- 7 hours ago
American Idol - Season 24 - Episode 01: Auditions 1
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
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.
00:01:00Hello, class of 2026.
00:01:08First day of school.
00:01:12Who is ready to be an American Idol?
00:01:19Idol! Idol! Idol! Idol!
00:01:23Idol! Idol! Idol! Idol!
00:01:25It's a 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!
00:01:38Oh!
00:01:38That 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 morning.
00:01:45Idol University.
00:01:47Class 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?
00:01:55How are you?
00:01:56Gosh, this is crazy.
00:01:56I'm good.
00:01:57How are y'all?
00:01:57Oh, my gosh.
00:01:58You look like my child.
00:02:00Here.
00:02:00Look at this.
00:02:01Hold on.
00:02:01So, I took this picture of Bo the other day.
00:02:03I literally, like...
00:02:07Wow.
00:02:08Would that be...
00:02:09Hey!
00:02:10They could be brothers.
00:02:11Your peas.
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's not one star name.
00:02:21Yeah.
00:02:21Is that the real name?
00:02:22Yes, sir.
00:02:22Wow.
00:02:23But 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, 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.
00:02:41All 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 wanderers are not lost, the ways down the road.
00:03:09Oh, I just wonder what's the cost, if you'd ever known.
00:03:15Cause I'm a young gun in North Forerun, rolling down the coast.
00:03:21I'm coming down Route 66, city with her ghost.
00:03:29So I'll meet Arizona, Texas, Mexico.
00:03:36Send me by a desert fire, let it be my home.
00:03:42And I ain't one for love.
00:03:46And 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, we fell in love today.
00:04:12All right.
00:04:14All right.
00:04:16We're all standing.
00:04:16Thank 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 your 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.
00:05:20Lionel.
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 it.
00:05:36Yeah, man.
00:05:37I love it.
00:05:39I love it.
00:05:40Take care.
00:05:44All right.
00:05:45Kings 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.
00:05:54Idle 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,
00:06:07I 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.
00:06:16All the way.
00:06:17All the way.
00:06:17Good job.
00:06:18There you go.
00:06:20Good job.
00:06:20Good job.
00:06:21Good job.
00:06:21Good 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 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.
00:06:49Do 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.
00:06:59Good morning.
00:07:00Good morning.
00:07:02I grew up in the church.
00:07:03Grew up singing.
00:07:07Good job, Cloud.
00:07:08Y'all trying to show me a little girl.
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.
00:07:45I'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.
00:08:00How are you?
00:08:02Great pants.
00:08:03My name is Keela Richardson.
00:08:04And 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.
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.
00:08:20That'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.
00:08:37Woo!
00:08:39Well, what are you going to sing today?
00:08:41Glitter in the Air by Pink.
00:08:43Love it.
00:08:43That's great.
00:08:44Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
00:08:52Oh, close your eyes and trust it.
00:08:58Just trust it.
00:09:03And have you ever thrown a fistful of glitter in the air?
00:09:13Have you ever looked fear in the face and said, I just don't care?
00:09:21Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:09:24There you are, sitting in the garden, clutching my coffee.
00:09:30And a table, in the air.
00:09:32Calling me sugar.
00:09:37You call me sugar.
00:09:41Oh, oh, oh.
00:09:45Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:09:47Oh, oh, oh.
00:09:49Oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:09:51Name note,哈囉!
00:09:59You call me sugar.
00:10:01If there's one thing I could tell you,
00:10:05is that sometimes just let it breathe a little bit,
00:10:08you know?
00:10:09Gotcha.
00:10:09One, two, three.
00:10:11I can imagine you on some songs where you would just
00:10:14blow the roof off of this place because of the range.
00:10:17Now it's 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 it, just trust it.
00:10:43That's so pretty.
00:10:45That's great.
00:10:46Have you ever thrown a fistful of glitter in the air?
00:10:52Stop that.
00:10:54Do it again.
00:10:55Right.
00:10:56Have you ever thrown a fistful of glitter
00:11:00glitter in the air?
00:11:03Woo!
00:11:04Keep going.
00:11:06It's only half past, the point of no return,
00:11:10the tip of the iceberg, the fire before the burn,
00:11:15the thunder before the lightning,
00:11:17and the red before the phrase.
00:11:19Have you ever felt this way?
00:11:24Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:11:26Hey.
00:11:27Drop the mic.
00:11:29Drop the mic.
00:11:30Drop the mic.
00:11:31Who is this?
00:11:31It's my son and my dad.
00:11:33Oh, my gosh.
00:11:33Oh, boy.
00:11:34Hi, Miss Carrie.
00:11:35Hi.
00:11:36How are you?
00:11:37Good.
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?
00:11:47Good.
00:11:47So cool, man.
00:11:49Hi, Mr. Luke.
00:11:50Hey, buddy.
00:11:52Hi, Mr. Luke.
00:11:52You see what your mama made me do?
00:11:56Oh, man, when you felt confident,
00:11:58the way you just sang that with confidence,
00:12:00you have a voice that will make people stop in their tracks.
00:12:05Great stop.
00:12:06Oh, gosh, I got, like, snot going on.
00:12:09I do, too.
00:12:10What's your name, buddy?
00:12:11Drew.
00:12:12That's Carrie right there, Drew.
00:12:14I know.
00:12:15I 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 hadn't been in our life yet.
00:12:23I know.
00:12:24That's wonderful.
00:12:26Yes.
00:12:27Lionel Richie?
00:12:28No, excuse me.
00:12:29It's Mr. Lionel.
00:12:30Mr. Lionel.
00:12:31It's a yes from me.
00:12:34Big old yes from me.
00:12:37Oh, yes.
00:12:38Congratulations.
00:12:41You're going through the Hollywood week.
00:12:42Come on, guys.
00:12:43Come here, Drew.
00:12:44Come here, Drew.
00:12:46Oh, my God.
00:12:47Thank you so much, y'all.
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.
00:12:55Back on the Oval.
00:12:57Back on the Oval.
00:12:58Wait, here we go.
00:12:59Oh, God.
00:12:59Oh, God.
00:13:00My man seems like he's ready to go.
00:13:02What's the song, Drew?
00:13:03It's called God Only Knows.
00:13:05God Only Knows.
00:13:06Yes.
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.
00:13:23He's so nice.
00:13:24He's so nice.
00:13:24That was great.
00:13:25That was great.
00:13:25That was great.
00:13:26What was that move, Drew?
00:13:29He's just taking those nuts now.
00:13:31I can't believe myself.
00:13:32I think I'm in a dream.
00:13:34Yeah.
00:13:35Yeah.
00:13:36He is.
00:13:36My pride and joy right here.
00:13:38This is who I do it for.
00:13:39I'm going to do it for him.
00:13:40I'm so proud and thank you, Dave.
00:13:42I'm proud of you, too.
00:13:43You're going to Hollywood, too, bud.
00:13:44but it's a good song, too.
00:13:47That may have been one of my favorite moments
00:13:50I'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 to 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.
00:14:09I would have probably got a lot of people.
00:14:14God, I'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?
00:14:19God, I do.
00:14:25What's happening?
00:14:29What's happening?
00:14:29What's going on?
00:14:31Oh, yeah.
00:14:31Oh, here it comes.
00:14:32What's going on?
00:14:33Oh, it's happening now.
00:14:36Hey!
00:14:38Here we go.
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.
00:14:50Hey, hey, hey.
00:14:50My name is Jason Ahrer.
00:14:51I'm 24 years old.
00:14:52I'm from Fuquay, Green, North Carolina.
00:14:54What's up?
00:14:54I'm here today with the Texas Tailgaters,
00:14:57which 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.
00:15:05They'll compare us to the Harlem Globetrotters a lot,
00:15:07but it's very competitive, too.
00:15:12We're all best friends,
00:15:13and we all get along,
00:15:14and it's great.
00:15:15Step it.
00:15:17Step it.
00:15:18Step it.
00:15:18Woo!
00:15:20I got into it, actually,
00:15:21as a singer.
00:15:22Outside of the actual game,
00:15:24we'll put on concerts.
00:15:25The whole point is just to keep the fans engaged
00:15:27the whole time
00:15:27and make sure they have fun.
00:15:29Come on now.
00:15:30You come on.
00:15:32Hold it, Andy.
00:15:33I got it pretty quick, though.
00:15:36Awesome.
00:15:36Awesome.
00:15:37How did I do?
00:15:38Good.
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
00:15:46and fell asleep for three hours.
00:15:48So, all right.
00:15:50Well, who are you?
00:15:51My name is Jason R.
00:15:52I'm 24 years old,
00:15:53and I'm from Fuquay,
00:15:54Verena, North Carolina.
00:15:54What are you going to sing for us?
00:15:56I'm going to sing
00:15:56Fire 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.
00:16:04Oh, yeah.
00:16:06Well, honey, load up your questions
00:16:08and pick up your sticks and your stones
00:16:16and pretend I'm a shelter
00:16:19for heartaches that don't have a home
00:16:27Choose the words that cut like a razor
00:16:34And 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
00:16:57Rear back and take it
00:17:02And fire away
00:17:08Fire away
00:17:10Oh, fire away
00:17:15Yeah, baby!
00:17:18Come on!
00:17:23I want a team
00:17:26All 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
00:17:35I think you should go first
00:17:36Okay, 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, yeah, damn messing up
00:17:44Damn messing up
00:17:45Well, if it's that easy to distract you
00:17:48I'll just
00:17:49No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
00:17:53No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, Luke
00:17:54Don't, don't, don't do that
00:17:55Don't, don't
00:17:56Ah, all right, all right
00:17:59All right, so now, listen
00:18:00You've got a nice voice.
00:18:01Yes, sir.
00:18:02You've got a distinguishable voice.
00:18:04And we don't have anything like that yet.
00:18:06Thank you, sir.
00:18:08Okay, I think I've...
00:18:09You calm down now?
00:18:10I got my thoughts together.
00:18:11All right, very good.
00:18:12I think my thing is, if 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, and I want to feel you in moat.
00:18:26I 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,
00:18:34you know, I don't have to sing loud
00:18:35every time I can kind of calm it down,
00:18:37so 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.
00:18:45That's easy.
00:18:46Yes, what are we...
00:18:47What are we...
00:18:48The pressure.
00:18:50Oh, look at her.
00:18:51Oh, no, no.
00:18:53Karen, look over this way.
00:18:54I got my own set of abs to stare at.
00:18:57Not mine, mine.
00:18:58There you go.
00:18:59Um, I want to know who you are as an artist,
00:19:03so I'll sing it.
00:19:04Yeah!
00:19:04Yeah!
00:19:06Huge fan.
00:19:07Yes!
00:19:08Yeah!
00:19:10Yeah!
00:19:13You thought we were done?
00:19:14OK.
00:19:15Wait a minute.
00:19:16Here we go.
00:19:16Yeah, we got the money.
00:19:19Let it roll.
00:19:20Hey!
00:19:20Hey!
00:19:20Hey!
00:19:21We got the money.
00:19:22Let it roll.
00:19:24Hey!
00:19:25We got that gas it gets so wild.
00:19:28Yeah, but that's the way we get down.
00:19:31Oh, oh, stop, oh, stop, oh, stop, oh, stop, oh, stop, oh, no, oh, no.
00:19:40It was pretty crazy.
00:19:41I'm not going to lie.
00:19:43He's still living his best life right now.
00:19:46Oh, no, no, 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.
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 what the future is going to be about.
00:20:07And I'm so excited just to be on the front row of this one.
00:20:11Just a small town girl
00:20:16Living in a lonely world
00:20:20She 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.
00:20:32What happens back in Moss Point, Mississippi?
00:20:35For me, I'm a school teacher.
00:20:36What 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 to let them know that you can reach your goals.
00:20:48Never give up.
00:20:49Don't stop believing.
00:20:50That's my motto.
00:20:51Don't stop believing.
00:20:52Don't stop believing.
00:20:58Hold on to that feeling.
00:21:02Oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:21:04Street light, people, oh
00:21:13Don't stop believing.
00:21:15Believe in
00:21:19Love, love, love, love, love.
00:21:25Your students are gonna hail you as the greatest thing
00:21:29that ever showed up in their lives.
00:21:31Wow.
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.
00:21:39Oh, let's vote.
00:21:39Carrie?
00:21:40Yes!
00:21:41Luke?
00:21:43Yes!
00:21:44And I'll go down low.
00:21:46Yes!
00:21:47Don't stop believing in me.
00:21:48Welcome to American Idol.
00:21:49Thank you so much.
00:21:52You're welcome.
00:21:55You're welcome.
00:21:55You're on Hollywood Week!
00:21:57Yeah!
00:22:00Yeah!
00:22:06I'm telling you
00:22:09Blue!
00:22:11Don't need that guy.
00:22:15No black and white.
00:22:18Stealing in your thunder.
00:22:21Baby.
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, like, wasn't quite there for me.
00:22:32I 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 am 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?
00:23:35Hi.
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?
00:23:42Did he grow up?
00:23:44That fast?
00:23:44Right, Emerson.
00:23:45No, no.
00:23:46What have I been for the past 10 years?
00:23:49I grew up quick, Emerson.
00:23:5015 years.
00:23:50Hey.
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.
00:23:57All right.
00:23:58Mississippi.
00:23:58That's right.
00:23:59About a week ago, I'm doing the Grand Ole Opry again.
00:24:01And he was there, and he's like, I want you to hear me sing.
00:24:05And I was just blown away.
00:24:07I texted immediately, hey, is it too late for an audition?
00:24:10And 20 minutes later...
00:24:11I'm sure you had some people pick up.
00:24:13Got a little clout, I 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, here we go.
00:24:22Come on.
00:24:23I miss you guys.
00:24:24Come on.
00:24:24I miss you, baby.
00:24:25How are you?
00:24:25Good to see you.
00:24:26Hands are a little cold.
00:24:27Fancy chairs.
00:24:28Let you see from this side.
00:24:29Are you nervous?
00:24:30A little bit.
00:24:31You seem cool as a cucumber.
00:24:33Well, thank you.
00:24:33We ready?
00:24:35Let's do it!
00:24:36He's like, what are we waiting on, people like us?
00:24:39Let's go!
00:24:40Come on, Tate!
00:24:40I'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.
00:24:58Yeah, but that's when I need it the most.
00:25:05So I'ma keep on singing Till my soul catches up with my song.
00:25:14There's days that my hands go up freely, times that it comes.
00:25:25There's days that a praise comes out easy, days that it takes all the strength I've got.
00:25:32But I'll bring my heart fought, heartfelt, 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.
00:26:00All right.
00:26:02First of all, I'm really surprised at your guitar maneuverability at your age.
00:26:10And can I do an exercise with you?
00:26:12Just let me hear you sing, heartfelt hallelujah, like...
00:26:17I 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, heartfelt, it is well, hallelujah.
00:26:33I think guitar, you're perfect.
00:26:37But vocally, it does really, really feel even a little younger than 15 to me,
00:26:43which is a predicament.
00:26:48I understand exactly what you fell in love with because we just saw it.
00:26:53We heard it.
00:26:54It'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.
00:27:15I was so scared.
00:27:16Got it.
00:27:18Got to give him a chance, I promise.
00:27:21I 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, I'm gonna say yes.
00:27:36Thank you so much.
00:27:40I'm gonna go the opposite.
00:27:45Got to give him a chance, I promise.
00:27:48I 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,
00:28:01a couple of years of experience.
00:28:02And I'd love to hear what you sound like.
00:28:04That's just me talking as dad now, okay?
00:28:08It's all up to you.
00:28:10No pressure.
00:28:11No pressure at all.
00:28:14I'm pretty nervous.
00:28:16I gotta feel sick.
00:28:18It's gonna be great.
00:28:19It'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.
00:28:39Thank you, brother.
00:28:40I appreciate you so much.
00:28:41And I love you.
00:28:42Thank you for your red foot.
00:28:44Keep doing what you're doing.
00:28:46Exactly what you're doing.
00:28:47Keep just giving glory where glory is new.
00:28:50It's a true honor to meet you.
00:28:51Thank you very much.
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.
00:29:00It'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.
00:29:34I'll be ready.
00:29:34Yes, sir.
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
00:30:09that instantly goes from American Idol stage to that Grammy award-winning artist.
00:30:18Lionel, they rehearsed that somewhere.
00:30:20We 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're 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 you were born
00:30:44to 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. How are you doing?
00:31:01I'm good.
00:31:02My name is Jesse Finling and I'm 19 years old.
00:31:05What do you do?
00:31:06I'm a college student right now, but I've been singing ever since I was little with my 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, dad.
00:31:36Take a picture.
00:31:37I am.
00:31:37That's the same one.
00:31:38And it's something that I've struggled with since elementary school.
00:31:43That day looking for a way.
00:31:46It was something embarrassing for me and it was something that I really had a hard time with.
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 about being embarrassed.
00:32:09Or 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 like, that's okay.
00:32:23Walking out with a golden ticket would mean that everything that I've struggled with in the past, it's all led
00:32:33me here.
00:32:34And I can do whatever I want if I work hard.
00:32:38I've come a long way with it.
00:32:39I'm like, it doesn't hold me back.
00:32:42There you go.
00:32:42Well, you're doing great.
00:32:44So 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.
00:33:04I'm sure.
00:33:05And you can tell that you are a good big brother.
00:33:08But what you gonna sing for us?
00:33:09I'm gonna be singing In the Stars by Benson Boone.
00:33:12It's a song me and my brother always singing together.
00:33:14I'm gonna be thinking of him when I sing it.
00:33:16Very good.
00:33:21Sunday 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.
00:33:38Even though it's only church where we were going.
00:33:46Now Sunday mornings are just sleeping.
00:33:52It's like I've buried my faith with you.
00:33:59I'm screaming at a God I don't know if I believe in.
00:34:06Cause I don't know what else I can do.
00:34:12Oh, I'm still holding on to everything that's dead and gone.
00:34:18I don't wanna say goodbye.
00:34:21This one means forever.
00:34:25And now you're in the stars and six feet's never found so far.
00:34:32Here I am alone between the heavens and the embers.
00:34:38Oh, it hurts so hard for a million different reasons.
00:34:50You took the best of my heart and left the rest in pieces.
00:35:10Luke, you jumped up awful quick.
00:35:12I don't think I blinked one time.
00:35:14Yeah.
00:35:14I mean, wow, you're a real singer.
00:35:17Man, I'm really proud of you.
00:35:19I love this show.
00:35:21I 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.
00:35:30We could understand everything you were singing.
00:35:33And 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?
00:35:42What problem?
00:35:42You don't have a problem.
00:35:43The only thing wrong with you is you've got to figure out
00:35:46how you're going to navigate this career.
00:35:48Wow.
00:35:49What's up, fam?
00:35:50What's up?
00:35:51Hi.
00:35:52Hi.
00:35:53Hi.
00:35:55Look at that.
00:35:56I love you.
00:35:57I love you.
00:35:58I think we can vote.
00:36:00Yes, indeed.
00:36:01Yes.
00:36:04Yes.
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 ol' yes and see what you've got to do with it.
00:36:18That's very scary.
00:36:19We will see you in Hollywood Week.
00:36:22Did 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, I was thinking of younger me who wouldn't speak in class,
00:36:31who was scared of what people thought of him, and the fact that I got this is just proof
00:36:35that everything's working out how it should.
00:36:37Well, he's got a pretty voice.
00:36:39He does.
00:36:40I'm going to Hollywood Week!
00:36:41Woo!
00:36:43I love you.
00:36:43I love you, too.
00:36:43You can do anything you put your mind to, and I'm always here for you.
00:36:47I'm very proud of you.
00:36:48Love you.
00:36:48Love you.
00:36:49But you'll be all right, kid.
00:36:55You're going to Hollywood Week, my friend.
00:36:58And...
00:37:01Alright.
00:37:01He has a great voice.
00:37:03He has a good voice.
00:37:04I'm hitting the restroom.
00:37:06I 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.
00:37:16Yeah, you know what I mean?
00:37:22Oh, I can't wait to ruin this whole show.
00:37:25This is going to be so much fun.
00:37:26We were counting on you.
00:37:29Now, you are going to wind Luke up a little bit to get Carrie, right?
00:37:32Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:37:33So, we're putting your piece in Luke's ear.
00:37:35Basically, 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.
00:37:45Nice to see you again.
00:37:45Nice to meet you, Dylan.
00:37:47Nice to 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.
00:37:56Don't chicken out.
00:37:57Don'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.
00:38:11Sure, how much can I bench press?
00:38:15I don't know.
00:38:16What kind of question is that?
00:38:19165, Carrie.
00:38:20165.
00:38:21Really, huh?
00:38:22What are you benching these days?
00:38:24I don't know.
00:38:25Why don't you know these things?
00:38:27You're in all these fitness ads.
00:38:28I am, but I'm not looking for like personal records.
00:38:32Who are you?
00:38:33My name is Dylan Holmes.
00:38:34I'm from Spring Lake, Michigan.
00:38:36I can't stand Michigan.
00:38:38I can't stand Michigan.
00:38:40I can't stand Michigan.
00:38:40Oh, that's it.
00:38:41I'm out of here.
00:38:42What 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.
00:38:52Okay.
00:38:52Did you go take shots?
00:38:54You're in your bathroom break.
00:38:56Let'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.
00:39:06He 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.
00:39:11No, 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, no.
00:39:16There comes a time.
00:39:18Somebody come get moved.
00:39:19When we need a certain call.
00:39:22All right, you're good.
00:39:23Good?
00:39:23All right.
00:39:23She comes from silver spoon golden rule.
00:39:27I'm gonna try to bench 175 tomorrow.
00:39:31I'm benching 175 tomorrow.
00:39:34She keeps on loving me.
00:39:37Loves me the way I.
00:39:43She's not just along for the ride.
00:39:46She keeps on loving.
00:39:50and I keep on wondering why.
00:40:00Um, I need more hot chicken.
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 bail.
00:40:10What the heck does hot chicken?
00:40:11Why, do I look like a waiter?
00:40:13Carrie, guess what?
00:40:14My physical trainer's here that's helping me bench press.
00:40:17Carrie, guess what?
00:40:18my physical trainers here he's awesome sexiest trainer i've ever seen what is happening and
00:40:24he's been telling me what to say this whole time this trainer's been telling me everything to say
00:40:28this whole audition what are you doing is that where you were when you went to the bathroom
00:40:35what is happening for like 20 minutes is that why we started hating on michigan yeah i was just
00:40:41telling him what to say we really like michigan by the way i thought he had fallen yeah he's having
00:40:47a an episode you want to hear something great i didn't think anything was wrong
00:40:54business as usual
00:40:59i think that should just be like our exclamatory word that should be our bottle for the school class
00:41:05hot chicken that's your wheelhouse kind of the southern rock thing i'm a yes hot chicken
00:41:25hot chicken thank you so much that's how you do that
00:41:32hey guys a little hot chicken is celebrating the auditions in nashville
00:42:04sweet girl
00:42:06i can't stand it you're running around you know better die i can't stand it cause you put me down
00:42:17no no no i put a spell on you
00:42:36you have a bring the house down voice i'm already standing up it's a yes for me hot chicken
00:42:44hot chicken cheers ron cheers i'm gonna go with the pickles yeah
00:42:53my 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 i'm a big fan of pickles i just love them
00:43:05today i have about a million people with me
00:43:09oh my god kyle oh no i broke this table oh my god i love pickles who doesn't sweet or
00:43:24dill dill
00:43:25sliced or whole whole rigid or flat rigid do you make your own pickles i do i love pickling things
00:43:32i like pickling things too let's go give me some recipes i'm here for it dad i don't think i've
00:43:39seen you in a pickle shirt yet thanks for whipping it out today for me you put me in a
00:43:43pickle more than
00:43:44once yeah what are you gonna 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
00:44:11eyes so blue you know i could not look away it seemed we seen each other in a dream seemed
00:44:18like he
00:44:19knew me he looked right through me yeah
00:44:28come on home girl mama cry on the phone
00:44:33just soon to lose my baby and my girl should be at home but try to understand
00:44:41try to understand try to understand
00:44:55he's a magic man
00:45:03great oh my god you're standing for me what the heck thank you i mean that's a tall order that's
00:45:09right there it takes some some pickles
00:45:14to uh to uh i gave him this kind of that yeah but you made it your own you weren't
00:45:20trying to like
00:45:20emulate you even change the melody a little bit you have this cool rasp at the top end of your
00:45:25voice
00:45:25i want to hear more yeah carrie's funny carrie wrote pickle girl on her i just want to make sure
00:45:32i
00:45:32remember let's go i think you're going still yet have to push yes even more with some of the singers
00:45:39we
00:45:39have but you did well thank you you've got the tools to do pretty much anything you want to do
00:45:43is
00:45:43just don't think just let your voice do what it's supposed to do cool all right yeah carrie what's your
00:45:48vote my vote is yes wow luke yes thank you i'm going to stand up on this one it's a
00:45:55yes for me and
00:45:55you're going to hollywood week oh my god if they all have their shirts on
00:46:26i'm going to be the best version of pickle girl i could be with you i think it's who i
00:46:30was born to
00:46:31i'm going to be with you i'm going to be with you i'm going to be with you i'm going
00:46:38to be
00:46:39hot chicken hot chicken
00:46:44you know this one i do
00:46:49sherry sherry baby
00:47:17thank you that's not an easy one to pull off it's not
00:47:20i like the frankie i'm looking for your identity okay yeah you have a lane and you're really good
00:47:27at it but in the context of american idol like that's just not what this is so it's a no
00:47:34for
00:47:34this but a yes for you there you go and just keep being awesome goodness oh did i get there
00:47:45yeah
00:47:46oh yeah you did this year we have a very unique talent hi guys i'm jules i'm 25 years old
00:47:56and i'm
00:47:56from charlotte north carolina today i will be singing bust the windows out my car oh goodness that's it
00:48:02thank you thank you very much everybody thank you i saw that movie my broken heart
00:48:10i'll probably always have these ugly scars wow that's like but right now i don't care about that part
00:48:18it's really magnetic when you see these kids with 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 sometimes people that are a little left of center you you have to maybe work on them on
00:48:53the
00:48:53fly you may think that i'm talking foolish now you sing that in your voice you may think that i'm
00:49:01talking you're from maine you don't say that like that we're picking on you right now because you have
00:49:08something come 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 i'll bust the windows out your car i feel like you deserve a shot
00:49:20to bring
00:49:21the bigger notes i think it's in there but i say yes i'll bring it out i would not bust
00:49:25no window
00:49:26out your car i know i can bring it i know you and i will not be disappointed at all
00:49:31i'm a no
00:49:33really i am you'll never have to hear that voice again in your life give me one more chance
00:49:37i promise i'm dug in i'm dug in what does dug in mean dug in like a tick like not
00:49:43moving oh
00:49:46i'm sorry i think you made a wrong decision
00:49:51tell me about your music history how do people respond to your voice when you uh when you sing
00:49:56i think it's unique i would say i can't wait does that mean that mean we should
00:50:01get ready for some uniqueness if you want yeah so who are you i'm brooks rosser i'm 22 years old
00:50:09i'm
00:50:09from bel-air maryland what do you do up there in maryland i work at a dementia care facility as
00:50:15a
00:50:15medication technician nice very cool how many shows are you playing a year i've gone to a couple gigs
00:50:22but i've only just played guitar um i've never really performed
00:50:32it ain't all right the hardness of my hair
00:50:39morning john hey brooks good morning
00:50:44morning skip hey how are you buddy not bad doing all right i was just looking at this article on
00:50:52the
00:50:52next generation of acceleros oh yeah i like trains you sleep good yeah for the last three years i've
00:51:03been working in the dementia care field and it's been extremely fulfilling i've made a lot of
00:51:08friendships with so-called patients they're actually just friends can you sing me a song
00:51:13today yeah it ain't all right uh growing up i was i was a shy kid i didn't really know
00:51:22how to make my
00:51:23own friends my grandmother was always my biggest fan you know she was one person that i never had
00:51:29trouble talking to when she first started showing dementia-like symptoms i picked up the guitar and that
00:51:34was one way where we could both practice speaking from the heart but it's still all right it would
00:51:41help 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
00:51:56standing out on the left with no way to get down music it's one thing that you can't forget
00:52:04i think your town is far above most people thank you next week i'm going to nashville to try out
00:52:15for
00:52:15american idol and see if they uh like me i have no experience playing in front of people it's gonna
00:52:23be
00:52:23a lot different but i'll just pretend the celebrity judges are just more of my friends and residents
00:52:31i think you're gonna do fine if you play like that i play like that and you sing like that
00:52:37all right i'm gonna root you on
00:52:46all right what you got what you singing uh your place at my place by joshua sloan okay perfect
00:53:09i'm running out of ways to fix us i thought i loved you it was only just a mix of
00:53:16that's what you said
00:53:18when you were crying because you missed us you don't even know how bad i wish i could fix us
00:53:40i thought i loved you it was only just a mix of that's what you said when you were crying
00:53:43because
00:53:43i'm running out of ways to fix us i thought i loved you it was only just a mix of
00:53:52that's what you said when you were crying because you're not going to be a good boy
00:53:55because you missed us you don't even know how bad i wish i could fix trust
00:54:09thank you wow gosh i just want to hear more yeah and you haven't played out much
00:54:17and why is that i'm working too much well stop doing that do you understand why we're so excited
00:54:25because you do you understand why no man no matter what you sing it's going to be 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
00:55:14i'ma take this badge off me
00:55:21i can't use it i can't use it anymore
00:55:29it's getting dark too dark to see
00:55:33i feel i'm knocking on heaven's door
00:55:45knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:55:53knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:56:01knock knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:56:09knock knock knocking on heaven's door
00:56:13oh wow
00:56:19it's so good so good man so good thank you so much so good you have a unique style all
00:56:27your own i have
00:56:28not heard another voice like this ever congratulations thank you so much major major stuff here thank you so
00:56:35much did you watch the show last year yeah do you remember thunderstorm yeah well he's he's over there that's
00:56:41him over there listening we've been having uh people dropping by it's fun what do you think thunderstorm
00:56:46man it's amazing dude like your voice is crazy isn't that great i'm obsessed brother thank you so
00:56:53much thunderstorm you want to vote that's all yeses for me you don't get a yes i don't know what's
00:57:00going
00:57:00on oh man thank you for being in our life i mean it's like when you hear van morrison yeah
00:57:07real iconic
00:57:08crazy i think it's another countdown right yeah one two three you're going to hollywood week
00:57:19thank you so much
00:57:23congrats
00:57:27i've always been shy and insecure so hearing compliments from people as big as the judges
00:57:33really mean something and that will forever be with me we are so lucky guys oh there's choices too
00:57:39there's choices on oh we're so lucky that's crazy skippers remember when i told you i was going to
00:57:49audition for american idol yeah
00:57:53they said yes they said yes that looks classy you want to hold it that is great
00:58:01thank you for your support all you have to do is win
00:58:13what are you going to do when you sing lionel i'm going to scream hey hey book signing oh look
00:58:19at
00:58:19that this is for you lionel richie that guy's got aura oh my gosh i read the whole thing this
00:58:25weekend
00:58:26lionel likes to use his legend status lionel's got rich dude legend card what is that i love it
00:58:36what's your name kindle kindle kindle who is here today with you this is my mom and my dad hi
00:58:42husband are you excited yes growing up we watched american idol a lot like as a family
00:58:49people out there i'm 29 and i live right here in nashville tennessee and i am a singer-songwriter
00:58:57full-time i'm 16 years old so just being here i'm really excited i've been pursuing music as far back
00:59:04as i can remember i've never wanted to be a lawyer or a doctor or i just wanted to do
00:59:09music
00:59:09oh my gosh i started singing in my youth group it kind of got me out of my shell a
00:59:16bit
00:59:17but i've never met anybody huge or famous or anything so it's going to be
00:59:21really different definitely a little nerve-wracking though
00:59:26to be a songwriter it's my favorite thing in the world because eventually one person kind of like
00:59:33understand you know what you've written about or what you're singing about and that's my favorite
00:59:39part about it how are you i'm great how are y'all good what's your name my name is laney
00:59:45grace
00:59:46i'm 16 years old and i'm from prattville alabama what do you do as a 16 year old in alabama
00:59:51i work
00:59:52at chick-fil-a that's really fun there you go tell us a little bit about your family i've got
00:59:5812
00:59:59siblings two brothers and 10 sisters there's a lot of us let's say a prayer for your brothers
01:00:04oh are they here today with you i have two of my sisters and my dad out there yes so
01:00:11not a whole
01:00:11crew we have a big farm and my mom had to stay back and handle that okay head inside and
01:00:16wait your
01:00:16audition is next what's on your farm like six cows lots of chickens we've got three goats cool what are
01:00:24you going to be singing for us i'm going to be singing honest by kendall inskeep how did you discover
01:00:28that she is kind of a small artist i discovered her music through my sister actually and i was like
01:00:35what is this song i love it cool that's cool okay are you playing i am playing awesome variation love
01:00:51every time i walk out of the house put on another face just to blend in with the crowd so
01:00:57nobody sees me
01:01:00you would never believe me
01:01:05i'll tell you that i'm old but i'm still healing i'll tell you that i'm happy but i'm grieving
01:01:11thought i was a fighting thought i was a fighter but i'm still in the fire
01:01:18and if i'm being honest i'm not being honest i'll give you roses just hoping you don't see the weeds
01:01:31in my garden
01:01:33i'll tell you that i'm old but i'm still healing i'll tell you that i might be but i'm grieving
01:01:40even thought i was a fighter but i'm still in the fire
01:01:47and if i'm being honest
01:01:51if i'm being honest
01:01:52i'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
01:02:13i'm just being honest
01:02:14all right
01:02:17minus the concentration of trying to play the piano you have some vocal chops thank you there were a lot
01:02:24of kind of timid things that you were doing that will only improve the more you play out but uh
01:02:30i mean i feel like you have a lot of potential thank you everything about you is 16 but you
01:02:37have a tone and
01:02:37sound in your voice it's really undeniable correct you are by no means ready for this
01:02:44but i don't think i can fight the urge say yes i think i have to tell her yes
01:02:50thank you um i think it's a not quite yet for me no listen hey if i put you through
01:02:59now i feel like
01:03:01all the other big voices that have been playing out for years they are going to wash you away i
01:03:08would
01:03:08rather if she just did one without the piano she could just trust singing to the top of her lungs
01:03:14you think she's you think she could win this like right now we're in well then there's your
01:03:21answer it's i mean it's up to lana we still have one more dog in the fight
01:03:27i think you've got some real grown-up qualities in there i like very much i might need to hear
01:03:33a
01:03:33little more well the the song that you sang um the songwriter kendall is actually here now right
01:03:47now right now kind of coming up behind you right now kind of walking over your shoulder
01:03:52oh my gosh that was so beautiful isn't that great
01:04:00can you guys sing that together just give her a stool you sing it yeah we got you a stool
01:04:05well first of all are you auditioning i'm auditioning today wow and hopefully changing
01:04:11one vote yeah let's hear y'all do it yeah okay project fill this room up
01:04:19i'm just being honest yeah i'm not being honest sing it to him i'll give you roses just hoping you
01:04:31don't see the
01:04:32weeds in my garden yeah if i'm being honest i'm at my darkest come on girl i'm sitting here waiting
01:04:45and
01:04:45praying for someone to show me what love is i'm just being honest good good oh that was so great
01:04:58what do you think lionel
01:05:02um i i must tell you i i i'm debating if you have a master of it yet
01:05:17good oh that was so great what do you think lionel
01:05:23um i i must tell you i i have luke's heart i'm telling you
01:05:32come back to see us it's a no for me this time but that was very it was thank you
01:05:39very very great
01:05:41very inspiring thank y'all all right we'll see you back here all right thank y'all y'all have
01:05:45a great
01:05:46day all right
01:05:53i gotta know no i'm so proud of you luke said he liked me and carrie and lionel said i
01:06:01had a little
01:06:01going to do but i got to meet kendall inskeep and i got to sing with her so it's really
01:06:06mind-blowing
01:06:07give me a second i'll make it out of this
01:06:13i know i've been reckless but one day i know i'll be all again
01:06:26it might be today and it might be tomorrow when i wash my hands of the shame that i borrowed
01:06:38i'm sorry to unload like this i just can't keep it in
01:06:48amen
01:06:59give me a second and i'll make it out of this
01:07:10i'm sorry to unload like this
01:07:11i know i've been reckless but one day i know i'll be
01:07:16whole again
01:07:19i'll make it out of this
01:07:20it might be today and it might be tomorrow
01:07:24when i wash my hands of the shame i borrow
01:07:31i'm sorry to unload like this
01:07:36i just can't keep it in
01:07:41amen
01:07:45okay
01:07:49kendall you got stuff
01:07:50thank you so much i like the song i love your voice felt like we were in your world when
01:07:59things
01:08:00kind of took off and hitting those baby that that note like from here it was like yeah thank you
01:08:07i
01:08:07i commend you on the fact of just taking your time exploring who you are i think that's just so
01:08:14brilliant you you've got artists written all over you and i'm loving every minute of it thank you so
01:08:21much thank you i was really impressed when you stepped on the gas and you had that extra
01:08:26level level of stuff in your range thank you i think we can vote i can vote i can vote
01:08:33go for it
01:08:34we can all vote let's tell her the good news
01:08:37you're going to hollywood
01:08:38we can i like can i shake your hands can i help you please you guys are so cool
01:08:44oh you are so cool
01:08:46yeah good job thank you guys so much
01:08:48congratulations
01:08:54oh my gosh wait can i tell you something what the girl before me auditioned with honest
01:09:05i just love the song and i love how much you've spoken to me through your lyricism and it's just
01:09:11been
01:09:11so amazing and to be able to sing with you it was absolutely so inspiring just to be able to
01:09:16meet
01:09:16you you're so sweet thank you i love you i love you babe we're besties now we're good okay this
01:09:24is
01:09:25what it feels you both got this yeah group selfie oh leave me up oh vinyl 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 i am actually not singing though
01:09:53my boyfriend
01:09:54brian is and no one has any idea what he looks like the camera is never on him it's always
01:10:00just
01:10:00on me doing my hair and makeup so it's just me reacting so we're gonna not
01:10:06watch him sing so just make him feel comfortable yeah we got we got to ease him into this
01:10:12i hear him walking here i hear him he's getting close
01:10:17life with bryant is oh i'm gonna cry sorry
01:10:25gotta pull it together
01:10:28you's made me come out of my shell a lot too as a person
01:10:34i didn't think that love ever existed like this until i met him
01:10:40i can't see a thing i'm so excited to be on this journey with him and this is such a
01:10:46big deal
01:10:47all right we can break these down
01:10:50high from behind the pillar don't look at me we're not looking okay all right who are you my name
01:10:57is brian
01:10:57thomas i'm from mobile alabama alabama well you sound like you're from alabama roll tide roll tide
01:11:04i am a singer songwriter i grew up in the church singing music how many fans do you have like
01:11:11110
01:11:11000. wow so the fans have never seen your face blowing your cover well this is the first time we've
01:11:18ever allowed one of these to go this way yeah so a new era of america night all right what
01:11:24are you
01:11:24going to sing for us i'm singing against all odds by phil collins fantastic
01:11:36how can i just let you walk away just let you leave without a trace
01:11:44when i stand here taking every breath with you
01:11:49oh you're the only one who really knew me at all wow so take a look at me now
01:12:04there's just an empty space and there's nothing left here to remind me just the memory of your face so
01:12:15take a look at me now this is just an empty space but you coming back to me is against
01:12:27the odds but it's what i've
01:12:30got a face
01:12:36i'll still be standing here
01:12:40and you coming back to me is against all odds but it's what i've got
01:12:46a face
01:12:53oh
01:12:53all right
01:12:57take a look at me now
01:13:07wow wow wow way to do it thank you guys so much the reveal good job here i am
01:13:17you know i'm overwhelmed i can't i can't lie to you you know i'm just going to be like like
01:13:23luke and
01:13:23i'm going to make jokes
01:13:25that's great you're still kind of covered because you got your shades on but i get it
01:13:29yeah there's the fool though
01:13:33kerry what you think your voice is
01:13:37outrageous well thank you so much it means it means a lot to me to hear that from
01:13:41it's incredible it really is even over there behind a pillar
01:13:46you can feel just so much emotion and life in your voice so
01:13:51well done what you think lionel about bryant i think we got ourselves a hit record here
01:13:56um you've got star power vocals man
01:14:03and that little rasp you have is just on fire thank you so much you were all the way there
01:14:11and i'm loving it man thank you so much yeah man great job and really really soulful voice oh
01:14:18i feel like i'm hallucinating right now honestly like is this a projection is this is this ai well
01:14:24let's vote lana what you think about your alabama boy well i think for the university of idol i i
01:14:30would
01:14:30deem it very excited to put you in as part of this class it's a yes for me i'm a
01:14:37heck yes
01:14:39i'm a yes i love it congratulations you got a lot of family in there behind you coming in what's
01:14:46up
01:14:46how are y'all good are you the girlfriend i am you started all this i did come on guys
01:14:53center in
01:14:54there you go well he's going through the hollywood week and uh he's a great singer i appreciate y'all
01:15:00bringing him to us i have one thing to say yes yes
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 of that it's okay can you say something
01:15:33yes yes oh congratulations only on american island oh my god this is beautiful oh my god guys
01:15:46congratulations congratulations oh my god way to go man oh my god way to go
01:15:56way to go i mean how did you sing knowing you had to do that if you can see
01:16:02and i'm telling you something right now with the voice you have skies can be the limit of where
01:16:06you're going congratulations man we're getting married i've been behind the scenes and i feel like
01:16:15i'm made for the stage and the spotlights so i'm ready to assume my role in the front of this
01:16:22boat
01:16:22and take us all the way home awesome day y'all i must tell you i must tell you the
01:16:34class is getting
01:16:36very impressive and each one unique unto themselves that's what makes it so beautiful
01:16:44all right hello hi how are you how are you i don't believe you are a contestant i am
01:16:53not a contestant my name is heather wyatt i'm here to introduce chloe chloe is a young girl who
01:17:02about a year ago wrote and performed a song in honor of my daughter aubrey that we lost to suicide
01:17:09in 2023. ah sorry so sorry if you lost that is just oh unimaginable here's an original song that i
01:17:20wrote dedicated to aubrey wyatt called forever 13. i first heard chloe's song about a year ago
01:17:26and immediately cried it was beautiful it was what aubrey had gone through forever 13 had some big dreams
01:17:42aubrey um aubrey um is my forever 13 year old daughter um she is bright beautiful talented
01:17:54um and she endured years of bullying social media pressures and took her life september 4th 2023
01:18:12um um just very unexpected
01:18:23something kept telling me to write that song so i did you didn't know her i hadn't no i've never
01:18:27met
01:18:27her but you couldn't get this story out of your mind i couldn't it did just relate i just i
01:18:31don't
01:18:31know i felt it so much in my heart to write this song chloe does not know that i'm here
01:18:36today i have not
01:18:37met chloe so this will be the first time meeting her and thanking her for the song oh my god
01:18:49oh my god
01:18:58this is the world of me you don't even know thank you thank you this is chloe oh hi hi
01:19:06chloe sorry no you're
01:19:08great do you want to tell us your name tell us a little bit about yourself all right my name
01:19:14is
01:19:14chloe grace i'm 15 years old and i'm from jacksonville florida i'd went through some of the things aubrey
01:19:19went through and it was it was really hard so i was like if i could write something that could
01:19:23just very small help someone then it's totally worth me writing this song music is very powerful
01:19:29and it can help let people know that they're not alone so we're excited to hear the song
01:19:41she was only 13 had some big dreams and you took them all away she had her whole life ahead
01:19:53of her
01:19:54and you watched her and you watched her drift away you never thought that what you said can mess up
01:20:02someone else's head but maybe you think now that she's gone
01:20:11a young girl had to lose her life so that you could feel somewhat satisfied in this sick and twisted
01:20:20world
01:20:21you wouldn't think that a few young girls could do any harm but look where we are
01:20:30now 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
01:20:52to be a mom and lose her daughter it must feel so sorry like how can she be gone she
01:21:03blames herself for doing
01:21:05wrong but i hope that she knows it ain't her fault even though she is gone
01:21:16wrong but i hope that she is gone she's gone she's gone and i'm gone she'll be gone
01:21:28and i'm gone her name because no one deserves that kind of pain
01:21:40Forever 13 had some big dreams and you took them all away
01:21:51Oh, thank you.
01:22:01Oh, goodness.
01:22:04I'm just so moved.
01:22:07Heather, that's a gift right there.
01:22:08That's God looking back at you.
01:22:11It is.
01:22:12Just a very moving moment.
01:22:14Yeah, I feel like the maturity that you possess is quite incredible.
01:22:20The way you...
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 and
01:22:58maybe decide to change their mind about something.
01:23:04You know, it's pretty, 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.
01:23:36Oh my God, thank you so much.
01:23:39You're special.
01:23:39You know that, right?
01:23:41Thank you so much.
01:23:43You're special.
01:23:43You're welcome to make it some 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 my goodness.
01:24:05Oh, I've always dreamed of holding one of these in my hand and for it to be like this and
01:24:10to get it singing a song I wrote and a song I poured my 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.
Comments