hey!
00:19:20We got the money, let it roll.
00:19:24Hey!
00:19:25We got the gas, it gets so wild.
00:19:28Yeah, now we let it rip.
00:19:29That's the way we get down.
00:19:31Oh, oh, stop, oh, stop, oh, stop, stop.
00:19:33Oh, no.
00:19:37Oh, no, oh, no.
00:19:39Oh, no!
00:19:39Oh, no!
00:19:40It was pretty crazy.
00:19:41I'm not gonna lie.
00:19:42Hey!
00:19:42Hey!
00:19:43Hey!
00:19:43He should be living his best life right now.
00:19:46Oh, no.
00:19:47Oh, no.
00:19:47Oh, no.
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
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
00:20:20She took the midnight train going anywhere
00:20:27Pocket that thing. Pocket that thing, man.
00:20:30Where are 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.
00:20:40Yes, 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
00:20:45to let them know that you can reach your goals.
00:20:47Never give up.
00:20:49Don't stop believing.
00:20:50That's my motto.
00:20:51Don't stop believing.
00:20:54Don't stop believing
00:20:58Hold on to that feeling
00:21:01Oh, oh, oh
00:21:05Streetlight people
00:21:07Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
00:21:12Don't stop believing
00:21:18Love, love, love, love.
00:21:23Love.
00:21:25Your students are gonna hail you as the greatest thing that ever showed up in their lives.
00:21:31My cheeks hurt because I'm smiling so much.
00:21:34I'm just thinking about how lucky are the kids to have you.
00:21:37That's exactly right.
00:21:39Let's vote.
00:21:40Carrie?
00:21:40Yes.
00:21:41Luke?
00:21:43Yes.
00:21:44I'll go down low.
00:21:46Yes.
00:21:48Welcome to American Idol.
00:21:49Thank you so much.
00:21:50You're gonna come back to me.
00:21:54He won Hollywood Week!
00:21:57Yeah!
00:22:00Yeah!
00:22:04Yeah!
00:22:06Yeah!
00:22:07I'm telling you, don't need that guy.
00:22:15It's all black and white.
00:22:17You're stealing your thunder.
00:22:20Baby.
00:22:21Blue.
00:22:23That's a weird.
00:22:24Blue.
00:22:25No.
00:22:26Whatever.
00:22:27I'll suck.
00:22:27I just feel like the piano playing wasn't quite there for me.
00:22:31I feel like it was distracting you a little bit.
00:22:36It was distracting.
00:22:37It was taking away from your vocals.
00:22:39That's not my audition song, Carrie!
00:22:42Wow.
00:22:44Look at this.
00:22:45Praise the Lord.
00:22:46This is awesome.
00:22:47My name is Tate Emmons.
00:22:48I'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.
00:23:06I 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, Brianna Nix!
00:23:24I can't wait for you to get that golden ticket.
00:23:26You're gonna kill it.
00:23:27Lord will.
00:23:28Sing loud.
00:23:28It's gonna be great.
00:23:30Oh my goodness!
00:23:32Well, we know you!
00:23:33What just happened?
00:23:35Hey!
00:23:35Hi!
00:23:36This is Emerson.
00:23:37You wanna 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?
00:23:42No.
00:23:42Did he grow up?
00:23:44That best?
00:23:44Right, Emerson.
00:23:45Yes!
00:23:46What have I been for the past 10 years?
00:23:49I grew up quick.
00:23:4915 years.
00:23:51You got some splainin' to do.
00:23:53My name is Tate Emmons.
00:23:54I'm 15 years old.
00:23:55I'm from a small town called Lake, Mississippi.
00:23:57Mississippi.
00:23:57All right.
00:23:57Mississippi.
00:23:58That's right.
00:23:59About a week ago, I'm doing the Grand Ole Opry again, and he was there, and he's like,
00:24:04I want you to hear me sing.
00:24:05And I was just blown away.
00:24:06I texted immediately, hey, is it too late for an audition?
00:24:10And 20 minutes later...
00:24:11I'm pretty sure you had some people pick up.
00:24:13Yeah.
00:24:13Got a little clout.
00:24:14I love that.
00:24:15Right?
00:24:15He's one of a kind, and I really believe in him.
00:24:18Wow.
00:24:18Brianna, why don't you come over here with us?
00:24:20Okay.
00:24:21Yeah.
00:24:22Here we go.
00:24:22Come on.
00:24:23I miss you guys.
00:24:24How are you?
00:24:25Good to see you.
00:24:26Hands are a little cold.
00:24:27Fancy chairs.
00:24:28Are you nervous?
00:24:30A little bit.
00:24:31You seem cool as a cucumber.
00:24:32Well, thank you.
00:24:33We ready?
00:24:34Let's do it.
00:24:36He's like, let's...
00:24:37Why don't we wait now, Tate?
00:24:38Wait, there's a slowdown now.
00:24:39Let's go.
00:24:40Come on, Tate.
00:24:41I'm going to be singing Hard Fault Hallelujah by Brandon Lake.
00:24:44Let's go.
00:24:44All right.
00:24:54Well, I don't always feel it.
00:24:59Yeah, but that's when I need it the most So I'ma keep on singing Till my soul catches
00:25:11up with my song There's days that my hands go up freely
00:25:18In times that it comes There's days that a praise comes out easy
00:25:28Days that it takes all the strength I've got But I'll bring my heart-fought, heart-failed,
00:25:38Been through it, hallelujah And I'll bring my storm-tossed, torn sail,
00:25:47Story to tell, hallelujah Oh, hallelujah
00:25:59All right.
00:26:00All right.
00:26:02First of all, I'm really surprised at your guitar maneuverability at your age.
00:26:09And can I do an exercise with you?
00:26:12Come on.
00:26:12Just let me hear you sing, heartfelt, hallelujah, like...
00:26:16I mean, I want to hear you give it all on the chorus, you know.
00:26:20You don't have to play it either.
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.
00:26:26So I'll bring my heart-fought, heart-failed, it is well, hallelujah.
00:26:32I think guitar, you're perfect, but vocally, it does really, really feel even a little younger
00:26:42than 15 to me, which is a predicament.
00:26:48I understand exactly what you fell in love with because we just saw it.
00:26:53We 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.
00:27:14I was so scared.
00:27:16Got it.
00:27:18Got to give him a chance, I promise.
00:27:20I promise.
00:27:23I trust you, Lord.
00:27:25All 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.
00:27:37Thank you so much.
00:27:40I'm gonna go the opposite.
00:27:45Got to 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.
00:27:54I 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.
00:28:04That's just me talking as dad now, okay?
00:28:07It'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.
00:28:20It's gonna be good.
00:28:24It's too soon.
00:28:26Okay.
00:28:27I'm a no.
00:28:28Okay.
00:28:29Thank y'all so much.
00:28:30I appreciate y'all listening to me.
00:28:31I hope you can understand why I'm saying this.
00:28:34I do understand.
00:28:35Yes, sir.
00:28:36I do.
00:28:36I promise.
00:28:38Thank you, brother.
00:28:39I appreciate you so much.
00:28:41And I love you.
00:28:42Thank you for your input.
00:28:44Keep doing what you're doing.
00:28:45Exactly what you're doing.
00:28:47Keep just giving glory where glory is due.
00:28:50It's a true honor to meet you.
00:28:51Thank you very much.
00:28:52You too.
00:28:53All right, Tate.
00:28:54My son's named Tate.
00:28:55Really?
00:28:57He's 15.
00:28:58Oh, my goodness.
00:28:59Hey, it's amazing how you're playing that guitar.
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 to think the judges thinks that about me.
00:29:10I'm like, it gives me a lot of hope.
00:29:15Not this time.
00:29:16Not this time.
00:29:16Not this time.
00:29:18Aw, that's okay.
00:29:19I will support him forever, and he's a golden ticket here always.
00:29:22I'm still going to push you to do this every single year.
00:29:25Well, I'm always going to listen to your opinion, so I'll always pray about it.
00:29:28The yearly annual text message you're going to audition for.
00:29:32Just be ready.
00:29:32Get ready for it.
00:29:33I'll be ready.
00:29:33I'll be ready.
00:29:35You're at peace with that, right?
00:29:37Yeah.
00:29:39You're right.
00:29:40You're right.
00:29:41I 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 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, Grammy-nominated Jamal, we've raised the bar to the point where we're going to be looking for that
00:30:08next level that instantly goes from American Idol stage to that Grammy award-winning artist.
00:30:15Somebody said a prayer for me.
00:30:17I'm asking for one.
00:30:18Lionel, they rehearsed that somewhere.
00:30:21We did not.
00:30:22If 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.
00:30:33We're proud of you, son.
00:30:34Thank you so much, man.
00:30:35We are going to Hollywood again.
00:30:38We've had 10 people today that look like they've been trained to sing, and you look like
00:30:43you were born to sing.
00:30:44I see smiles and a ticket.
00:30:47It's going to 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.
00:30:59How are you doing?
00:31:00Good.
00:31:00How 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, but I've been singing ever since I was little with
00:31:13my brother and sister.
00:31:14We would pull up karaoke tracks and we would just sing with each other.
00:31:18And since then, I did choirs in school.
00:31:21If you haven't noticed, 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.
00:31:34Dad!
00:31:36Take a picture.
00:31:37I am.
00:31:37And it's something that I've struggled with since elementary school.
00:31:43It was something embarrassing for me and it was something that I really had a hard time
00:31:49with.
00:31:50I wouldn't raise my hand in school and it was just something that made me feel alone
00:31:54and something that I felt like I had to hide.
00:31:57So 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 sing, it was a way for me to express myself in a way where I didn't have to
00:32:08worry
00:32:08about 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.
00:32:16Hey, child, things are okay.
00:32:20That's okay.
00:32:22Walking out with a golden t-t-t-t-t-t-ticket would mean that everything that I've struggled
00:32:30with in the past, 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 and, like, it doesn't hold me back.
00:32:42There you go.
00:32:42Well, you're doing great.
00:32:43So your siblings sing.
00:32:46Are 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.
00:32:52So it's really special when we sing together.
00:32:54It's crazy to see how far he's come.
00:32:57It'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.
00:33:03I love your attitude.
00:33:04I love your attitude.
00:33:04Thanks.
00:33:05You're a singer.
00:33:05And you can tell that you are a good big brother.
00:33:08What are you going to sing for us?
00:33:09I'm going to be singing In the Stars by Benson Boone.
00:33:11It's a song me and my brother always sing together.
00:33:14I'm going to be thinking of him when I sing it.
00:33:16Very good.
00:33:16Amen.
00:33:17Amen.
00:33:18Amen.
00:33:21Amen.
00:33:22Are we, Lord, Monday mornings were your favorite.
00:33:26I used to meet you down on Woods Creek Road.
00:33:34You did your hair up like you were famous, even through it's only church where we were
00:33:44going at.
00:33:46And now Sunday mornings I just sleep in
00:33:52It's like I've buried my faith with you
00:33:59I'm screaming at a God
00:34:03I don't know if I believe in
00:34:06Cause I don't know what else I can do
00:34:11Oh, I'm still holding on to everything that's dead and gone
00:34:18I don't wanna say goodbye, this one means forever
00:34:24And now you're in the stars and six feet's never found so far
00:34:31Here I am alone between the heavens and the embers
00:34:38Oh, it hurts so hard
00:34:42For a million different reasons
00:34:49You took the best of my heart
00:34:54And left the rest in pieces
00:35:08Thank you
00:35:09Luke, 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, a 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?
00:35:42You don't have a problem
00:35:43The only thing wrong with you is you gotta figure out
00:35:46How you gonna navigate this career
00:35:48Wow
00:35:49What's up, fam?
00:35:50What's up?
00:35:54Look at that
00:35:55I love you
00:35:57I love you
00:35:58I think we can vote
00:35:59Yes, indeed
00:36:01Yes
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've all done with it
00:36:17Thanks, Gary
00:36:18We will see you at 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
00:36:37Boy's got a pretty voice
00:36:39Oh, yes
00:36:39I'm going to Hollywood Week
00:36:41Woo!
00:36:42Love you
00:36:43Love you, too
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
00:36:48Love 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
00:36:57And
00:37:00All right
00:37:01He had a great voice
00:37:02He has a good voice
00:37:04I'm hitting the restroom
00:37:05I just saw that we were in the Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams Paisley ballroom
00:37:10Oh, yeah
00:37:11We're in your ballroom, Paisley
00:37:22Oh, I can't wait to ruin this whole show
00:37:25This is going to be so much fun
00:37:26We work down 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 going to put an earpiece in Luke's ear
00:37:35Basically, 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
00:37:46I can meet you
00:37:51You want a safe word?
00:37:52What's our safe word, Luke?
00:37:53The 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
00:38:07Hey, Carrie, how much do you think I can bench press?
00:38:09Carrie
00:38:11How much can I bench press?
00:38:15I don't know
00:38:16What kind of question is that?
00:38:19165, Carrie
00:38:21165
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
00:38:31Who 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
00:38:39Oh, 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?
00:38:54You're in your bathroom break
00:38:55Let's see what you got
00:38:57Let's see what you got
00:39:00Pass
00:39:02Pass
00:39:04You just let the poor boy sing
00:39:06You let 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 move
00:39:19We need a certain call
00:39:21All right, you're good
00:39:22Good?
00:39:23All right
00:39:26I'm going to try to bench 175 tomorrow
00:39:31I'm benching 175 tomorrow
00:39:33She's on lovin' me
00:39:37Loves me the way I
00:39:43She's not just along for the ride
00:39:46She keeps on lovin' me
00:40:03Every 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 bed
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
00:40:16Carrie, 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?
00:40:32Is that where you were
00:40:33When you went to the bathroom?
00:40:35What is happening?
00:40:37For 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 was 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
00:41:06Very real simple
00:41:10Kind of man
00:41:14Won't you do this for me some
00:41:17If you can
00:41:19That's your wheelhouse
00:41:21Kind of the southern rock thing
00:41:23I'm a yes
00:41:24Hot chicken
00:41:25Hot chicken
00:41:26Thank you so much
00:41:28That's how you do that
00:41:32Hey guys, a little hot chicken
00:41:33It's celebrating the auditions in Nashville
00:41:35Sweet girl
00:41:37Woo!
00:41:39Woo!
00:41:40Woo!
00:41:41My
00:41:45Wow
00:41:46Woo!
00:41:52Woo!
00:41:53Woo!
00:41:53Really well done
00:41:55It's a yes
00:41:55Hot chicken
00:41:56Thank you!
00:41:57Oh my gosh
00:41:58Woo!
00:42:00Woo!
00:42:01Woo!
00:42:01Woo!
00:42:02Woo!
00:42:03Woo!
00:42:04Woo!
00:42:05You know I can't stand it
00:42:06You're running around
00:42:09You know better die
00:42:11I can't stand it
00:42:14Cause you put me down
00:42:17No, no, no
00:42:19I put a spell on you
00:42:28Because you're 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!
00:42:47Woo!
00:42:47Cheers, Rob
00:42:47Cheers
00:42:48Woo!
00:42:49I'm gonna go with the pickles
00:42:51Yeah
00:42:52Woo!
00:42:54Woo!
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, pickle
00:43:01shirt
00:43:01Woo!
00:43:02Woo!
00:43:03I'm a big fan of pickles, I just love them
00:43:05Woo!
00:43:05Today I have about a million people with me
00:43:09Woo!
00:43:10Woo!
00:43:10Oh my god, Kyle!
00:43:11Oh my god, Kyle!
00:43:12Oh my god, Kyle!
00:43:13Oh my god, Kyle, be there
00:43:13Oh my god, Kyle, be there
00:43:14I feel like he broke this table
00:43:15Yeah, it feels so funny
00:43:16Oh my god, Genevieve!
00:43:19Oh my god, I love pickles
00:43:21Who doesn't?
00:43:24Sweet 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, I love pickling things
00:43:32I like pickling things, girl, you tell, let's go, give me some recipes, I'm here for it
00:43:38Dad, I don't think I've seen you in a pickle shirt yet, thanks for whooping it out today for me
00:43:43Put me in a pickle more than once
00:43:48What are you gonna sing for us?
00:43:49So today I'm gonna be doing Magic Man by Heart
00:43:52Thanks
00:43:52Oof, you're kidding me
00:43:54Woo!
00:43:55Okay, let's hear it
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 the way it seemed, we seen each other in a
00:44:17dream, seemed like he knew me, he looked right through me, yeah
00:44:28Come on home girl, mama cry on the phone, just soon to lose my baby, and my girl should be
00:44:37at home, but try to understand, try to understand, try to understand, try to understand, try, try, try, try to
00:44:52understand
00:44:55He's a magic man
00:44:58He's a magic man
00:45:01Great
00:45:02Great
00:45:03Oh my God, you're in one standing for me, what the heck
00:45:06Thank you
00:45:07I mean, that's a tall order right there
00:45:09It takes some pickles
00:45:15I gave them this morning
00:45:17Yeah
00:45:17But you made it your own, you weren't trying to like emulate, you even changed the melody a little bit
00:45:23You have this cool rasp at the top end of your voice, I wanna hear more
00:45:27Yeah
00:45:28Carrie's funny, Carrie wrote pickle girl on her
00:45:30I just wanna make sure I remember
00:45:33Let's go
00:45:34I think you're gonna still yet have to push
00:45:36Yes
00:45:37Even more with some of the singers we have, but you did well
00:45:40Thank you
00:45:41You've got the tools to do pretty much anything you wanna do, it's just, don't think, just let your voice
00:45:45do what it's supposed to do
00:45:46Cool
00:45:46Alright?
00:45:47Yeah, absolutely
00:45:47Carrie, what's your vote?
00:45:48My vote is yes
00:45:49Wow
00:45:51Luke
00:45:52Yes
00:45:52Thank you
00:45:53I'm going to stand up on this one, it's a yes for me, and you're going to Hollywood week
00:45:56Yes
00:45:57What?
00:45:58Oh my God, if they all have very serious time
00:46:02Wow
00:46:02Woo
00:46:03Woo
00:46:03Woo
00:46:04Pickle girl
00:46:06Pickle girl
00:46:08Pickle girl
00:46:08Yeah
00:46:08Let's go baby
00:46:10Woo
00:46:11She's the real dill
00:46:13Ah
00:46:15How does it feel to be pickle girl?
00:46:17You know, it's not who I thought I would be, but I think it's who I was born to be,
00:46:21and we can't always pick that
00:46:22That was pretty kosher
00:46:24Woo
00:46:25Ah
00:46:26That was very good
00:46:28I'm gonna be the best version of pickle girl I could be
00:46:38Hot chicken, hot chicken
00:46:43You know this one?
00:46:46I do
00:46:47Sherry
00:46:54Shelry baby
00:46:56Wow
00:47:02Sherry baby
00:47:04Sherry baby, Sherry baby, Sherry, can you come out tonight, tonight?
00:47:18That's not an easy one to pull off.
00:47:20It's not.
00:47:21I like the Frankie, I'm looking for your identity.
00:47:24Okay.
00:47:24You have Elaine, and you're really good at it, but in the context of American Idol, like
00:47:31that's just not what this is.
00:47:33So it's a no for this, but a yes for you.
00:47:36There you go.
00:47:37And just keep being awesome.
00:47:42Sherry baby.
00:47:43Goodness.
00:47:44Oof.
00:47:44Did I get that?
00:47:45Yeah.
00:47:46Oh yeah, you did.
00:47:48Woo!
00:47:49This year we have very unique talent.
00:47:53Hi guys, I'm Jules.
00:47:54I'm 25 years old.
00:47:56And I'm from Charlotte, North Carolina.
00:47:57Today I will be singing, Bust the Windows.
00:48:00Out my car.
00:48:01Oh goodness.
00:48:02That's it.
00:48:03I bust the windows out your car.
00:48:03Thank you very much everybody.
00:48:05Good night.
00:48:06I saw that movie.
00:48:07I know it didn't mean my broken heart.
00:48:10I'll probably always have these ugly scars.
00:48:13Wow, that's like spooky.
00:48:14But right now I don't care about that part.
00:48:17It's really magnetic when you see these kids with a different sound.
00:48:22I traveled each and every highway, and more, much more than this, I did it my way.
00:48:41Man, you have a great voice, but you're in a deal where you want to do the hell of a
00:48:46stuff.
00:48:47Right, yeah.
00:48:48Sometimes people that are a little left of center, you have to maybe work on them on the fly.
00:48:53You may think that I'm talking foolish.
00:48:57Now you sing that in your voice.
00:48:59You may think that I'm talking.
00:49:02You're from Maine.
00:49:03You don't say that like that.
00:49:05We're picking on you right now because you have something.
00:49:09Come back and show us who you are, and I guarantee you you will leave with a golden ticket.
00:49:14But it's a no right now.
00:49:16I'll bust the windows out your car.
00:49:19I feel like you deserve a shot to bring the bigger notes.
00:49:22I think it's in there, but I say yes.
00:49:24I'll bring it out.
00:49:24I will not bust no window out your car.
00:49:27I know I can bring it.
00:49:29I know you would not be disappointed at all.
00:49:31I'm a no.
00:49:33Really?
00:49:33I am.
00:49:34You'll never have to hear that voice again in your life.
00:49:36Give me one more chance.
00:49:37I promise.
00:49:38I'm dug in.
00:49:39I'm dug in.
00:49:40What does dug in mean?
00:49:41Dug in like a tick.
00:49:43Like not moving.
00:49:44Aw, not changing.
00:49:46I'm sorry.
00:49:47I think you made a wrong decision.
00:49:51Tell me about your music history.
00:49:53How do people respond to your voice when you sing?
00:49:56I think it's unique, I would say.
00:49:58I can't wait to hear.
00:49:59Does that mean we should get ready for some uniqueness?
00:50:03If you want, yeah.
00:50:05So, who are you?
00:50:07I'm Brooks Rosser.
00:50:08I'm 22 years old.
00:50:09I'm from Bel Air, Maryland.
00:50:11What do you do up there in Maryland?
00:50:12I work at a dementia care facility.
00:50:14As a medication technician.
00:50:17Nice.
00:50:18Very cool.
00:50:18How many shows are you playing a year?
00:50:21I've gone to a couple gigs, but I've only just played guitar.
00:50:25I've never really performed.
00:50:32Ain't all right.
00:50:34The hardness of my hair.
00:50:39Morning, John.
00:50:40Hey, Brooks.
00:50:41Good morning.
00:50:44Morning, Skip.
00:50:45Hey.
00:50:46How are you, buddy?
00:50:47Not bad.
00:50:49Doing all right?
00:50:50I was just looking at this article on the next generation of Excelers.
00:50:55Oh, yeah?
00:50:56I like trains.
00:50:58You sleep good?
00:51:00Yeah.
00:51:01For the last three years, I've been working in the dementia care field, and it's been extremely fulfilling.
00:51:07I've made a lot of friendships with so-called patients that are actually just friends.
00:51:12Can you sing me a song today?
00:51:14Yeah.
00:51:15It ain't all right.
00:51:17Growing up, I was a shy kid.
00:51:21I didn't really know how to make my own friends.
00:51:24My grandmother was always my biggest fan.
00:51:27You 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.
00:51:34And that was one way where we could both practice speaking from the heart.
00:51:41It would help her learn her words back, and it would help me get mine out.
00:51:45Do-do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do-do-do.
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.
00:51:56Standing out on a ledge with no way to get down.
00:52:01Music, it's one thing that you can't forget.
00:52:04I think your town is far above most people.
00:52:13Next week, I'm going to Nashville to try out for American Idol
00:52:16and see if they like me.
00:52:19I have no experience playing in front of people.
00:52:22It's going to be a lot different,
00:52:25but I'll just pretend the celebrity judges
00:52:27are just more of my friends and residents.
00:52:30I think you're going to do fine if you play like that.
00:52:34If I play like that?
00:52:35And you sing like that.
00:52:37All right.
00:52:38I'm going to root you on.
00:52:46All right.
00:52:47What you got?
00:52:48What you singing?
00:52:49Your Place at My Place by Joshua Sloan.
00:52:52Okay.
00:52:52Perfect.
00:53:09You're running out of ways to fix us.
00:53:12I thought I loved you.
00:53:14It was only just a mix-up.
00:53:17That's what you said when you were crying
00:53:19because you missed us.
00:53:21You don't even know how bad I wish I could fix us.
00:53:28Because now it's too late.
00:53:30So much for another soul of me.
00:53:36I should have known you only get one, babe.
00:53:40Nobody's ever taken your place in my place.
00:53:45I'm running out of ways to fix us.
00:53:48I thought I loved you.
00:53:50It was only just a mix-up.
00:53:52That's what you said when you were crying
00:53:55because you missed us.
00:53:57You don't even know how bad I wish I could fix trust.
00:54:03Wow.
00:54:06Wow.
00:54:08Wow.
00:54:09Woo!
00:54:10Wow.
00:54:11Wow.
00:54:12Gosh.
00:54:13I just want to hear more.
00:54:15More.
00:54:15Yeah.
00:54:16And you haven't played out much.
00:54:18And why is that?
00:54:19I'm working too much.
00:54:21Well, stop doing that.
00:54:23Do you understand why we're so excited?
00:54:25Do you understand why?
00:54:27No.
00:54:28Man, no matter what you sing,
00:54:30it's going to be beautifully unique.
00:54:33Yeah.
00:54:34Everybody kind of sounds like somebody else
00:54:36or is emulating someone else.
00:54:38So when you kind of meet somebody
00:54:39that you're a unicorn,
00:54:42like it's one of one.
00:54:44That's really cool.
00:54:46Thank you so much.
00:54:46What's your favorite song to sing
00:54:48at the place you work?
00:54:50Probably Knock It On Heaven's Door.
00:54:52Let's hear it.
00:54:53Wow.
00:54:56Wow.
00:55:13I'm going to take this badge off of me.
00:55:21I can't use it anymore.
00:55:29It's getting dark, too dark to see.
00:55:37I 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, knocking on heaven's door.
00:56:09Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door.
00:56:13Oh, my God.
00:56:19It's so good.
00:56:20It's so good.
00:56:21So good, man.
00:56:22Woo!
00:56:22So good.
00:56:23Thank you so much.
00:56:24So 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?
00:56:39Yeah.
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?
00:56:46Man, it's amazing, dude.
00:56:48Like, your voice is crazy.
00:56:49Isn'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.
00:57:02Oh, 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?
00:57:11Yep.
00:57:12Oh, yeah.
00:57:12One, two, three.
00:57:13You're going to Hollywood Week.
00:57:18Thank you so much.
00:57:23Congrats.
00:57:25Oh, I'm so proud of you.
00:57:27I've always been shy and insecure,
00:57:28so hearing compliments from people as big as the judges
00:57:33really means something,
00:57:34and 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 me.
00:57:40Oh.
00:57:41We're so lucky.
00:57:43That's crazy.
00:57:45Skippers.
00:57:48Remember when I told you I was going to audition for American Idol?
00:57:50Yeah.
00:57:53They said yes.
00:57:54That looks classy.
00:57:57You want to hold it?
00:57:58That is great.
00:58:01Thank you for your support.
00:58:02All you have to do is win.
00:58:13What are you going to do when you sing Lionel?
00:58:14I'm going to scream.
00:58:17Hey.
00:58:17Hey, book signing.
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 rich, dude.
00:58:31Legend card.
00:58:31What is that?
00:58:33I love it.
00:58:36What's your name?
00:58:37Kendall.
00:58:37Kendall.
00:58:38Kendall, who is here today with you?
00:58:40This is my mom and my dad.
00:58:42Hi.
00:58:42And my husband.
00:58:44Are you excited?
00:58:45Yes.
00:58:46Growing up, we watched American Idol a lot, like, as a family.
00:58:50I'm 29, and I live right here in Nashville, Tennessee.
00:58:54And I am a singer-songwriter full-time.
00:58:58I'm 16 years old, so just being here, I'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 God.
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.
00:59:26To be a songwriter, it's my favorite thing in the world, because eventually, one person
00:59:32kind of, like, understand, you know, what you've written about or what you're singing
00:59:36about.
00:59:37So, 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.
00:59:43Good.
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.
00:59:53Hi.
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 a 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?
01:00:35I 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.
01:00:43Variation.
01:00:43Wow.
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, so nobody sees me.
01:01:00You would never believe me.
01:01:05I'll tell you that I'm old, but I'm still healing.
01:01:09I'll 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.
01:01:18And if I'm being honest, I'll give you roses just hoping you don't see the weeds in my garden.
01:01:34I'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.
01:01:40Thought I was a fighter.
01:01:43But I'm still in the fire.
01:01:47If I'm being honest, I'm not being honest.
01:01:55I'm sitting here waiting and praying for someone to show me what love is.
01:02:02I'm just being honest.
01:02:06I'm just being honest.
01:02:14All 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
01:02:28play 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, my God.
01:02:53I think it's a not-quite-yet-for-me.
01:02:56No, listen.
01:02:57Hey, if I put you through now, I feel like all the other big voices that have been playing out
01:03:04for years,
01:03:05they 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.
01:03:14You 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, say yes.
01:03:27I think you've got some real grown-up qualities in there I like very much.
01:03:32I might need to hear a little more.
01:03:36Well, 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 gosh.
01:03:54Can I even hug you?
01:03:56Oh, my gosh.
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.
01:04:05Well, first of all, are you auditioning?
01:04:07I'm auditioning today.
01:04:08Wow.
01:04:09And hopefully changing one vote.
01:04:12Yeah.
01:04:13Let's hear y'all do it.
01:04:15Yeah.
01:04:15Okay.
01:04:17Project, fill this room up.
01:04:20I'm just being honest.
01:04:22Yeah.
01:04:24Oh, I'm not being honest.
01:04:26Sing it to him.
01:04:28I'll give you roses just hoping you don't see the weeds in my garden.
01:04:35Yeah.
01:04:35If I'm being honest, I'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'm just going to.
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.
01:05:17Good.
01:05:18Oh, that was so great.
01:05:19What do you think, Lionel?
01:05:23Um, 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.
01:05:39Very, 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.
01:05:45Thank y'all.
01:05:45Y'all have a great day.
01:05:46All right.
01:05:46I'm doing my best, but my best it just doesn't.
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 Skeif, and I got to sing with her, so it was really mind
01:06:06-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 all again.
01:06:27Maybe today, and it might be tomorrow, when I wash my hands of the shame that I've borrowed.
01:06:58Give me a second, and I'll make it out of this woman.
01:07:17Give me a second, 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.
01:07:41Amen.
01:07:49Kendall, you got stuff.
01:07:51You got stuff.
01:07:52You got stuff.
01:07:52You got stuff.
01:07:53Thank you so much.
01:07:54I like the song.
01:07:55I love your voice.
01:07:56It 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.
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.
01:08:21I'm loving it.
01:08:22I was really impressed when you stepped on the gas and you had that extra level of stuff in your
01:08:28range.
01:08:30I think we can vote.
01:08:32I can vote.
01:08:32I 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!
01:08:41Sweet.
01:08:41Can I, like, can I shake your hands?
01:08:42Please.
01:08:43Please.
01:08:43You guys are so cool.
01:08:44Oh, you are so cool.
01:08:47Good job.
01:08:47Thank you guys so much.
01:08:48Yeah.
01:08:49We'll see you on Hollywood.
01:08:50We'll see you.
01:08:51We'll see you.
01:08:51We'll see you.
01:08:54We'll see you.
01:08:54Oh my gosh.
01:08:56Oh my gosh.
01:08:59Wait.
01:09:00Can I tell you?
01:09:00Can I tell you something?
01:09:01What?
01:09:02The girl before me auditioned with Honest.
01:09:05I just love the song, and I love how much you've spoken to me through your lyricism.
01:09:10And it'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.
01:09:19I love you.
01:09:20I love you, babe.
01:09:22We're besties now.
01:09:23We're friends.
01:09:23Okay?
01:09:24This is what it feels like.
01:09:26We both got this.
01:09:27Yeah.
01:09:30Group selfie.
01:09:31Oh, ho, ho, ho.
01:09:33Leave me up.
01:09:35Oh, Lionel, is that you?
01:09:38This next kid went viral because he's posting singing from the shower.
01:09:47Hi, 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, Brian, 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.
01:10:02So it's just me reacting.
01:10:04So we're gonna not watch him sing.
01:10:07So just make him feel comfortable.
01:10:08Yeah, we gotta ease him into this.
01:10:12I hear him walking.
01:10:13I hear him.
01:10:14He's getting close.
01:10:17Life with Bryant is...
01:10:19Oh, I'm gonna cry.
01:10:20Sorry.
01:10:25Gotta 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.
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.
01:10:50Hot from behind the pillar.
01:10:52Don't look at me.
01:10:53We're not looking.
01:10:53We can't see you.
01:10:54Okay.
01:10:55All right.
01:10:56Who are you?
01:10:57My name is Brian Thomas.
01:10:58I'm from Mobile, Alabama.
01:11:00Alabama.
01:11:01Yes, sir.
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.
01:11:06I grew up in the church, singing music.
01:11:09How many fans do you have?
01:11:11Like 110,000.
01:11:12Wow.
01:11:13So the fans have never seen your face.
01:11:15Correct.
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.
01:11:24What are you going to sing for us?
01:11:25I'm singing Against All Odds by Phil Collins.
01:11:27Fantastic.
01:11:36How can I just let you walk away?
01:11:40Just let you leave without a trace?
01:11:43When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh.
01:11:52You're the only one who really knew me at all.
01:11:57Wow.
01:11:58That's really great, great.
01:11:59So take a look at me now.
01:12:03There's just an empty space.
01:12:07And there's nothing left here to remind me.
01:12:12Just the memory of your face.
01:12:15So take a look at me now.
01:12:19There's 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!
01:12:35Cause I'll still be standing here.
01:12:39And you coming back to me is against all odds.
01:12:44But it's what I've got to face.
01:12:53Woo!
01:12:53All right.
01:12:57So take a look at me now.
01:13:02So take a look at me now.
01:13:05Wow, wow, wow, wow.
01:13:07Wow, wow, wow.
01:13:09Wow, wow.
01:13:11Way to do it.
01:13:12Thank 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?
01:13:17You know?
01:13:18I'm overwhelmed.
01:13:19I can't lie to you.
01:13:21You know?
01:13:21I'm just going to be like Luke and I'm going to make jokes.
01:13:25That's great.
01:13:25That's great.
01:13:26You're still kind of covered because you got your shades on.
01:13:28But I get it.
01:13:29Yep, yep.
01:13:29There's the full 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.
01:14:20It's a fever dream.
01:14:21Like, is this a projection?
01:14:23Is this AI?
01:14:24Well, let's vote.
01:14:25Lionel, what you think about your Alabama boy?
01:14:26I think for the University of Idol, I would deem it very excited to put you in as part of
01:14:34this 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.
01:14:53Sit her 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.
01:15:04Yes.
01:15:06Hey!
01:15:06Oh!
01:15:08What?
01:15:11So, I told you, you know, when we started this whole journey, you know, that you were the one for
01:15:18me.
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
01:15:27you.
01:15:28And I promise you that.
01:15:31So, can you say something?
01:15:33Yes, yes, yes!
01:15:36Oh!
01:15:37Oh!
01:15:37Oh!
01:15:38Woo!
01:15:40Only on American Idol!
01:15:41Oh!
01:15:42Oh, it fits.
01:15:43Oh, my God.
01:15:44This is beautiful.
01:15:45Oh, my God.
01:15:46Guys!
01:15:46Congratulations!
01:15:48Congratulations.
01:15:49Oh, my God.
01:15:50Oh!
01:15:52Way to go, man!
01:15:53Oh, my God!
01:15:54Way to go!
01:15:55That's amazing.
01:15:56Way to go!
01:15:57I mean, how did you sing knowing you had to do that?
01:16:00If you can sing.
01:16:02And I'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!
01:16:13I've been behind the scenes, and I feel like I'm made for the stage and the spotlights.
01:16:18So, I'm ready to assume my role in the front of this boat and take us all the way home.
01:16:25That was good.
01:16:26Yeah.
01:16:30Awesome day, y'all.
01:16:32It was a good day.
01:16:32It was a good day.
01:16:33I must tell you, the class is getting very impressive.
01:16:37And each one unique unto themselves.
01:16:41That's what makes it so beautiful.
01:16:44All right.
01:16:46Hello.
01:16:47Hi.
01:16:48How are you?
01:16:49How are you?
01:16:50I don't believe you are a contestant.
01:16:52I am not a contestant.
01:16:55My name is Heather Wyatt.
01:16:57I am here to introduce Chloe.
01:17:00Chloe is a young girl who, about a year ago, wrote and performed a song in honor of my daughter,
01:17:06Aubrey, that we lost to suicide in 2023.
01:17:10Ugh.
01:17:11Sorry.
01:17:12Yeah.
01:17:12So sorry for your loss.
01:17:14That is just, ugh, 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.
01:17:28It was beautiful.
01:17:29It was what Aubrey had gone through.
01:17:34Forever 13 had some big dreams in you.
01:17:43Aubrey, um, is my forever 13-year-old daughter.
01:17:49Um, she is bright, beautiful, talented, um, and she endured years of bullying, social media pressures, and took her life
01:18:01September 4th, 2023.
01:18:13Um, 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.
01:18:27No, I never met her.
01:18:28But you couldn't get this story out of your mind?
01:18:29I couldn't.
01:18:30It just really, I just, I don't know, I felt it so much in my heart to write 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 this song.
01:18:41Oh, my God.
01:18:49Oh, my God.
01:18:52Oh, my God.
01:18:54Hi.
01:18:58This is the world of me.
01:19:00You don't even know.
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?
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.
01:19:18I'd 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, then it's totally worth
01:19:26me writing this song.
01:19:27The music 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.
01:19:50She 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.
01:20:17In this sick and twisted world, you wouldn't think that a few young girls could do any harm, but look
01:20:27where we are.
01:20:30Now 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 sorry.
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.
01:21:12Even though she is gone, her story will forever live on.
01:21:23And 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.
01:21:52Oh, 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 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...
01:22:30The 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.
01:22:57And 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, not knowing you, shows a potential in you
01:23:15as a singer and a songwriter and someone that can really do a lot of good in this world.
01:23:22Yeah.
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.
01:23:37Thank you so much.
01:23:39You're special.
01:23:43You're one of my biggest inspirations since 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.
01:24:01Oh, I've always dreamed of holding one of these in my hand.
01:24:09And for it to be like this and to get it singing a song I wrote and song I poured
01:24:14my whole heart into is insane.
01:24:28We pray for the one who's going to leave the class.
01:24:33It'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.
01:24:43Oh, we are.
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.
01:24:56I don't know.
01:24:58Bye-bye.
01:25:01Bye-bye.
01:25:02You
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