[ Mid-tempo music plays
] Luke: French Quarter!
Lionel: Here we go! All right!
[ Crowd cheering ] New
Orleans! New Orleans!
Katy: You guys, this is
culture. This is history right here.
So good.
[ Marching band
playing "Country Girl" ]
Hey!
♪♪
♪ Shake it for me ♪
♪♪
This is how you
come to New Orleans.
♪♪
I'm loving this.
[ Music ends, crowd cheering ]
[ Marching band
playing "All Night Long" ]
See? They got us.
♪♪
Lionel Richie!
There you go, Lionel. All right!
♪ All night long ♪
[ Music ends, crowd cheering ]
So good.
All right. What you got?
[ Marching band
playing "Firework" ]
Yeah! [ Laughs ]
So good!
Whoo! [ Crowd cheering ]
That's how you do it. So good.
Aah!
What is the talent gonna
be when we get here?
This is why we go to
the nooks and crannies
and leave no
American Idol unturned.
[ Music ends, crowd cheering ]
That was awesome.
That was great!
You got us again!
You got us again.
[ Laughs ]
[ Indistinct conversations,
guitar playing ]
On a scale of 1 to 10,
how jacked up is my hair?
Man: No. It looks good.
♪♪
This is fantastic! Oh, my God.
We're doing it. New
Orleans. All right!
Keelin: I feel
absolutely pumped.
Like, I'm ready to go in there
and just show them what I got.
Ryan: All right. Go get it.
We'll see you in a
minute. Good luck.
[ Mid-tempo music
plays ] Katy: Oh.
Here we go. Hi.
Welcome. Oh, my God.
Tell us who you are, where
you're from, and your age.
My name is Sara Beth,
and I'm 25, and
I'm from California.
You cannot be 25.
What are you saying?
Yes, 25. You look 16.
Sixteen. I mean, come on.
Bless! You guys are my favorite!
Give us a real... I have
three kids, so that's, like...
What?! Get away from
here. What are you saying?
You okay, Katy?
No. It's okay.
If Katy lays on the table,
I think I'm gonna pass out!
Three kids.
Honey, you been laying
on the table too much.
You know... [ Laughs ]
♪ Over the hills and far away ♪
Surprise! Surprise!
Hi!
Sara Beth: Hi, babies!
Hi, Callan! Hi,
Willow! Hi, Ellie!
I missed you!
Sara Beth: We
have a little family.
Got married young
and... [ Laughs ]
Yeah, living that life now.
I am definitely
grateful to be able
to get to stay home with
my kids pretty much full time.
But when it comes to, like,
pursuing music and stuff,
this is all brand new.
Like, the past six months
is the first time in my life
that I've given myself
a minute for me.
And I've decided,
like, "You know what?
Enough people
have told me, like,
'You got to do something
with your voice.'"
Oh, man. I'm gonna start
crying. I miss my kids! [ Laughs ]
Okay. I got to go
now. I'm gonna go sing.
See you guys
later. Wish me luck!
Love you, Mom! Bye, Mom!
So, how did you get
from mom to music?
Dude, I'm not gonna lie.
I'm not really a musician.
I just called Lionel
Richie "dude"!
Sir! Sir, I'm not gonna
lie. No. It's all right.
It's okay. Oh, my gosh.
Anyway, I like to go to
karaoke, like, with my friends,
and I did, like, a little bit
of, like, church choir and...
Is this your dream?
Um... Is it now?
If it's not your dream,
you might need to leave,
'cause there's a lot
of dreams behind you.
Right! Literally,
I'm still processing.
I can't even, like, answer
Like, this is so much.
Luke: All right.
Let's hear this...
All right. Why don't you
freak us out, Freaky Friday?
The Cherry b*mb. What
are you gonna sing for us?
I was supposed to sing
"Bennie and the Jets,"
but then my voice is...
So now I'm gonna sing
"You Know I'm No
Good" by Amy Winehouse,
and I hope it goes okay.
Give it to us. [
Clears throat ] Okay.
♪♪
♪ Meet you downstairs
in the bar and hurt ♪
♪ Your rolled up sleeves
and your skull T-shirt ♪
♪ "What did you do
it with him today?" ♪
♪ And sniffed me out
like I was Tanqueray ♪
♪ I cheated myself ♪
♪♪
♪ Like I knew that I would ♪
Come on. We need more.
♪ But I told you I was trouble ♪
♪ Oh, you know
that I'm no good ♪
[ Chuckles ] Katy:
That's not enough.
Whoo.
I know!
Try "Bennie and
the Jets." Try it.
Try it. What do you got to lose?
Nothing.
Okay. It's not her dream yet.
All right. Okay.
Katy: Show us what
your voice can do.
Take it to the limit.
No looking back.
Sing it like it's
your new dream.
All right.
[ "Bennie and the Jets" plays ]
♪♪
♪ Hey, kids, shake
it loose together ♪
♪ The spotlight's
hitting something ♪
♪ That's been known
to change the weather ♪
♪ We'll k*ll the
fatted calf tonight ♪
♪ So stick around ♪
♪♪
♪ You're gonna
hear electric music ♪
♪ Solid walls of sound ♪
♪ Say, Candy and Ronnie ♪
♪ Have you seen 'em yet? ♪
♪ Ooh, but they're
so spaced out ♪
♪ B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets ♪
♪ Said, oh, but they're
weird and they're wonderful ♪
♪ Oh, Bennie,
she's really keen ♪
♪ She's got electric boots ♪
♪ A mohair suit ♪
♪ You know I read
it in a magazine ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪
♪ B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets ♪
♪♪
♪ Bennie! ♪
♪ Bennie and the Jets ♪
♪ Yeah ♪ More of that!
[ Laughs ]
♪ Bennie! ♪
♪ Bennie and the Jets ♪
♪ Yeah ♪ Hold it out.
♪ Bennie! ♪
♪ Bennie! ♪
♪ Bennie, Bennie,
Bennie, Bennie ♪
♪ Bennie and the Jets ♪
♪ I said Bennie and the Jets ♪
I feel like I'm gonna
pass out. [ Laughs ]
Sit down! Oh, my God!
Katy: Accidental American Idol.
Luke: Yep. [ Laughs ]
But, like, for real.
This is so cool.
[ Laughs ] Whoo! Okay.
I feel like a comic-strip
character just came to life.
Oh, my. I love you.
I love it.
Thank you! [ Laughs ]
I love it because you don't know
what the hell you're doing here.
But you're a great singer.
Look, if it's not your
dream, it's not gonna go far.
'Cause I also respect everyone
that's walking through that door
who will lay down their life for
this golden ticket, you know?
Me too. They're amazing.
Lionel: I don't want
you to be a gimmick.
Through all of this,
there's an artist that's
got to come out of that.
Katy: I think we can vote.
Luke.
I just love your
energy. You're a yes.
Oh, okay. Lionel.
I want to kind of get
you to understand.
You have to take it seriously.
You know, I'm going to, um...
Yeah, I'm gonna go
with my... my gut. I...
It's gonna have to be
a no for me this trip.
I'm sorry.
Yeah. Katy?
♪♪
I mean...
yeah, I guess.
Katy Perry just
said yeah. That's...
Why not?
Hell, yes!
Well, if you got two, then
you've got the right answer.
One, two, three.
All: You're going to Hollywood!
Oh, my God. Katy: Sara Beth...
Uh-huh? ...you're
in the dream now.
Thank you! Go get
your golden ticket.
Grab that gold. Get
your golden ticket.
♪♪
Hurry, before the dream ends.
Lionel: Push!
It's a push!
Bye-bye! Thank you! [ Laughter ]
Apparently, they didn't
hate it, which is rad.
That's wild.
So, that's what I
just did on a Monday.
Wow.
They said yes to
Mommy! I got a ticket.
Can you believe
that? That's crazy!
Yay! Yay!
But where are you going?
Mom, where are you going?
Mommy's going... I think
Mommy's going to Hollywood.
[ Laughs ]
How are you? I'm good.
How are you guys? Good.
Is, um, it your dream
to be the next American Idol?
It is. Yeah. Oh, thank God.
Auditionee: [ Laughs ]
[ Crowd cheering,
up-tempo music playing ]
Lionel: This is it... 21
years of "American Idol."
Can you believe it?
I get to turn 21 twice.
How about that?
I spent my 21st
birthday in London.
It was The Commodores'
first time heading to Europe.
♪♪
Luke: Oh, gosh.
I was in Albany, Georgia,
in my hometown...
Katy: I found a
roller skating rink.
I had little to no money.
And we were
at, like, a little bar.
Katy: We had the craziest time.
One person broke their elbow,
and one person
twisted their ankle.
So it was a great time.
I spent my 21st
birthday in Hyde Park.
I bought a birthday cake
and fed it to the pigeons.
♪♪
Let's just say I
got home safely.
I don't remember
much. But that's 21.
♪♪
[ Indistinct conversations ]
Man: What's up, y'all?
What's up, guys? Hi!
Woman: How you doing? Good!
[ Up-tempo music plays ]
My name is Tanner
Charles. I'm 20 years old.
I'm from Broken Arrow,
Oklahoma, and I work as a valet.
I haven't wrecked
any cars yet. Yet.
♪ You're so golden ♪
Today I brought my
girlfriend, Delaney.
Thank you for coming. I'm
excited to be here, you know?
♪ You're so golden ♪
Ryan: So nice to meet
you, Tanner. You too.
What kind of a singer are
you? What's your style?
I would say, like, I'm a
big singer-songwriter.
What do you write
about? So... Well...
[ Whispering ] My
girlfriend's over there.
Does she not know
she's your girlfriend?
Well, she knows
she's my girlfriend.
This is the inside scoop.
So, I'm going in there.
I'm gonna sing an original
song that I wrote for her.
But she doesn't know about it,
'cause her birthday's next week.
I was gonna try
to give it to her...
but we'll see how that goes.
So far, it sounds like
you got the plan down.
Got a plan. I'm ready.
It's probably not weird
that we're whispering
if she's right there.
No, it's not weird at all.
What do you do in Broken Arrow?
Um... Put arrows back together?
Oh, yeah. All the time.
Oh.
Look over there at the cameras.
Tanner: That was good.
That was good. That was good.
I'm a valet.
Katy: A valet? Yeah.
Nicest car you ever parked?
About last month, I got
to park a Rolls-Royce.
Whoo! [ Whistles ] Ooh.
No. It sounds
cool. It's so scary.
It's like, I'm 20
years old. I'm broke.
So it's like, I know if I
mess that car up, I'm done.
What'd the Rolls guy tip you?
Not like I was expecting
some million-dollar tip,
but I was like, "All right. I
know he's got some money."
And so he comes out, and
he hands me, like, a $5 bill.
And the guy before that
gave me, like, a $30 bill.
Whoa. Hold on, Tanner.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hold on, Tanner.
I know what you're
wanting to say.
Tanner... there's no
such thing as a $30 bill.
Yeah.
And there's no such
thing as a million-dollar tip.
[ Laughing ] Yeah. Right.
All right. What are
you gonna sing?
This is actually a
song for my girlfriend.
We've been dating about a
year. I wrote it a couple weeks ago.
Her birthday's next week.
I was gonna give it to her.
She hasn't heard it?
She has not heard it.
Doesn't know I'm writing
it. Can I run and go get her?
Is she here? Tanner: She's here.
Hell, yes.
This is... ♪ Young love ♪
Oh, my God. Come
on, man. This is TV.
Oh, oh, oh. We like this show.
When I watch this for my
wife, she's gonna reference
that I haven't read
her song lately.
Lionel: Luke. Katy: Aww. Hi.
Oh, my goodness.
Luke: Oh, yeah.
What's your name?
My name's Delaney Blalock.
Nice to meet you. So, question
is, what am I doing in here?
You're about to find out, okay?
She can stand behind the piano.
How long have you been dating?
A little over a year.
Are you in? Are you in?
I'm in. I'm in.
Are we talking marriage here?
No, no, no! No, no, no, no, no.
My man!
We've set the
stakes up too high.
Too high. All right, Tanner.
Tanner: Okay. Do the
dang thing. You're on.
So, this is a song
I wrote for you.
I was gonna give it to you
on your birthday next week,
but this is different,
so I'll give it to you now.
Okay. Ready?
The song is called "Golden Eyes"
because our eyes
are super golden.
You need to get a look at
them when you get a chance.
Set it up.
Okay.
[ Down-tempo
introduction plays ]
♪♪
♪ Driving late at night ♪
♪ I wish I was with you ♪
♪ Want you all the time ♪
♪ But, babe, that's the issue ♪
♪ Seasons seem to change ♪
♪ But my love remains the same ♪
♪ When I look at you ♪
♪ I seem to get so lost ♪
♪ In your golden eyes ♪
♪ It's no surprise ♪
♪ And I won't let you go ♪
He's awesome.
♪ Tonight ♪
♪ I don't want to leave ♪
♪ I don't want to be ♪
♪ So far apart ♪
♪ My world has never known ♪
♪ A love that brings me home ♪
♪ A love so meant to be ♪
♪ But time has made me see ♪
♪ That I won't let you go ♪
♪ Tonight ♪
♪ No, I won't let you go ♪
♪ Tonight ♪
[ Music ends ] Lionel: Yeah!
Yeah!
I'm so proud of you.
Luke: ♪ Young love ♪
Oh, my God. Oh, my God!
You made her cry. [ Laughs ]
Oh, my God. Luke:
That was awesome.
They're meant for each
other. That's good enough.
Are you surprised? Um, very.
You're 20 years
old! It's new love!
What happens
after 15 years, Luke?
Yeah. I'd like to know.
I don't want to know.
Yeah, Luke. How do you
keep it together, Luke?
Liquor.
[ Laughter ]
Liquid amnesia.
Katy: Listen, Tanner.
That was exceptional.
There's a lot of singers
that come to this show,
but you are an artist.
You know, we can help support
you with some confidence,
'cause I think you're
getting a little bit doubtful
about when you go higher. Yeah.
But you already
got it. You're there.
We're just gonna
prop you up, right there.
Okay.
The hardest thing
in the world to do
is concentrate on your career
in front of millions of people
on television.
You did two in one. Yeah.
'Cause the second
hardest thing in life
is to find someone
you really love
and sing to them while
you're doing an audition.
The point is that you
have the sausage, man.
You've got... [ Laughter ]
You've got the...
I mean, I hope... I hope I do.
[ Laughter ]
You can't get out of it.
You have the barbecue sauce.
The fact is... Luke: Whoo!
The sky's the limit for you.
You're one of the best
I've personally seen, really,
at telling the story.
And then you're able
to soar melodically
'cause you have the
vocal ability to go there.
Your instincts are perfect.
Let's vote.
♪♪
I'm a yes!
Welcome to your purpose, Tanner.
I'm a yes.
It's a yes for me!
Yeah! I told you!
Luke: One, two, three!
All: You're going to Hollywood!
Yay!
What does young
happiness look like?
Oh, my gosh! He made it!
One went in. Two come out.
A golden ticket. Oh, my gosh.
Young love.
What'd you think
of your surprise?
Oh, my gosh.
It was the best birthday gift
I could have ever asked for.
Ever. [ Laughs ]
[ Sighs ]
So, I don't know what
he has next year to top it,
but... Well, I do.
Whoa, whoa.
Okay. All right.
All right. All right.
No, no. It's not my
department. Don't worry.
I'm not one to rush that.
[ Laughter ]
Come on. Let's go, baby.
Whoo! Yeah!
♪♪
♪ This the place to be tonight ♪
♪ This is the place to be ♪
This class is shaping
up to be ridiculous.
The class. ♪ Anyone ♪
Luke: People just have it.
And I'm talking
about the first... note.
First note.
This is Lionel
Richie, the legend.
Fly-onel Richie.
Fly-onel Richie.
All right. Watch
this right here.
When I was 2 years old, I
was diagnosed with autism.
Lionel: God brought
you back nine times
for you to do something amazing.
All: You're going to Hollywood!
[ Screams ]
♪♪
Elizabeth: I just
can't believe it.
The day is finally here,
and I think you're ready.
Thank you, Mom...
Yes... for everything.
I love you. I love you too.
♪♪
Hey, hey! Hey!
How's it going?
Well, all right.
Wow! 'Scuse me. Look at you.
Hello, hair. Both of
you. What's your name?
My name is Mikey.
This is my beautiful mother
right here, Elizabeth. Hello!
This is your mother?
Yeah. We actually
do gigs together.
We call ourselves
Mo and His Mom.
Mo and His Mom. Mo and His Mom.
♪ You're the
meaning in my life... ♪
Mikey: Since I was a kid, my mom
has always called me Mikey Mo.
So my stage name kind of
rolls off the tongue a little nice.
I did one or two gigs by
myself, not enjoying it as much.
I came to her, and I was like,
"Well, I kind of want to
do some gigs together."
I'm sorry.
She came to me and said,
"Can I be your pianist?"
♪ Want to have you near me ♪
What do the gigs look like
when you perform together?
We do kind of songs
ranging from classic rock
to jazz to contemporary
pop to R&B.
What a great, fun thing to do...
With my son? Exactly.
Mikey: I love just
playing to the audience
and to look over and have my
mom just smiling right up at me.
I think I smile the whole time.
She does.
♪♪
♪ When you love somebody
till the end of time ♪
Katy: So you raised
him on good music?
Oh, you betcha. Okay.
Well, what are you
gonna rock out with?
We are doing some Foreigner.
We are doing "Cold As Ice."
Wow. Oh, you're
really gonna rock out.
Just a little bit.
Just a little bit. Yeah.
"Cold As Ice" with Mom.
Mm-hmm.
[ Up-tempo introduction plays ]
♪♪
The hair.
♪ You're as cold as ice ♪
♪ You're willing to
sacrifice our love ♪
♪♪
♪ You never take advice ♪
♪ But someday you'll
pay the price, I know ♪
♪ I've seen it before ♪
♪ It happens all the time ♪
♪ You're closing the door ♪
♪ You leave the world behind ♪
♪ You're digging for gold ♪
♪ You're throwing away
a fortune in feelings ♪
♪ But someday you'll pay ♪
♪♪
Here we go, Mom! Whoo!
♪ Cold as ice ♪
♪♪
♪ You're cold as ice to me ♪
♪♪
♪ Cold as ice, I know ♪
♪♪
[ Music ends ] Yeah!
Yeah!
Mom, please. Stand up, please.
Thank you! Take a bow.
Lionel: Oh, my God.
Thank you, guys.
Thank you, guys.
The hair metronome.
Oh, boy. Oh, my God.
I usually wear a ponytail. I
tried to be different today.
I loved it. Thank you!
Handles it with one hand
while she's flipping the page.
That's a talent. And
gives a nod to her son.
And a nod of reassurance.
Well, Luke, what did
you think? I don't know.
[ Laughs ]
You know, it's got all the feels
of a little bit loungey to me.
What I really think
is that I don't know
who you are as an artist yet.
I know that you can sing.
I don't ever want to
go to karaoke with you,
because you
would k*ll it. Never.
But karaoke star does not
make "American Idol" star.
Mikey, I think you're in the
discovery phase of your life,
and I think that you need
to keep on discovering.
♪ Carry on, my wayward son... ♪
I am a no for now
for "American Idol."
Lionel?
I would just love to
take him to the next level.
It would be a yes for me.
Thank you. Down to me.
For right now, I'm a no.
But I think you're
putting the right steps in.
You are in the right
place. I'm telling you.
And your mom is incredible.
Mikey: I appreciate you guys.
Thank you, guys.
Hello. Hello.
[ Sighs ] Naw.
That was very entertaining.
That was so good.
When's your next gig?
Uh, Saturday.
Saturday night.
[ Chuckles ] Bring it here.
Love you, baby. Love you too.
♪ Don't you cry no more ♪
Adin: My name is Adin Boyer.
I am 22 years old, and I am
from Lake Forest, California.
My mom is here with me today.
Best mom in the
world, right here.
It's easy. Moms, learn from her.
It's easy.
Tell us how you got here,
what you dreamed about this.
I'm auditioning
for "American Idol"
to further advance my music
career and to inspire people,
particularly those
who are neurodiverse.
Yes! Neurodiversity!
I love this.
She knows what
I'm talking about.
It's about time the world
does too. That's right!
When I was 2 years old, I
was diagnosed with autism.
[ Piano playing,
woman laughing ]
Adin: I grew up in a
very artsy household.
My mom is a
former stage actress,
and my dad is a middle-school
band director and trombonist.
Around the time I was
diagnosed with autism at age 2,
my parents also discovered
that I had perfect pitch.
So they brought me
into music lessons,
and I was classically
trained for several years.
Music has always
been easy for me.
It's the other things
in life that are not easy.
I have sensory issues,
particularly in the form
of auditory sensory issues.
I've been absolutely traumatized
by sudden loud noises.
Any popping
balloon or fire alarm
would lead to a
certain meltdown.
In 2016, I went to see a show
that was just ridiculously loud,
and it was way too much for me,
even with my
noise-canceling headphones.
I was set two months
later to go see Coldplay
live at the Rose
Bowl in Pasadena.
This was my
all-time-favorite band.
I had a choice... Am I
gonna put in all this extra effort
to mentally prepare for it,
or am I gonna back out of
an opportunity of a lifetime?
♪♪
So one way I have
learned to cope...
I will put all of my focus
on using my absolute pitch
to identify the pitch of the
sudden loud noise I just heard.
♪♪
So I went to see them.
That was my first-ever
large-scale rock concert,
and I had one of the
best nights of my life.
And that was when
I truly honed in
on "This is exactly what I
want to prioritize the most...
Being a professional
touring singer-songwriter."
for the longest time,
I was on track to
becoming a concert pianist.
And now here I am.
[ Laughs ]
[ Mid-tempo introduction plays ]
♪♪
Wow.
♪♪
♪ Listen, friend ♪
♪ I'm anxious about this ♪
♪ I'm afraid I got myself
in a predicament ♪
♪ I have to camouflage on
the daily that I'm drowning ♪
♪ And I want you to save me ♪
♪ 'Cause I truly felt like
you could help me the best ♪
♪ You were so kind to me ♪
♪ What happened? ♪
♪ And you have succumbed
to a group dynamic ♪
♪ I can never be a
part of even if I try ♪
[ Music builds ] ♪ But why in
the world do you live this way ♪
♪ Every day? ♪
♪ I must be a burden ♪
♪ Or there is something
you're not telling me ♪
♪ You can tell me ♪
♪♪
♪ Is it the way you
are or the way I am? ♪
♪♪
♪ Is it the way you
are or the way I am? ♪
♪ Is it the way you
are or the way I am? ♪
♪ Is it the way you
are or the way I am? ♪
♪ Am ♪
♪ I, I, I, I ♪
♪ I, I, I ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ♪
[ Music slows, continues
] ♪ Listen, friend ♪
♪ I'm anxious about this ♪
♪♪
♪ I'm afraid I got myself
in a predicament ♪
[ Music ends ]
Thank you. [ Laughs ]
Lionel: I could
listen to that all night.
Thank you. That was incredible.
Dude, thank you. [ Laughs ]
It was really cool. Thank you.
At the end, you gave us
a really big surprise note.
It led me to think, "Well,
what else can you do?"
I'm gonna have
to think about it.
Luke, tell me about it.
Truly some of the best
piano playing I've heard
while I've been a
part of "American Idol."
Adin: Thank you. No kidding.
I really appreciate that.
The only way to make this work
is if you really hear
us on vocal choices.
Yeah. Yep. Mm-hmm.
Let's vote, you guys. Katy?
I'll roll the dice on you.
Wow. Adin, it's a yes for me.
Thank you, Katy. Luke?
If you just play that
piano and keep the vocal
in a really tasteful place,
you're gonna do well.
But I started with a
no, and now I'm a yes.
Whoa! Yeah!
Wow, wow, wow-ooh!
I'm gonna just top
it off by saying...
absolutely yes, man, okay?
And more important...
All: You're going to Hollywood!
Whoo! All right.
Thank you all so much. Right there,
young man. Go pick up that golden ticket.
I will absolutely
put in all the work.
I will take all your
advice to heart.
Thank you so, so, so much.
Yeah!
[ Laughing ]
I'm going to Hollywood!
[ Laughter, cheers ]
Tasha: You know, when
you have an invisible disability,
like Adin, people
don't always know
how much work it takes for
him to get through the day.
But I know.
[ Exhales deeply ]
♪♪
And he's just come really far.
♪♪
Thank you for all you are.
Love you. Love you, Mom.
Lionel: What do you do?
Katy: Do you have a job?
I'm actually a
USPS postal worker.
Sweet. All right.
As I'm delivering,
I'm just singing.
When someone's
sitting there in front of you
and you say, "Tell me
about your musical training"...
"I don't have any."
What you do for a job?
I'm a truck driver. Whoa.
"I'm not in school. I
work in construction."
♪ Well, I been workin' in a coal
mine... ♪ Wasn't ready for that.
I actually work in retail.
I'm a barista.
I work in the healthcare system.
So you're an angel,
basically. I try to be.
I'm a public utilities worker.
It's not very fun at
negative 5 degrees.
Oh! Negative 5?
God bless you.
It's really quite amazing.
Auditionee: I am a
community manager.
Auditionee: I'm a puppeteer.
[ High-pitched voice
] Dancer. Actress.
I work in government...
Specifically housing for
the state of California.
[ Music stops ] Oh, wow.
Okay. That's a cool job, man.
I'm just like a good old,
classy mattress salesman.
[ Music continues ] Nice.
Now they can dream
to be in the entertainment
and music business,
and they know that,
"Hey, one of the avenues
that I can go attack
this is 'American Idol.'"
My name's Dylan James.
I'm 25 years old,
and I'm a firefighter.
Do you know how
to do the fireman lift?
Yeah. I mean, we don't
do it so much anymore.
Oh, my gosh.
Lionel: No, Katy. Kat...
You want... Oh, my gosh.
Oh, my God. Here we go.
All right. Oh, my God.
Just know... I've carried her,
and she's... she's dense.
Meow! I don't want to hurt you.
Go! Are you s...
I'm in trouble!
Oh! I'm gonna
do the classic one.
The classic one?
No. This is just...
This is just like
Prince Charming.
I want to be thrown over... You
kick in the door, and then you bust out.
[ Laughs ]
♪ Whoo, whoo ♪
Katy: Oh, my God.
Luke: Oh, I can't...
Do it. Do it. Do it.
Do it. Come on, Luke!
I cannot. I
literally just tore...
[ Thud ] ♪ Really sets me
off to a four-alarm, child ♪
[ Group cheering ]
Oh! [ Laughs ]
I'm gonna get the golden ticket
and bring it home to you guys.
You got it, baby! Love you.
Come home with the ticket!
Yes! [ All cheering ]
[ High-pitched voice ] Hi! Luke:
How are you? Lionel: There's my hair.
There's my hair! Hey.
Hi! That's a voice.
Hi. Thank you.
All right. Tell us who you are.
My name is Wé Ani, and
I'm from Harlem, New York.
Unbelievable. I love your voice.
But that is your real voice?
This is my real
speaking voice. Yes.
Oh, my God.
How long have
you had that voice?
Uh... about... about 20,
23 years... 22 years now.
Twenty-two years. Right answer.
[ Laughs ]
God. Do you do
voice-overs for anything?
No, but I wish I did.
Here's the audition.
You could do it.
Well, I'm interested to
hear this singing voice.
What are you gonna sing today?
I'm gonna sing
"Anyone" by Demi Lovato.
Perfect. All right.
Let's hear it. Okay.
[ Down-tempo
introduction plays ]
♪♪
It's a baritone. If it's
a baritone, I'm out.
♪ Oh ♪
♪ Oh ♪
[ Deeper voice ] ♪ I
tried to talk to my piano ♪
♪ I tried to talk to my guitar ♪
♪ I talked to my imagination ♪
♪ Confided into alcohol ♪
♪ A hundred million stories
and a hundred million songs ♪
♪ I feel stupid when I sing ♪
♪ Nobody's listening to me ♪
♪ Nobody's listening ♪
♪ I talk to sh**ting stars,
but they always get it wrong ♪
♪ I feel stupid when I pray ♪
♪ So why am I praying anyway ♪
♪ If nobody's listening? ♪
♪ Anyone ♪
♪ Please send me anyone ♪
♪ Lord, is there anyone? ♪
♪ I need someone ♪
♪ Anyone ♪
♪ Is there anyone? ♪
♪ Is there anyone? ♪
♪ I need someone ♪
[ Music slows, ends ]
Thank you.
You are amazing,
okay? Thank you.
And this class is shaping
up to be... ridiculous.
The class.
This is ridiculous.
It's... It's good. Thank you.
And I don't want to put you
into the "ridiculous" category,
but that was ridiculous.
Thank you. Katy: Wé...
Wé: Yeah... An... An...
Ani. Yeah. What does that mean?
It means "diligence" in Swahili.
You feel diligent.
You feel like you're just
pushing through any obstacle.
Yeah. [ Laughs ]
You're like, "Anyone!
Listen to me!"
Yes! [ Laughs ]
"I am this, and I am also this."
Yes.
Way to throw the curveball.
[ Laughter ] Lionel: Way to go.
Yeah. I mean, you
have an amazing voice.
I'm not gonna get
into the science.
[ Laughs ] I don't understand
the science about it.
People ask me all the time.
I'm like, "I have no idea."
Wow. You sound like...
Is it Frenchie on "Grease"?
Oh. Oh, Frenchie.
[ Laughs ] All
right. Let's vote.
God. I'm so happy about this.
Katy?
I'm a yes. [ Up-tempo
music plays ]
Hair and all!
[ Laughs ] Thank
you. It's a yes.
It's a yes.
All: You're going to Hollywood!
Congratulations.
Katy: Congratulations.
Goodness gracious.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so, so, so much.
[ Screams, laughs ]
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
I just take one anywhere?
Lionel: Anywhere you want.
♪♪
There you go. Yeah. [ Laughs ]
Take care.
Thank you so much.
We'll see you in Hollywood.
Bye. Wé: Bye!
I did!
[ Laughs ]
Yeah!
I definitely think I surprised
them, which was cool.
That was...
Whoa... special.
♪ I'm going to Hollywood! ♪
[ All cheering ]
I was thinking about my
family for the past 12 hours.
You guys are so
amazing. The best.
So thank you.
[ Voice breaking ] So... I
really couldn't do this
without you guys.
This is so exciting, Wé.
Wé: Thank you. You deserve it.
You know, I did it for
you guys. I love you guys.
I love you. I love you.
I love you. I love you.
I love you!
♪ So let the music play till
the end ♪ ♪ Golden, golden ♪
Wé: ♪ Golden, golden ♪
I know I need to go to sleep,
but I just can't go to sleep
because I'm so excited!
Oh, my gosh. We are two
hours away from the airport.
Oh, gosh. I need to hit the hay.
[ Inhales, exhales deeply ]
[ Mid-tempo music plays ]
Wow. Look at this
room. It is just amazing.
You got anything to say?
Are you interviewing me or...
Are we... Are we
going right now?
Marybeth: What's up, y'all?
It's your girl Marybeth Byrd,
hanging out with ya in
lovely Las Vegas, Nevada!
[ Cheers and applause ]
Marybeth, you're on the air?
Yeah. You're on the radio?
It's so fun. Wait. What station?
Mix 106.3.
Mix 106.3, playing today's what?
Top hits. Mix. [ Voice
distorted ] Top hits. Mix... Mix...
I'm on the air every morning
from 6:00 to 10:00 a. m.
Out of Los Angeles,
and I sing to the songs
before I open the mike to talk.
But I suck. Do you
sing to the songs?
Yes. And you're
probably really good at it.
I... Well... But it's fun.
You get to sing along in
the studio. Yes, it's fun.
Where are you from?
I'm from Armorel,
Arkansas. Little small town.
Marybeth: Armorel
is a very, very small
steel-mill community.
Population of 300. It
is country with a "K."
It's literally one school,
one post office, no stoplights.
And the only
traffic we have here
is getting held up by a
tractor or a lawn mower.
♪ My hometown is still hangin'
around... ♪ Phil: Mix 106.3.
Phil Jamison here along with
our very own Marybeth Byrd.
We've got some exciting news.
Marybeth: Home here
in Armorel is very relaxed.
I'm a very simple girl,
but I do like that adventure,
which is what "American
Idol" is giving me.
Let's give you a shot to sing in
front of Katy, Luke, and Lionel.
Congratulations.
Aah!
Stop it. Y'all are
gonna make me cry.
This audition means everything.
You want someone playing
you from 2:00 to 7:00 on the radio.
Yes. Absolutely.
I love my hometown. I
love the people I work with.
But, you know, I feel like in
order for me to spread my wings,
I'm gonna have
to have that push,
that something to get
me to the next level.
Get in there and come out
with one of those golden tickets.
Thank you, Ryan. Good luck.
I feel like me being
here in Las Vegas
is me going for it.
Hey, y'all. Hi! How are you?
I'm good. How are you? Good.
So, tell us about yourself.
My name is Marybeth Byrd.
I'm a 21-year-old
singer-songwriter...
Marybeth Byrd. Marybeth Byrd.
Marybeth Byrd. That's
awesome. Perfect!
And I'm from Armorel,
Arkansas, a little small town.
And I also am a radio
host out in Jonesboro,
which is only an
hour away from home.
So you're sh**ting for
the other thing now, right?
Yes. Trying to get to the
next chapter in my life,
which I really do
feel like I'm ready for,
and I hope that I can
learn from you guys.
We have to learn from you
first. Tell us what you're gonna do.
I'm gonna do a song
by The SteelDrivers
called "If It Hadn't
Been for Love,"
with a little bit
of pop flair to it.
Good. Let's hear it.
All right.
[ Mid-tempo introduction plays ]
♪♪
♪ Never would've
hitchhiked to Birmingham ♪
♪ If it hadn't been for
love ♪ [ Chuckling ] Ohh.
♪ Never would've caught
the train to Louisian' ♪
♪ If it hadn't been for love ♪
♪ Never would've run
through the blindin' rain ♪
♪ Without one
dollar to my name ♪
Whoo-ooh! ♪ If it hadn't been ♪
♪ If it hadn't been for love ♪
♪ Ooh, I never would've
seen the trouble that I'm in... ♪
Ow! Ow! Ow!
Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! ♪ ...if
it hadn't been for love ♪
♪ Would've been gone
like a wayward wind ♪
♪ If it hadn't been for love ♪
♪ Well, nobody knows
it better than me ♪
♪ I wouldn't be
wishin' I was free ♪
♪ If it hadn't been ♪
♪ If it hadn't been for love ♪
♪ Four cold walls
without parole ♪
♪ Lord have mercy on my soul ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-hey, hey ♪
♪ Well, you see, I never
would've loaded up a .44 ♪
♪ And put myself
behind a jailhouse door ♪
♪ If it hadn't been ♪
♪ If it hadn't been ♪
♪ For love ♪
[ Applause ]
I love this.
Thank you, guys, so much.
Marybeth Byrd?!
You opened your mouth,
and it was correct, period.
And we were looking at each
other going, "What is going on?"
Thank y'all so much.
Well, people have
it. People just have it.
And I'm talking
about the first... note.
First note. First
out of the box.
You had it.
I mean, everything
about you has got it,
from the name to
your presentation
to the sound of
some Arkansas blues
and small-townness going on.
I mean, it's authentic.
And I see a very bright future.
Very, very, very.
Marybeth: Thank you, Luke.
That means a lot.
What we try to teach here
is something you walked
in the door with naturally,
and that is "What
is your identity?"
You brought it to us.
And how big is your town?
Population of about 300 out
in our small, little community.
Wait. Three hundred thousand?
Three hundred. People?
Like... People. Yes.
Two neighborhoods.
This is why we go to
the nooks and crannies...
[ Exhales deeply ] Oh, my God.
And leave no
American Idol unturned.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
Katy, I actually sing
your song "Firework"
for my very first
talent competition
when I was about
8 years old, and...
Please don't sing it again,
because I will be ashamed.
Marybeth: No, no, no.
I just wanted to
tell you in particular
how much you
inspired me to be myself.
'Cause it's hard
sometimes to be yourself
when the pressure
of the world is on you.
And I just came in
here knowing that
because of you and
your aura, so thank you.
Thank you. Don't
change a thing, Byrd.
♪♪
Luke, what's your vote? Uh, yes.
Yes, yes. [ Laughs ]
Thank you, Luke.
Katy, what's your vote?
O.M.G., yes.
Mine is, uh, goodness
gracious, yes.
And...
All: You're going to Hollywood!
Thank you so much!
♪♪
Anything, anywhere.
Aah! Okay.
Thank you, guys, so much! Enjoy.
Okay. Yay!
Off to Hollywood.
I told ya, told ya.
Yes! Hollywood! Congratulations.
Good job in there. Great
job. Thank you so much.
I'm, like, shaking. My
mouth is cotton-dry.
What's running through
your head right now?
I'm so thankful for what
just happened in there.
That was incredible.
So, who's gonna
cover your shift?
I'm down. Hey. Yeah.
2:00 to 7:00.
They would fall out
if you came. Mix 96.
I'll send some tapes.
[ Laughing ] Yes.
Some audition tapes.
I felt the whole ant
bed of chill bumps
crawl in my body.
For sure Top 10.
She is Mix 106.3's Marybeth
Byrd from Northeast Arkansas,
and she's headed
to Hollywood Week
on "American Idol.
How you feeling?
I'm feeling just over the moon!
Marybeth: I can't wait.
I'm gonna try to
make you guys proud.
And my whole hometown.
Stay tuned. ♪ I see your story ♪
Man: Mix 106.3 playing
top hits. [ Echoing ] Mix.
[ Lionel Richie's "All Night
Long (All Night)" plays ]
♪♪
♪ Well, my friends,
the time has come ♪
Whoo!
♪ To raise the roof
and have some fun ♪
Ah!
♪ Throw away the
work to be done ♪
Get ready now.
♪ Let the music play
on, play on, play on ♪
♪ All ♪ ♪ All night long ♪
♪ All night ♪
Lionel: ♪ All night ♪
♪ All night long ♪
♪ All night long ♪
♪ All night, ohh ♪
♪ All night long ♪
♪ All night long ♪
♪ All night ♪
♪ All night long ♪
♪ All night long ♪
♪ All night ♪ Alright,
you watch this right here.
Come on.
♪ Oh, once you get
started, you can't sit down ♪
♪ Ooh, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Come join the fun ♪
♪ It's a merry-go-round ♪
[ Laughter ]
Lionel: ♪ And people are dancing their ♪
♪ Everyone dancing their troubles away ♪
Yeah! Come on! Hey!
Let's see if I got it. Ready?
♪ Come join our party ♪
♪ See how great! ♪
Hey!
Alright, that's it
right there. That's it.
[ Laughs ] Oh, my God.
Thank you. All right
here. All right here.
♪ Tam bo li de ♪
And the way we used
to do it back in the day,
is when they gave
us tips like this,
here's what the club owner did.
"Thank you very
much." [ Laughter ]
I forget sometimes
that I'm sitting
right next to one
legend. That was fun.
That is such an honor to
play with you. That was fun.
I can't even...
Thank you very much
for pulling that out of me.
Anytime you want to
come to a dueling piano bar,
you are more than welcome.
You know, I got to
tell you something.
I learned more about your
voice just by you doing that.
Oh. For whatever reason,
my songs are very difficult
to actually pull off.
So you handled that
very well. Thank you.
All: You're going to Hollywood!
Yay! ♪ All night long ♪
Whoo-hoo! Congratulations, Bre.
♪ All night long ♪
I just played with
Lionel Richie.
Everybody's buzzing about it.
"Tam bo li de say de moi ya."
Is that a language?
No. I made it up on the
spot, and everybody thinks...
I cannot believe you
made up a language.
It's amazing what
comes out of your head.
"Yeah, Jambo, Jumbo."
"Way to parti o we goin'!"
[ Laughing ] Oh,
my God. Yeah, man.
I must tell you, in
my whole career,
I have not had this much fun.
This is Lionel
Richie, the legend.
Well, this is...
Fly-onel Richie.
Fly-onel Richie. I'm just
flying all over the place.
For the ratings.
Woman: Look at that.
♪ Ahh ♪ Yeah.
[ Imitates fly buzzing ]
There you go. Yes!
But, again, that's
what this show is.
We try to make it as light,
and it's serious
at the same time.
♪ Lo-o-o-o-ve ♪
Uh, alright. I don't think I've
ever used this example ever.
[ Chuckles ]
You needed to come
from the colon, man.
Yeah. [ Laughter ]
Well, the Metamucil is
working for Lionel Richie.
The gut is close,
but I wanted to hear...
Feel it... the big push.
Auditionee: Yes. Alright?
Sweat! And that's
what was missing.
[ Laughing ] Obvious! Obvious.
And my big advice to you,
once you connect your head,
your heart, and your colon...
[ Laughter ]
you're gonna be
a superstar, alright?
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Thank you.
What we do for
gastroenterology advance.
[ Laughter ]
It's meant to be.
Good luck. Thank you.
Sing from your
colon. Lionel: Colon.
Yeah. That's a new one, though.
Olivia: Hi. How are you guys?
What gorgeous presentation. Hey.
Thank you.
Katy: Hi.
I'm Olivia Soli.
I'm 20 years old.
I'm from Los Angeles.
Wow. Wow.
Sorry. I'm a little nervous.
No worries. It's
okay. Understandable.
I can't stop smiling.
That's great.
That's a good thing.
What are you gonna
sing for us, Olivia?
I am actually going to sing
"Hello," by one of
the judges, Lionel.
Oh, wow! No, whoa!
Big shoes, Olivia.
You gonna play it?
Yeah, I'm gonna sing and play.
Well, well, well.
Go right ahead.
Katy: Wow. Oh, I'm excited.
I can't lie. I am nervous.
Now I'm nervous.
[ Laughter ] Sorry.
I don't want to make
you guys nervous.
Here we go.
♪♪
♪♪
♪ I've been alone with
you inside my mind ♪
Alright.
♪ And in my dreams I've kissed
your lips a thousand times ♪
She's coming for your job. Pow!
♪ I sometimes see
you pass♪ Yeah.
♪ Outside my door ♪
♪♪
♪ Hello ♪
Mm, mm.
♪ Is it me you're looking for? ♪
♪ I can see it in your
eyes♪ [ Chuckles ]
♪ I can see it in your smile ♪
♪ ' You're all I've ever wanted ♪
♪ And my arms are open wide ♪
♪ And you know
just what to say ♪
♪ And you know just what to do ♪
♪ I want to tell you so much ♪
♪ I lo-o-o-ove you-u-u-u ♪
♪ Ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ Ohhhhhh ♪
♪ And I love you ♪
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm,
mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm.
♪♪
I want to be the first
in your long career
to rush the artist.
Ah! [ Laughs ]
I want to rush
the artist, alright?
Thank you. And
thank you for liking me.
I was praying.
I know. Me too.
Lionel: I was praying.
Okay, start it off!
When people say, "I'm
gonna sing your song,"
Katy's song or Luke's song,
please don't sing it like us.
Own it.
Take it and turn
it into your song.
You did it to perfection.
I know who you
are now as an artist.
And, yes, it's my song.
Yes, I wrote it. Yes, I sang it.
But it's your song.
Best so far in this audition.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much. That means...
Oh, my God. I'm
so happy for you.
More than you can
you can imagine.
Mmm. I thought it
was tremendous.
I mean, obviously,
piano is holding you back.
I mean, if you'd have
let Phred do that thing...
Or even Lionel Richie!
Yeah. Hey!
[ Laughs ] Imagine.
I mean, it was a
really strong audition,
one of the best
I've seen. Solid.
Awesome. You put Lionel
Richie out of a job, girl.
Yeah, yeah, listen.
No, don't say that.
That's not possible.
Katy: You came for him.
Yeah, you were coming after
him. You came for his coin.
You really reinterpreted it.
That's correct. You
put your own spin on it.
You have a tremendous voice,
so many incredible
runs, so much soul.
That's the best compliment
anyone could give me, honestly.
So, thank you.
Yeah. You seem
like you're ready.
You're worth a shot.
You can take some notes.
We're probably going to
push you harder than others
because we know that
there's a diamond in there.
Thank you. And I'm...
Actually, I'm sorry.
We know... [ Laughter ]
that there's a ruby in there.
Ohh. [ Chuckles ]
The hair. Katy: Yeah, girl!
Own it. It's beautiful.
On that note...
♪♪
Yes. Absolutely, yes.
Yes.
Yes. Ooh!
You're going back to
Hollywood! Hollywood!
[ Laughs ] Thank
you guy so much.
So great. Really
did a great job.
You deserve it.
I'm telling you, I'm
very proud of you.
[ Laughs ]
Onward and upward.
Congratulations.
[ Laughs ] Thank you, guys!
There we go.
You're a ruby! A
ruby in the rough!
What do we have? The
best news of the day?
Congratulations.
Taking the risk, singing
"Hello" to Lionel Richie. Let's go.
I know. He was, like,
the coolest ever, though.
Because you nailed it.
That was, like, great.
It was just one of the best
moments in my life, honestly.
I feel alive right now.
♪ We'll be dancin' on
the street, baby, baby ♪
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Guitar strumming ]
Preston: My name's
Preston Duffy. I'm 21.
I'm from Hartsville,
South Carolina.
Living in Hartsville's fun.
It's all I've ever known,
for the most part.
♪ Had to take me
a little bit of time ♪
I've been singing my whole life.
Started playing the guitar
when I was about 12.
My daddy got me a cheap, little
hundred-dollar
guitar for Christmas.
♪ Yeah, baby, do
you want a ring? ♪
[ Cheers and applause ]
My mom, she was always
extremely supportive.
She always believed in my music.
She just struggled with
bipolar and depression,
and over time, it got
harder and harder
for her to hide it from us.
Two years ago was a big change
in our lives, very unexpectedly.
That day, we all went to church.
We had a cookout
after that at the house,
and all of our friends came.
My mama was in a great mood.
♪ Do you hear me? ♪
But as people
started trickling out,
her mood started to change.
And as I was getting ready
for bed, I heard the g*nsh*t.
♪ Trying to find my
way back in your arms ♪
And I didn't know
what it was at the time.
Then my sister went in her room,
and that's where
she found our mama.
♪ 'Cause I loved you then ♪
♪ And I love you still ♪
I just remember
sitting in our dad's car,
and my sister... she
looked at me and just said,
"What are we going to do now?"
♪ Your heart breaks ♪
And at the time, we
honestly had no clue.
I mean, we were basically
homeless for three months
because we relied
on our mom's income
for the bills, for the house.
♪ I love you still ♪
It was very hard.
I mean, music has quite
literally saved my life,
as far as helping me to cope.
Not only just that. Just to
eat, put food on the table.
Shannon: I wish Mama was here.
She had full faith in you.
I think she left knowing
you'd do good things.
Just because you're suicidal or
depressed doesn't make you weak.
It's just a sickness.
It jumps on people, and
when it comes around,
you can't help it. Yeah,
I miss her every day.
Especially with times
like this, how big this is,
if our mama was still here,
she would be really proud,
and she would tell me that
she knew I'd get here someday.
♪ And I love you still ♪
Yeah. Luke: Sorry to hear that.
I appreciate it. Yeah. Lionel:
Sorry to hear that, man.
What are you
going to sing today?
I'm gonna sing one of mine.
It was the first song I wrote.
I actually didn't start writing
until after my mom passed away.
What's it called?
"Something to Write About."
Well, man, I'm
excited to hear you.
Let's hear this song.
Alrighty.
♪♪
♪ I've been trying for so long ♪
♪ To write my first song ♪
♪ I don't know what to say ♪
♪ I've been racking my brain ♪
♪ I said a prayer
to the Good Lord ♪
♪ Help me string
together a few chords ♪
♪ Something that'll
build my sound ♪
♪ And give me
something to write about ♪
♪ Then He told me ♪
♪ "Son, all you need to do ♪
♪ Is think of all that
I've done for you ♪
♪ And how everything
that you've been through ♪
♪ Has made you into
the man you are now" ♪
♪ And it dawned on
me that He was right ♪
♪ God, I wish I could see
things through your eyes ♪
♪ When I'm looking 'round ♪
♪ Yeah, maybe
all the hard times ♪
♪ Are something to write about ♪
♪♪
♪ And then He gave
me a flashback ♪
♪ Of our little rat pack ♪
♪ And all the memories we made ♪
♪ And the Luke
Bryan songs we sang ♪
[ Laughter ]
♪ I go back to the bonfires ♪
♪ The dirt road, truck
bed, church choirs ♪
♪ All the boys in one place ♪
♪ That's that stuff
you can't erase ♪
♪ "Boy, think back
on all those friends ♪
♪ From ballfield nights
to dirt dead ends ♪
♪ I gave you all
y'all's ups and downs ♪
♪ The good times, bad
times, and ins and outs ♪
♪ I knew you would need
something to look back on ♪
♪ To you keep you whole
and make you strong ♪
♪ So I gave you brothers
that have your back" ♪
♪ No doubt ♪
♪ It's something
to write about ♪
♪♪
♪ And then He showed
me another truth ♪
♪ I keep remembering
us and thinking of you ♪
♪ Can't help but go back
to all the times we shared ♪
♪ And you leaving so soon ♪
Then He told me...
♪ "I hope now that you see why ♪
♪ I let you have letdowns
and let you cry sometimes ♪
♪ I've given you plenty of
smiles and a couple frowns ♪
♪ And that's something
to write about" ♪
♪♪
♪ Something to write about ♪
♪♪
That's it, buddy.
[ Applause ]
Sit down, please. Sit down.
That's right on the
money, there, buddy.
Right on the money.
Right on the money.
See, songwriting is a skill,
and you nailed that.
Well, thank you.
If you can do about
40 more like that, you'll have
a great, great mailbox career.
Thank you so much. Just
mailing you money, man.
I'm telling you. Very
well done. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I just feel like
I'm looking at, like,
a young Luke Bryan.
The ladies at
church call me Luke.
I'm gonna sh**t straight.
I mean, we've got
some other country guys
in this thing that, when
you hear them sing,
it's gonna be a... Yeah.
But what I know from you
and the way you
thought about that song,
if that's the first
song you wrote,
the way you approached
it, the way you wrote it,
man, you've got a really
bright future as a songwriter.
Absolutely. And your voice
will grow and be stronger.
Well, thank you.
For me, it's a yes.
Thank you so much.
Preston, you're a character,
you're a personality.
And you've got the passion,
and it's authentic.
And I like authentic
stuff, so it's a yes.
Thank you so much.
That was great.
Job well done, my
friend. Yeah, man.
Keep writing.
Keep digging. Keep fighting.
It's a yes from me.
Thank y'all so much.
All: You're going to Hollywood!
Thank y'all so much. Thank you.
Congratulations, man.
That is a golden ticket.
Whoo!
I remember when
my hair was that dark.
Now I got all this filler in it.
Let's go! Whoo!
No, he's got a personality.
No, I loved him. No, he does.
Preston: If I could
talk to my mom,
I'd probably tell her that
I wish she could have
seen everything I've done
in the past two years
and that the 9-year-old kid
that used to stand
in front of his mirror
with a guitar
missing three strings
might actually make
a run of a dream
that he's had his whole life.
I'm just so proud of you,
I don't know what to do.
I love you, Pop. Thank
you. Love you, too.
Luke loved your shirt. Yeah.
[ Laughter ]
Luke, I'm glad
you liked the shirt.
If you want to, I'll sign it
for you and you can put it on.
I'm Preston Duffy, and I'm
going to Hollywood, baby.
Let's go! Whoo!
♪♪
Lionel: Whoa. Here we go.
I'm ready to go, like...
You're memorable. Ahh!
[ Vocalizing ]
Elijah: 2019, I was
in a bad car accident.
Car caught on fire.
This is the beginning
of your story.
And it starts
right on that oval.
Oh, my God. That
just took me out.
Lionel: We're inside,
trying to figure out
where the talent lies.
What's your major?
I'm a musical theater
major. Yeah. Ah.
So, I went to school
for musical theater.
I'm studying musical theater.
Wow. Ohh.
♪ Don't tell me not to
live, just sit and putter ♪
Theater, Broadway,
off-Broadway, all that jazz.
8 out of 10 times, it doesn't
work for "American Idol."
♪ Don't bring around a
cloud to rain on my parade ♪
♪ Whoa, there's
something going down ♪
♪♪
♪ You made my soul a bonfire ♪
As a blanket statement,
it's challenging to
undo the theater stuff.
♪ Ohh, ohh, ohhhhh ♪
♪ Ohh, ohhhhhhhh ♪
You're over-acting. Yeah.
You're over-dramatizing
and singing.
"Dramatizing."
That's a good word.
You're over.
♪ And I know if
I'll only be true ♪
Luke, what do you think?
Too much theater. I'm a no.
♪ You must think
that I'm crazy ♪
♪ You want to replace me ♪
♪ Baby, there's no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no, no ♪
♪ Ahh, ahhhhhhh ♪
♪ Ahh, ahh, ahhhhh ♪
♪ There's no, no, no, no, no ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no way ♪
Five octaves. Is
that five octaves?
♪ There's no way-y-y-y ♪
Six! Six!
Oh, my God! [ Laughs ]
Can you do it one
more time? Yeah, sure.
Now, why are y'all counting six?
Six octaves. Ready?
♪ No, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no ♪
♪ No-o-o-o ♪
♪ Way-y-y-y ♪
Six! Six!
I think you're just so, so, so
theater and made for theater.
It may be quite a
bit of a challenge
to reprogram out
of that theater mode.
It's a no for "American Idol."
But we'll see you onstage.
I'll be buying that
ticket to Broadway.
[ Laughs ]
♪ Rain on my ♪ We're
looking for some Idols.
Our ears are fatigued.
Our brains are like
mashed potatoes.
Yom, yom, yom, yom,
yom, yom, yom, yom, yom.
[ Chuckling ] I bet.
Can you wake us up?
I hope.
My name's Emma Busse. I'm 20.
I recently graduated from
performing arts school.
You were in theater?
It was theater. Yeah. So, I...
Katy: Oh, no. Oh, no.
Oh, God. Oh, no. Here we go.
I'm auditioning for musicals,
for acting jobs,
for commercials.
So, if you want to
transition into this world,
you got to drop
that old world...
Mm-hmm... just a little bit.
Okay.
Emma: I am here with my mom.
She's a musical theater teacher.
We're just in awe,
even making it this far.
Like, we're blown away.
If I got a golden ticket,
in the moment, I don't
know what I would do.
Like... Oh, I've started
crying. [ Laughs ]
[ Voice breaking ] I don't know.
You're meant to do this.
This is where your path is.
I've definitely had to overcome
a lot of doubts in myself.
I mean, I've never
really done something
as huge as this before,
so it is very scary.
♪ Don't want to let go, let
go, let go of you ♪ I love you.
What are you gonna sing for us?
I'm gonna sing "Goodbye
Yellow Brick Road"
by Elton John.
Luke: Ohh, nice.
Alright. Let us have it...
Okay... Emma.
♪♪
♪ When are you
gonna come down? ♪
♪ When are you going to land? ♪
♪ I should have
stayed on the farm ♪
♪ Should have
listened to my old man ♪
♪ You know you
can't hold me forever ♪
♪ I didn't sign up with you ♪
♪ I'm not a present for
your friends to open ♪
♪ This boy's too young
to be singing the blues ♪
♪ Ah, ah, ahhh ♪
♪ Ah, ah, ahhh ♪
♪ So goodbye,
yellow brick road ♪
♪ Where the dogs
of society howl ♪
♪ Oh, you can't plant
me in your penthouse ♪
♪ I'm going back to my plough ♪
♪ Back to the howling
old owl in the woods ♪
♪ Hunting the
horny-back to-o-oad ♪
♪ Oh, I've finally
decided my future lies ♪
♪ Beyond the yellow brick ♪
♪ Ro-o-o-o-o-ad ♪
♪ Ah, ah, ahhh ♪
♪ Ah, ah, ah, ah, ahhh ♪
♪ Ah, ah, ohhh ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, oooooh ♪
[ Chuckles ] [ Applause ]
Shake it off. Shake
it off. Shake it off.
I think we could save this one!
Yep. Just, "Unh!"
"Unh!" Get it out of you!
Just smack it out of you!
Smack it out of you!
Get all that
Broadway out of you!
[ Laughs ] You can be
saved from the thespians.
[ Laughs ] Do you
understand what
she is trying to, in
some demonic way,
get out of you? She is
trying to exorcise you.
Ugh. Yeah. Luke: So, listen.
That slow-ow-ow-ow-ow
vibrato-o-o-o-o
has to...
go-o-o-o-o-o. Go-o-o-o-o-o.
Has anyone ever told you that?
No, actually.
Welcome to "American Idol"...
[ Laughter ]
where we tell the truth
and nothing but the truth,
only for your benefit.
Yes. You're so talented.
Thank you. You're
really on the cusp
of crossing over.
And I'm so glad you came
to us before you decided
to make your blood oath.
[ Laughs ]
You got to unlearn some stuff.
Yes. We've got some chiseling.
Yeah, but I don't know if
anyone's held the note like that
for that long since
we've been in Las Vegas.
Sing "Happy
Birthday" real quick.
Okay, good. Let's
do it. Let's do it.
Now, is this a
fun birthday party,
or is this a vibrato
birthday party,
where the candles are slowly
burning down into the cake?
It's a fun birthday party.
Alright. There you go.
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Oh, happy birthday to you ♪
Let it soar. Well, come on.
♪ Happy birthday to... ♪
Alright. Hold up.
Do the "happy birthday"
with no vibrato once.
Wait. Hold on. It's not
that easy to unlearn the way
that she's been singing her
whole... I know. This is a test.
Hold on. Can you add
"American Idol 21"?
♪ "American Idol" ♪ I will.
Shh!
Emma: [ Laughs ]
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
Happy birthday.
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
Happy birthday.
♪ Happy birthday,
"American Idol"... ♪
Ahh! Ahh! Ahh! Wait! Do
it again! That was good!
♪ Happy birthday ♪
She's undone it!
Alright, listen. The
spell has been broken!
♪ The spell of Broadway is ♪
Will you let her get
to the good part?
♪ Been broken ♪
Emma: [ Chuckles ]
Now add a little in there.
♪ Happy ♪
♪ Happy birthday ♪
There you go. Whoo!
♪ "American Idol" 21 ♪
♪ Happy birthday ♪
♪ To you-u-u-u-u ♪
[ Applause ]
Such a wonderful child.
Such a wonderful child.
Luke: Happy birthday,
"American Idol."
Happy birthday "American
Idol," 21 years old.
Happy birthday. And
more importantly...
All: You're going to Hollywood!
♪ Holly ♪ Will you
go over and get the...
Yes. ♪ Wood ♪
♪ Holly ♪
♪ Woo-o-o-od ♪
Lionel: I'm so sorry.
I love it. I love it.
♪ Hollywood ♪
♪ Woo-o-o-o-d ♪ ♪ Wood! ♪
Whoa! You got to her!
♪ Welcome to the future ♪
Whew!
♪ Say hello to the
beautiful picture ♪
Ahh! Oh, my God!
♪ Welcome to the future
♪ Oh, my God. [ Laughs ]
Oh, you still have tears.
You still have tears. Great job.
No, you're a great singer.
No. [ Chuckles ]
I don't think so.
It's good. I need change.
I'm going to Hollywood!
Ahh! Ahh!
♪ Say hello to the
beautiful picture ♪
♪ Welcome to the future ♪
Whoo! Whoo!
♪♪
Woman: Alright, we ready, guys?
Man: Ready!
Alright, Keelin, come on in.
Oh, my gosh! Okay!
Alright!
I mean, hello?
I'm here!
My name is Keelin. I'm 24.
And I'm from Ireland,
but I live in New York.
"Break a leg. You
got this, Keelin."
And it has a picture
of me. [ Laughs ]
I'm ready to spill the tea.
I feel like, my whole life,
I've totally been different...
Thank you... to all
the people around me.
You look my cat. [ Cat yowls ]
I'll put on a
performance anywhere.
The world is a stage, okay?
Before every performance,
I love to look at
myself in the mirror
and give myself a pep talk.
You're beautiful. You're
amazing. You're talented.
Look at you go,
girl. You're rocking it.
[ Echoing ] You're that girl.
Come on, winner.
I like to manifest things.
I like to speak
things into existence.
So, in my head, I
have a golden ticket.
Or maybe I am a golden
ticket. I don't know.
I'm feeling pretty golden
right now. [ Laughs ]
Katy: Lionel, land it.
I'm gonna bring it home.
[ Trilling lips ]
Give me the ball,
Coach. Give me the ball.
Whoa! Here we go.
Ahh! Hi, guys!
What's up?
How are you doing? How are ye?
How are ye? I'm ready to go!
Like, I am...
I just feel like a ball
of energy right now,
and just seeing you
guys, I think it's just tripled.
Hi. Lionel: There we go.
Tell us who you are,
where you're from.
My name is Keelin.
I live in New York,
but I'm from Ireland.
Ireland? Oh, wow.
Okay. Tell us what
you're gonna sing.
I'm going to sing an
original song that I wrote
called "Don't Call Me."
I was talking to this guy,
and he was love-bombing me.
He was giving me the world.
I mean, he was telling
me all the right things,
and then he just up
and left, and I was like,
"We're both adults. Can you
not just communicate with me?"
So, I wrote this for the
people that, you know...
Get ghosted? Keelin: Yeah.
I can't wait to hear this one.
Katy: Here we go. We're ready.
[ Keypad beeps ]
Listen.
♪ You've got my attention ♪
♪ Asked all the
right questions ♪
♪ Seems like you're
after something ♪
♪ Maybe it's
really that simple ♪
But you give me mixed signals.
Just want to make sure
that we're on the same page.
[ Ding! ]
♪ Do you think about me
when you're all alone? ♪
♪ You've been talking
to me so sweet ♪
♪ And I let your
rhythm take over me ♪
♪ Would you press up on
me with the lights down low? ♪
♪ Just yes and no ♪
♪ But don't call me up ♪
♪ Unless you want to get
down, down, down, down ♪
♪ Ahh, ahh, ahh ♪
♪ Don't call me up ♪
♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Unless you
want to let go, go, go ♪
♪♪
Hi. You've reached
Keelin's hotline.
If you're looking
for love, press one.
For friendship, press two.
For fun, press three.
And if you're not
emotionally available enough
to know what you want,
hang up.
♪ Don't call me up ♪ Yeah!
♪ Unless you want to get
down, down, down, down ♪
♪ Ahh, ahh, ahh ♪
♪ Don't call me up ♪ Yeah!
♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Whoo-oo-oo-oo ♪
Ah. I love that.
Click. Katy...
♪ Don't call me up
♪ ♪ Call me up ♪
Yeah!
♪ Want to get down, down,
down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down ♪
Ahh! I'm sorry.
Oh, my God. Okay. Very clever.
That's a compliment to
your songwriting, though.
I'm telling you
that... Oh, thank you.
That's the whole concept.
How long does it take
to say it back to you?
Katy: That's right. You did it.
You did it. I mean, obviously,
the talking and the mimicking
the phones and stuff,
all that's cute and fun,
but I think your singing...
You really got to focus
on those high-end notes.
She kind of reminds
me of Meghan Trainor.
Mm. Mm-hmm. Totally.
I get that sometimes.
And that song showed
me some promise.
Things that are memorable...
That's what makes careers.
You're memorable.
I would love to
see where you go.
♪♪
Let's vote, you guys.
♪♪
Hmm. I'm a no.
That's okay.
Katy?
[ Clears throat ]
I think I see
something in there.
It's a little weird,
but so am I.
Keelin: Oh, yeah.
It's definitely fun.
Yeah?
Yeah, it's a yes for me.
Ah!
It's on you, Lionel.
And yes, yes, yes.
Ahhh! It's a yes, yes for me.
Thank you!
Hey, I'm not mad that
you're going to Hollywood.
I think it's gonna be
interesting. It's gonna be fun.
It's gonna be fun. It's gonna
be interesting, if anything.
Yes! Thank you so
much! Guess what?
All: You're going to Hollywood!
Ahhhhhh!
Very happy, very
happy, very happy.
Very happy! [ Laughs ]
♪ Up when you get down ♪
Okay! Okay! Okay!
♪ When you get up ♪
♪ You got to get down, up ♪
Katy, Lionel, and Luke
literally got up and danced
to my original song,
"Don't Call Me."
Like, what? Sorry. What?
Is this real life?
Lionel: ♪ Ah, ah ♪
Thank you guys so much.
♪ Got to get up ♪
I got to get my a*s
up on a treadmill.
♪ To get down, down, down ♪
♪ To get down, down, down ♪
[ Laughing ]
[ Keypad beeps ]
That's great. That's great.
Hello? Oh, I'm sorry.
I can't talk right now.
I'm going to Hollywood.
Can y'all time how long I
was exerting physical energy?
I saw you run all
the way over there.
I said, "He's dead."
Y'all are crazy. No, no, no.
You know it's gonna be good.
Fun.
Got to have some
fun on this show.
♪ Don't call me up ♪
♪ Unless you want to get
down, down, down, down ♪
♪ Ahh ♪
[ Dial tone ]
[ Duck call squealing ]
Aw, it's... Anyway.
[ Duck call sounding ]
There you go.
You have a lot of hobbies.
He has a lot of
people inside of him.
That's what he has. [ Laughs ]
[ Duck call sounding ]
What's up? Hey,
what's going on?!
I'm doing duck calling.
[ Duck call sounding
] Like, I'm getting...
I'm getting all
the hunting vibes.
I was just telling my mom
I wanted to go hunting.
Have you ever been
hunting? Mnh-mnh.
I don't know nothing
about it. Well, go with him.
Come on, baby. I got you.
Katy: I hunt all the time!
Where we going?
Lionel hunts Gucci.
I hunt... Hermès.
Hermès, you know. Yeah. I'm...
Alright. Tell us who you are.
I'm Elijah McCormick from
Raeford, North Carolina.
So, tell us about getting here.
Well, I been singing
since I was like 6.
[ Breathes deeply ]
Take a breath.
In high school is when I
really fell in love with music.
I just kind of got
lost in it, you know?
But graduation
day, 2019, I was...
I was in a bad car accident.
Car caught on fire. What?!
I had to learn to walk
again, learn to talk again.
Yeah.
♪♪
June 8, 2019, is
when it happened.
I walked the stage,
and it happened two or
three hours after graduation.
The last thing I remember
is dropping my
friend off at her house.
And I was only a
mile away from home.
♪ My fire is starved of
oxygen ♪ [ Sirens wailing ]
Teshauna: I got a phone call.
I thought it was
just a fender bender.
♪ A flicker in the
howling wind ♪
But when I got
there... [ Sighs ]
it was terrifying.
It was terrifying.
♪ It tried to steal
my words to pray ♪
So I got beside him,
and I called his
name three times.
And he looked over
there at me, and I said,
"Son, you're
gonna be all right."
And he shook his
head at me and just...
That was that.
And they put him
on the stretcher,
and they took him
to the landing space.
Elijah: I flat-lined
a couple times
in the process
of being air-lifted,
and then I flat-lined a couple
times on the operating table.
Total of nine times.
♪ In the dark I
learned to love again ♪
♪♪
Really don't know where I
would be if he hadn't made it.
Elijah: I was in the
hospital for 79 days,
had about 10 surgeries,
open-heart surgeries, dialysis.
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
I'm just thankful to
be here, honestly.
I'm so thankful for
the guardian angels
that were around me that day.
Teshauna: Those days
he was in the hospital,
he was very determined.
I remember the first
time he was able to talk.
His first question to me
was, "Mama, can I still sing?"
♪ Yeah, the dark
led me to light again ♪
♪♪
And so he tried to
sing a song. [ Chuckles ]
♪♪
♪ Kicked defeat out the door ♪
♪ Kicked defeat out the door ♪
♪ God's doing a new thing ♪
♪ God's doing a new thing ♪
♪ Oh, yes, He is ♪
♪ Get ready, yeah ♪
♪ Get ready for overflow ♪
[ Sniffles ]
I mean, it hasn't
been easy at all.
I mean, I would
have never expected
to go through
something like that.
♪ God's about to blow my mind ♪
♪ Ohh, oh, ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪
Elijah: I was not
supposed to be here.
So, I have to
fulfill my purpose.
I'm about to go out there,
give it everything I have,
leave everything on the floor.
I'm gonna leave with
no regrets, you know?
[ Exhales heavily ]
♪♪
♪ I set out on a narrow way ♪
♪ Many years ago ♪
♪ Hoping I would
find true love ♪
♪ Along the broken road ♪
♪ But I got lost a time or two ♪
♪ Wiped my brow and
kept pushing through ♪
♪ Couldn't see how every sign ♪
♪ Pointed straight to you ♪
♪ And every long-lost dream ♪
♪ Led me to where you are ♪
♪ And others who
broke my heart ♪
♪ They were like
Northern stars ♪
♪ Pointing me on my way ♪
♪ Into your loving arms ♪
♪ This much I know is true ♪
Uch!
Got me, boy.
♪ That God blessed
the broken road ♪
♪ That led me straight to you ♪
♪ Ye-e-e-e-e-ah ♪
♪ He led me to
where you a-a-a-re ♪
♪ And now I'm
just a-rollin' home ♪
♪ Into my lover's arms ♪
♪ This much I know ♪
♪ I know is true ♪
♪ That God blessed
the broken road ♪
[ Laughs ]
♪ That led me straight ♪
♪ To you-u-u-u-u ♪
Man, that's so good.
[ Applause ]
Man, come on.
Come on! Come on! Come on!
That was amazing.
Oh, man. Whew!
Man, what are you doing?
Oh, man. Ohh.
What you doing, man?
Ohh. Mmm.
Oh, my gosh. That was awesome.
Luke: Whew! Can
you feel my heart?
Oh, my gosh.
Luke: Whew! Man.
Well, can... I
just got to say it.
I mean, the last person
that I saw approach
singing like you
was Willie Spence.
Lionel: Willie!
Wow. That's what I was thinking.
That's what... It's the same...
Oh, my God. That's what got
me. It's the same approach.
That's what got me.
I mean, you hit
one of those notes,
and I thought of Willie.
And from then on,
I couldn't recover.
I was trying to
look very dignified,
and then you just
beat me up some more.
Wow. Wow. But let
me just tell you this.
God brought you back nine times
for you to do something amazing.
That's right.
I'm so glad you're here with us.
And that was just
one of those moments
in my life I will never forget.
Oh, man. Thank you.
And you sang, "God
bless the broken road
that led me back to you."
Yeah. He did bless
the broken road.
Katy: He blessed it. He did.
You had to relearn
how to walk and talk?
Mm-hmm.
Elijah, do you understand
that this is, like, the
beginning of your story?
That means a lot.
You really don't know how
much that means to me.
Katy: It's the beginning.
I can't believe you came to us.
How the heck did
you even come to us?
Well, my mom,
she signed me up...
Before the accident, she
signed me up for "American Idol."
Wait. What? Elijah: Mm-hmm.
When? Before my accident.
Like, I had my I. D.
Number and everything. Yep.
So, you're just here
fulfilling your destiny.
Yep. Katy: This was
always meant to be.
It was. God, what a circle.
What a circle.
Congrats to you, buddy.
Who are you here with?
I'm here with my mom.
You mind getting her in here?
I can go get her
if you want me to.
Bring your mom in.
♪ I'm gonna make
it ♪ Deep breath.
♪ I'm gonna make it on my own ♪
Huh? They want her?
Oh, my God. That
just took me out.
[ Judges chanting "Mama" ]
How you doing, Mama?
I'm doing great. How you
doing? You got the tissue?
I do. Mama, your son...
Can you see Lionel
Richie's eyes?
Mama... Yes?
Let me just say
to you, your son,
when he opens his
mouth, it's divine.
God brought him
back for a reason.
There is a purpose in life.
And it starts
right on that oval.
[ Sighs ] Thank you.
I know you went
through absolute t*rture.
I did.
Well, God bless
you and your family
and that golden
child right there.
[ Laughter ]
It's crazy. You
said golden child.
My I. D. got
burnt up in the car,
and that's what they called me
on that whole floor in the
hospital, was "golden child."
That's crazy you
just said that. I'm out.
I'm out. My hair
was gold at the time,
so that's why they
called me "golden child."
Hold on. Hold on. God?!
[ Laughter ] God?!
I know you have
a sense of humor,
but this is getting
really funny.
Oh, my God. Alright.
Well, we brought you in here
'cause we're about to vote.
Elijah, I'm a yes.
Wow.
The golden child...
The golden child is here, man.
Deserves the golden ticket.
[ Laughs ]
And that's enough.
It's a yes from me.
♪ Kick defeat out the door ♪
♪ God's doing a new thing ♪
I'm a yes. Wow.
♪ Get ready ♪
♪ Get ready for
overflow ♪ [ Both crying ]
♪ Now, throw your hands
up, say, "I'm getting ready ♪
Hey, we got to do it
right. One, two, three.
All: You're going to Hollywood!
Katy: Yes, you are! Whoo!
Oh, wow. Go over
there, golden child,
and pick up your golden ticket.
Oh, man. Luke: And
golden mama, too.
Golden mama.
Young lady, thank you so much.
God bless you. You
have been through stuff.
♪ I'm getting ready ♪
God bless you. Thank you.
Teshauna: Oh, I knew it. I
been knew he could do it.
Before his accident.
I signed him up
because I had faith that he
could get this golden ticket.
[ Laughter ] Hollywood!
Congratulations!
That guy opened his
mouth, and I lost it.
I said, "Is that you, Willie?"
What the heck?
Elijah: I just want to
thank you for being here,
my number-one supporter.
And I'm so grateful to
have a mom like you.
He's top ten, for sure.
Oh, my God!
Are you kidding me?
Elijah: This isn't just for me.
This is for everybody
that has supported me,
that has loved me,
that has prayed for me.
Love you, boy.
I love you, too.
[ Both laugh ]
♪ I'm getting ready to see ♪
♪ Mm, mm, mm ♪
♪ Something I've never seen ♪
♪♪
These small little towns still
have some diamonds left in them.
♪♪
You are our hope.
♪♪
Luke: I'm excited to see what
kind of butterfly you turn into.
♪ Ohhh ♪
That's the sparkle
stuff right there.
You are on the edge
of, like, greatness.
♪ Ahhh ♪
Hallelujah. You touched me.
And I just want to remember
this moment in your life.
All: You're going to Hollywood!
[ Woman screaming ]
Captions by VITAC...
[ Duck call squealing ]
Aw, it's... Anyway.
[ Duck call sounding ]
There you go.
You have a lot of hobbies.
He has a lot of
people inside of him.
That's what he has. [ Laughs ]
[ Duck call sounding ]
What's up? Hey,
what's going on?!
I'm doing duck calling.
[ Duck call sounding
] Like, I'm getting...
I'm getting all
the hunting vibes.
I was just telling my mom
I wanted to go hunting.
Have you ever been
hunting? Mnh-mnh.
I don't know nothing
about it. Well, go with him.
Come on, baby. I got you.
Katy: I hunt all the time!
Where we going?
Lionel hunts Gucci.
I hunt... Hermès.
Hermès, you know. Yeah. I'm...
Alright. Tell us who you are.
I'm Elijah McCormick from
Raeford, North Carolina.
So, tell us about getting here.
Well, I been singing
since I was like 6.
[ Breathes deeply ]
Take a breath.
In high school is when I
really fell in love with music.
I just kind of got
lost in it, you know?
But graduation
day, 2019, I was...
I was in a bad car accident.
Car caught on fire. What?!
I had to learn to walk
again, learn to talk again.
Yeah.
♪♪
June 8, 2019, is
when it happened.
I walked the stage,
and it happened two or
three hours after graduation.
The last thing I remember
is dropping my
friend off at her house.
And I was only a
mile away from home.
♪ My fire is starved of
oxygen ♪ [ Sirens wailing ]
Teshauna: I got a phone call.
I thought it was
just a fender bender.
♪ A flicker in the
howling wind ♪
But when I got
there... [ Sighs ]
it was terrifying.
It was terrifying.
♪ It tried to steal
my words to pray ♪
So I got beside him,
and I called his
name three times.
And he looked over
there at me, and I said,
"Son, you're
gonna be all right."
And he shook his
head at me and just...
That was that.
And they put him
on the stretcher,
and they took him
to the landing space.
Elijah: I flat-lined
a couple times
in the process
of being air-lifted,
and then I flat-lined a couple
times on the operating table.
Total of nine times.
♪ In the dark I
learned to love again ♪
♪♪
Really don't know where I
would be if he hadn't made it.
Elijah: I was in the
hospital for 79 days,
had about 10 surgeries,
open-heart surgeries, dialysis.
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
I'm just thankful to
be here, honestly.
I'm so thankful for
the guardian angels
that were around me that day.
Teshauna: Those days
he was in the hospital,
he was very determined.
I remember the first
time he was able to talk.
His first question to me
was, "Mama, can I still sing?"
♪ Yeah, the dark
led me to light again ♪
♪♪
And so he tried to
sing a song. [ Chuckles ]
♪♪
♪ Kicked defeat out the door ♪
♪ Kicked defeat out the door ♪
♪ God's doing a new thing ♪
♪ God's doing a new thing ♪
♪ Oh, yes, He is ♪
♪ Get ready, yeah ♪
♪ Get ready for overflow ♪
[ Sniffles ]
I mean, it hasn't
been easy at all.
I mean, I would
have never expected
to go through
something like that.
♪ God's about to blow my mind ♪
♪ Ohh, oh, ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪
Elijah: I was not
supposed to be here.
So, I have to
fulfill my purpose.
I'm about to go out there,
give it everything I have,
leave everything on the floor.
I'm gonna leave with
no regrets, you know?
[ Exhales heavily ]
♪♪
♪ I set out on a narrow way ♪
♪ Many years ago ♪
♪ Hoping I would
find true love ♪
♪ Along the broken road ♪
♪ But I got lost a time or two ♪
♪ Wiped my brow and
kept pushing through ♪
♪ Couldn't see how every sign ♪
♪ Pointed straight to you ♪
♪ And every long-lost dream ♪
♪ Led me to where you are ♪
♪ And others who
broke my heart ♪
♪ They were like
Northern stars ♪
♪ Pointing me on my way ♪
♪ Into your loving arms ♪
♪ This much I know is true ♪
Uch!
Got me, boy.
♪ That God blessed
the broken road ♪
♪ That led me straight to you ♪
♪ Ye-e-e-e-e-ah ♪
♪ He led me to
where you a-a-a-re ♪
♪ And now I'm
just a-rollin' home ♪
♪ Into my lover's arms ♪
♪ This much I know ♪
♪ I know is true ♪
♪ That God blessed
the broken road ♪
[ Laughs ]
♪ That led me straight ♪
♪ To you-u-u-u-u ♪
Man, that's so good.
[ Applause ]
Man, come on.
Come on! Come on! Come on!
That was amazing.
Oh, man. Whew!
Man, what are you doing?
Oh, man. Ohh.
What you doing, man?
Ohh. Mmm.
Oh, my gosh. That was awesome.
Luke: Whew! Can
you feel my heart?
Oh, my gosh.
Luke: Whew! Man.
Well, can... I
just got to say it.
I mean, the last person
that I saw approach
singing like you
was Willie Spence.
Lionel: Willie!
Wow. That's what I was thinking.
That's what... It's the same...
Oh, my God. That's what got
me. It's the same approach.
That's what got me.
I mean, you hit
one of those notes,
and I thought of Willie.
And from then on,
I couldn't recover.
I was trying to
look very dignified,
and then you just
beat me up some more.
Wow. Wow. But let
me just tell you this.
God brought you back nine times
for you to do something amazing.
That's right.
I'm so glad you're here with us.
And that was just
one of those moments
in my life I will never forget.
Oh, man. Thank you.
And you sang, "God
bless the broken road
that led me back to you."
Yeah. He did bless
the broken road.
Katy: He blessed it. He did.
You had to relearn
how to walk and talk?
Mm-hmm.
Elijah, do you understand
that this is, like, the
beginning of your story?
That means a lot.
You really don't know how
much that means to me.
Katy: It's the beginning.
I can't believe you came to us.
How the heck did
you even come to us?
Well, my mom,
she signed me up...
Before the accident, she
signed me up for "American Idol."
Wait. What? Elijah: Mm-hmm.
When? Before my accident.
Like, I had my I. D.
Number and everything. Yep.
So, you're just here
fulfilling your destiny.
Yep. Katy: This was
always meant to be.
It was. God, what a circle.
What a circle.
Congrats to you, buddy.
Who are you here with?
I'm here with my mom.
You mind getting her in here?
I can go get her
if you want me to.
Bring your mom in.
♪ I'm gonna make
it ♪ Deep breath.
♪ I'm gonna make it on my own ♪
Huh? They want her?
Oh, my God. That
just took me out.
[ Judges chanting "Mama" ]
How you doing, Mama?
I'm doing great. How you
doing? You got the tissue?
I do. Mama, your son...
Can you see Lionel
Richie's eyes?
Mama... Yes?
Let me just say
to you, your son,
when he opens his
mouth, it's divine.
God brought him
back for a reason.
There is a purpose in life.
And it starts
right on that oval.
[ Sighs ] Thank you.
I know you went
through absolute t*rture.
I did.
Well, God bless
you and your family
and that golden
child right there.
[ Laughter ]
It's crazy. You
said golden child.
My I. D. got
burnt up in the car,
and that's what they called me
on that whole floor in the
hospital, was "golden child."
That's crazy you
just said that. I'm out.
I'm out. My hair
was gold at the time,
so that's why they
called me "golden child."
Hold on. Hold on. God?!
[ Laughter ] God?!
I know you have
a sense of humor,
but this is getting
really funny.
Oh, my God. Alright.
Well, we brought you in here
'cause we're about to vote.
Elijah, I'm a yes.
Wow.
The golden child...
The golden child is here, man.
Deserves the golden ticket.
[ Laughs ]
And that's enough.
It's a yes from me.
♪ Kick defeat out the door ♪
♪ God's doing a new thing ♪
I'm a yes. Wow.
♪ Get ready ♪
♪ Get ready for
overflow ♪ [ Both crying ]
♪ Now, throw your hands
up, say, "I'm getting ready ♪
Hey, we got to do it
right. One, two, three.
All: You're going to Hollywood!
Katy: Yes, you are! Whoo!
Oh, wow. Go over
there, golden child,
and pick up your golden ticket.
Oh, man. Luke: And
golden mama, too.
Golden mama.
Young lady, thank you so much.
God bless you. You
have been through stuff.
♪ I'm getting ready ♪
God bless you.
Thank you.
Teshauna: Oh, I knew it.
I been knew he could do it.
Before his accident.
I signed him up
because I had faith that
he could get this golden ticket.
[ Laughter ]
Hollywood!
Congratulations!
That guy opened his mouth,
and I lost it.
I said,
"Is that you, Willie?"
What the heck?
Elijah: I just want
to thank you for being here,
my number-one supporter.
And I'm so grateful
to have a mom like you.
He's top ten, for sure.
Oh, my God!
Are you kidding me?
Elijah:
This isn't just for me.
This is for everybody
that has supported me,
that has loved me,
that has prayed for me.
Love you, boy.
I love you, too.
[ Both laugh ]
♪ I'm getting ready to see ♪
♪ Mm, mm, mm ♪
♪ Something I've never seen ♪
♪♪
These small little towns still
have some diamonds left in them.
♪♪
You are our hope.
♪♪
Luke: I'm excited to see what
kind of butterfly you turn into.
♪ Ohhh ♪
That's the sparkle stuff
right there.
You are on the edge of,
like, greatness.
♪ Ahhh ♪
Hallelujah.
You touched me.
And I just want to remember
this moment in your life.
All:
You're going to Hollywood!
[ Woman screaming ]
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21x03 - 603 (Auditions)
Watch/Buy Amazon
It started as an addition to the Idol format that was based on Pop Idol from British television, in which the programme's first series, which was won by Will Young, ended over four months before the show began, as it later became one of the most successful shows in the history of American television.
It started as an addition to the Idol format that was based on Pop Idol from British television, in which the programme's first series, which was won by Will Young, ended over four months before the show began, as it later became one of the most successful shows in the history of American television.