American Idol
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The ABC family just keeps getting bigger.
When 14-year-old Camila Galavis stepped in to audition for American Idol on Sunday’s (March 24) episode, judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie were shocked to discover that her dad is none other than Juan Pablo Galavis, the onetime star of another long-running show under the singing competition series’ network: The Bachelor.
Camila Galavis didn’t tell the panel at first that she is already reality TV royalty, having been just 4 years old when her dad’s season of The Bachelor aired in 2014. But while answering questions about her family from the “Firework” singer, the young singer eventually broke the news that her father was not only an ex-dating show heartthrob, but was in the American Idol building with her.
At that, the group called Juan Pablo into the room, where he confirmed that coming on the competition series was 100% Camila’s idea. “She’s been singing since she was little, and the opportunity came, and she wanted to do it,” he told the judges. “I said, ‘I don’t know if you’re old enough.’ That was last year. ‘Well, maybe next year.’ And then here she is.”
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After confessing that she would actually feel more comfortable with her dad in the room during her audition, the Venezuela native went on to sing an all-Spanish rendition of Joaquina‘s “Rabia” as Juan Pablo watched proudly from the sidelines, seated next to the in-house pianist on his bench.
Though it was a close call, Galavis was able to pass through into the next round with Perry and Bryan’s “Yes” votes outweighing Richie’s “No.”
“Love your confidence,” the country crooner told her after her performance. “Love your personality … I think the right producer could take your voice and cut a hit album on you right now.”
Venezuelan singer/songwriter Joaquina responded to the performance of her song on Instagram, re-posting the audition and writing, “Oh my God, this can’t be. [Camila] how beautiful. Wow never in my life did I think someone would sing one of my songs on American Idol, how crazy. [Juan Pablo] I love you guys so much. Congrats. God bless you on the journey of this show. I hope all your dreams come true.”
Watch Camila’s American Idol audition — featuring a cameo from Juan Pablo — above.
American Idol saved one of the best for last — Julia Gagnon.
Raised in Cumberland, Maine, the 21-year-old college student has spent time in the school of hard knocks.
Gagnon was born in Guatemala, and put up for adoption as a baby. Childhood in the U.S. was mostly a blast, surrounded by a loving family. But she experienced bullying in school.
“In Maine, not a lot of people look like me. And it was really hard to deal with,” she explained in the pre-recorded spot. It still touches a raw nerve.
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Gagnon was always curious about her birth family, and in her late teens embarked on a journey to find them. Her father hired a private investigator, and in 2020 located the youngster’s birth mother, Sara.
“She did let me know that she didn’t want me to go,” Gagnon said, adding that Sara conceded she wasn’t able to provide a better life.
The Idol stage would provide a platform for Gagnon to “do something for” her birth mom. “I felt really helpless, because I can’t go to her in Guatemala. It’s really far. But she’s really proud of my voice. And she wanted to see me do something big.”
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For an amateur singer, there are few bigger stages than Idol.
As the final audition for season 22, Gagnon brought out the big guns. The hopeful sang Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t Not Way,” peppered with high notes, and low, feel, control, power and oozing soul. That big thing, it happened.
Proof of it came when the judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie gave a standing ovation.
“Did that come out of your mouth,” Richie remarked. “I am in shock. I grew up with Aretha Franklin. There are certain songs you just don’t sing. Because you can’t touch the original. You just made it not only your song, but you did things that were just beyond. That was amazing. That was absolutely outstanding.”
Bryan was touched by her “amazing falsetto,” and Perry was convinced that she has “several soul singers” inside her.” Not just one. You could go really far. You could be top 10.”
She’s certainly going to Hollywood. Gagnon earned the final Platinum Ticket for the season.
Watch the performance from ABC’s American Idol below.
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Sometimes all you need is that little extra push from someone who knows how special you are. On Monday night’s (March 17) audition episode of American Idol, 20-year-old Las Vegas native Athena Jett came in with confidence and a voice that should have at least gotten her a look from judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
But, just in case, she also had her adorable 12-year-old sister (and bestie) Angelina in tow to help boost her chances with good energy and a special homemade gift for Perry’s four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Daisy Dove. Angelina proudly handed over a crocheted pink and white purse covered in a daisy pattern, naturally, with Perry loving the sweet gesture and hugging Angelina, saying Daisy definitely “loves a purse.”
In the lead-up package, Athena talked about how close the sisters are and how Angelina is her “biggest fan… she’s such a bright ball of energy and she believes in me so much.”
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Perry then invited Angelina to stand by the piano as Athena sang a somewhat shaky version of Sophia James’ jazzy 2021 ballad, “Somebody New.” Angelina was brought to tears, as was Bryan, with Perry praising the singer’s “great voice,” but saying that Athena’s nerves appeared to get the best of her. “People are out there fighting tooth and nail and so I am worried about putting you in the ring,” Perry said.
Then, unexpectedly, Angelina sheepishly raised her hand — as she and Athena shared whispered “I Love You”‘s to each other across the room — and asked if she could suggest a different song for her sibling to sing. “I don’t want to be barging in or anything, but I remember for piano recital my sister sang ‘Never Enough’ from The Greatest Showman. I really think that that was a really good song that she sang,” Angelina said.
Perry repeatedly encouraged Athena to raise her voice and sing it out loud as the singer hit a series of high notes during her second go and Perry jumped to her feet, sweeping Angelina up in a giant spinning hug. “Good job, you’re gonna come to Hollywood too,” Perry said as she shook Angelina’s hand.
“I couldn’t do this without her,” Athena said to the weeping panel, as Perry said that she went from a “hard no” to a “what the hell was that? That was phenomenal. You have to use that. That is your sword!” Bryan praised a crying Angelina for being so brave and stepping up to advocate for her sister, after which the weepy Angelina handed over the golden ticket to her overwhelmed big sis.
Watch Athena Jett’s audition below.
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Elleigh Marie Francom is a typical American girl, confronted by difficult circumstances.
The 20-year-old realized a years-long dream when she auditioned on American Idol Sunday night (March 19), and made fans everywhere with her appearance.
Francom is a full-time cosmetologist, a miliary daughter based in American Fork, Utah. Her mom, a singer who teaches theater and has tuned into Idol with Elleigh since the contestant was a kid, is battling multiple serious illnesses.
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“Dad was gone for much of the time,” she said in the prerecorded package. The youngster had to step up. “A lot of the responsibilities did fall on me,” she explained.
On the day of her audition, Elleigh learned that her dad will be deployed for a year, starting from April. How does she feel about that? “It really sucks,” she told the judges, as she burst into tears.
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Elleigh admitted she’s torn by choices. Chase the Idol dream, or go home and help out with her younger siblings when dad is away?
With her performance, the path ahead is now illuminated.
Elleigh channeled her emotions into a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me”. And drained it.
As she completed the performance, the tears rolled. “Nobody’s ever hit that note at the end,” quipped Katy Perry. “It was great. You gave me the feels. You started off somewhat average, then you landed it. If you sang from that space every time, you would be in superstar territory.”
“I think she’s top 10,” Luke Bryan added. “There’s just really beautiful things going on in your voice.” When she slots into her groove, there were “classy” and “older than your years” tones. “I just loved it.”
Lionel Richie is a believer. “You went to a place that was so pure, so angelic, that it was really one of those moments where we couldn’t keep our eyes off of you.”
The family came out, the judges stood and applauded, Idol had a moment and Elleigh is going to “Hollywood Week.”
Watch below.
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Go west, they said. Scarlett Lee did just that with an audition on American Idol, for a glittering result. Raised in London, the Brit stepped into auditions Sunday night (March 3) and showcased her warm tones and extensive range, performing a cover of Emeli Sandé’s “Clown.”
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The three judges lapped it up.
“Oh, my goodness,” was Lionel Richie’s immediate response. “You do know that your trip was worth it. It was so well executed. I really enjoyed what you did.”
Luke Bryan chimed in: “What I do love is you have a neat personality. You have a neat little aura and vibe going on.”
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Katy Perry admitted she was hesitant when she heard the song choice. “Are we being pranked here,” was her initial thought. No, no it wasn’t. “That is one of my favorite songs,” the “Firework” singer continued. “It’s so vulnerable.”
It’s not the 26-year-old’s first rodeo. In 2018, Lee competed in the 15th season of the U.K.’s X Factor, finishing in second place, behind winner Dalton Harris; and participated in the 14th season, reaching the six-chair challenge.
Wearing a red dress, heels and bringing a “vibe” to the Idol auditions, Lee immediately won fans. “You’re fun and a little bit funky,” Perry continued. “Your personality is so big, and sometimes people don’t take you seriously. But when you sing a song and you sing a song like that, then you cut through all of the layers. It doesn’t matter the makeup, it doesn’t matter the outfit. You become Scarlett Lee the artist. The possible next American Idol. You become serious. So I’m taking you seriously. Your soul is shining through.”
It’s three yeses for Lee. And a golden ticket to Hollywood.
Judges Richie, Perry and Bryan and host Ryan Seacrest have all returned for the current, 22nd season of American Idol, which will be Perry’s last, she revealed in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel Live! ahead of the season premiere on Feb. 18.
The talent show airs on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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Having a platinum pedigree is one thing. But showing that you can use it is a whole different ballgame. Emmy Russell, 24 proved more than up to the task on Sunday night (Feb. 25) when the shy Nashville native, and granddaughter of country icon Loretta Lynn, stepped up to her mark on American Idol to perform an original piano ballad called “Skinny.”
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Smiling from ear-to-ear, Russell told the judge’s panel it was a “dream” to be on the reality singing competition as Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan struggled to hear the singer’s quiet speaking voice. “Tell us about yourself, other than being quiet,” Bryan said. “Growing up, I sang music my entire life,” she said modestly.
“I just love writing. I’m 24 years old. Songwriter. I love music,” Russell added. “I don’t really sing out as much anymore, but growing up I sang on the road with — my grandma’s a country singer so I grew up singing.” Which, of course, elicited the obvious question from Bryan, leading to the revelation that Russell’s grandma was the Grammy-winning country “Coal Miner’s Daughter” superstar, who died in Oct. 2022 at age 90. “Your grandma is… what?!” Richie said in disbelief.
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The show then unspooled a montage of Russell taking viewers on a tour of her “meemaw” Lynn’s historic Hurricane Mills, TN ranch and home, where the singer’s mom, singer Patsy Lynn, grew up. “She’s one of the biggest country music singers of all time, but to me she’s just my grandma, and growing up on the bus and all that was very normal to me,” Russell said.
Embracing her timidity, Russell explained that one of the reasons she is kind of shy is because she wants to be her own person and “own my own voice.” Counseled by Perry that, like her gran, Russell needs to find her own unique path, the singer then went to the piano to perform a moving original she wrote about eating disorders called “Skinny.”
“Haven’t eaten in days/ God I hate how you made me/ So scared to confess, been so hard to undress lately/ These oversized T-shirts don’t work like they used to/ Sleeping on scales is just what I’m used to,” Russell sang urgently on the ballad that had a touch of Olivia Rodrigo’s keyboard-driven confessional songwriting.
Perry was super impressed with the audition, calling Russell an “A+ songwriter… so was your grandma, you’ve got the gift. I don’t think you need to compare yourself to what grandma was… you’re totally different, you shouldn’t give yourself all that pressure. I think you came in like a mouse.”
“A baby mouse,” Bryan added, as Perry asked Russell to say her name again, but louder this time.
Richie agreed, saying, “My dear, you have promise. And I like your promise. Each one of us is trying to battle something that we’re trying to overcome. In your case you have big shoes. Now if I can just get you to put those shoes back in the closet, that’s not your size.” Bryan said the task will be to boost Russell’s confidence and help her “own it.”
It was a tearful yes for Russell, who will advance to the Hollywood round on the current 22nd season of the long-running series, which Perry recently announced will be her final one with the show.
See Russell’s audition below.
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Two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Luke Bryan’s small-town Southern roots will be on display when the upcoming 22nd season of American Idol premieres on Feb. 18 on ABC.
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Bryan, who has been a judge on Idol since 2018, took his fellow judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie on an American Idol “field trip” to his hometown of Leesburg, Georgia (population 3,480 as of the 2020 census), located three hours south of Atlanta. In the process, the affable singer-songwriter brought Perry and Richie into the places and spaces that helped shape not only many of Bryan’s 26 No. 1 Country Airplay hits, but his charismatic stage presence and who Bryan is as a person.
“To be able to bring Lionel and Katy to my hometown was a real big deal,” Bryan tells Billboard via email. “Growing up I was a Lionel fan and he has been such a huge inspiration to my music. So now having Lionel and Katy as a friends, it was so special to show them how I grew up and what made me who I am. I was on 10 the whole day!”
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Of course, Bryan has paid homage to his hometown throughout his career, most notably in the music video for “Born Here Live Here Die Here,” title track of his 2020 album. The video clip features both footage of the artist-writer’s energetic live shows, but also footage of Leesburg.
One of the stops on the Idol tour in Leesburg was a place Bryan spent ample time as a teen: Lee County High School, which he graduated from in 1996. The trio walked through the halls of the high school, and even dropped in on a few classes to greet students. “We took a lot of selfies and saw [the students’] excitement,” Bryan recalls. “The fact that we could disrupt their day, have fun and let them see us in the gym and walking the halls was great. It was really special to interact with the kids in that way.”
“The school felt bigger as more people have moved into the area, but the vibe still felt small and quaint,” adds Bryan. “They did win a state championship in football [in 2017 and 2018] since I went there, but the school still had the heart and soul that existed back then.”
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Bryan also recalls his favorite memories of being at Lee High School, including Friday night football games, playing baseball during his freshman and sophomore years, and regular meetups after school at the local gas station to celebrates high school sports team wins (or commiserate on losses). Bryan had a high school band and was part of his school’s drama program, performing in Annie Get Your Gun, among other roles.
“The main thing was growing up in a small town where everybody knew each other,” he said. “The teachers looked after you and worked with you. It was just a great school to get a well-rounded education.”
Outside of Leesburg High School, Bryan took Richie and Perry to one of his favorite fishing spots, along the Flint River. Bryan’s fans will instantly recognize the name of the 344-mile river that runs from south of Atlanta through the Gulf Coastal Plain, as Bryan immortalized it in songs like “That’s My Kind of Night,” “We Rode in Trucks” and “Huntin,’ Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day.”
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“We only fished briefly as the conditions weren’t great that day, but the river was a place where I grew up fishing as a kid, so it was good to have them get out in nature that day,” he says. “I think they appreciated it and saw that the river was instrumental and inspirational in my songwriting.”
Bryan grew up helping at his family’s peanut mill, so he took joy in showing his fellow judges a local peanut mill–and the visit made for a cool moment with fellow judge Perry.
“Some of my favorite moments were definitely talking Lionel and Katy to the peanut mill, and letting Katy dump a wagon of peanuts and watching the dust fly up,” Bryan says.
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American Idol‘s 22nd season is premiering on Sunday (Feb. 18), marking Katy Perry’s seventh and final season as a judge. The “Teenage Dream” star revealed that she’s leaving the show on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night (Feb. 12). “I love the show so much,” she told the host, “but I want to go see […]