All right. Thank you guys. Hopefully see you guys soon.
[ Sighs ] [ Light applause ]
♪♪
I'll do this one for you.
Contestant: The day the dream was born.
Contestant #2: I'll never forget stepping out into the world.
Contestant #3: Nothing can stop you. Endless possibilities.
Hey, Mama. Hi.
Caleb: Driven by hopes, wishes, desires.
♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪
Contestant #4: The fire in your soul
pushing you forward in the direction of your dreams.
♪ Ahh ♪
Contestant #5: One huge step in the face of adversity.
Contestant #6: You can overcome. You're more than capable.
Contestant #7: Sometimes it's scary to take the leap.
Ryan: ...is Laine Hardy!
But you're ready to take the leap.
Maddie: Sometimes it's scary, but you're more than capable.
Maddie Poppe.
You can overcome in the face of adversity. Chayce Beckham!
You win American Idol.
One huge step in the direction of your dreams.
-Pushing you forward. -The fire in your soul.
-Hopes... -Wishes.
Contestant #8: Desires.
Iam: Driven by endless possibilities.
Contestant #9: Nothing can stop you stepping out into the world.
Jamal: I'll never forget the day the dream was born.
What's your name? Jamal. Jamal Roberts.
Ryan: Jamal Roberts!
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪
Ah. How are you? Hello!
Luke: Hello. Good. How are y'all?
Carrie: Good. Oh, my gosh, you are a wake-up call.
Carrie: Yes. Oh! That's good.
That's good. Who are you?
I am Makiyah Mustiful.
I am 24 years old, and I am from Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas. All right.
Oh, my God. Your voice is already filling up the room. Already there.
Thank you.
They can hear you all the way from Pine Bluff. Pine Bluff.
I know. That's what I want.
And what do you do in Pine Bluff?
So I am an assistant branch manager
for a bank there in my hometown. I got you.
And I also do singing on the side.
I just love you.
♪ Money, money, money, money ♪
Good morning.
♪ Money ♪
Thanks for calling Simmons Bank. Makiyah speaking.
Do you have the blue bag that if somebody robs the bank,
you can put the blue paint in the bag and it blows up on them?
No, I wish I did. Aw.
All I have is, like, bait money that has a tracker in it.
I give that to them. That way, I can track them.
The bait money?
Yes, the bait money.
♪ Money, money, money, money ♪
Makiyah: I have a lot of fun at work.
Fun is what makes the day go by.
If we can't have fun, then I don't want to work with you.
Hey, I wonder if my wife has bait money on me.
Uh-oh. Anyway...
Now he's worried. Where do you do all your singing?
So I sing around my town.
And I also grew up singing in church.
So I sing in church every Sunday with my family.
So this whole family is a singing family, yeah?
We have this saying -- There's a difference
in singing and "sanging."
And we believe she can "sang."
She can "sang." We can sing.
Oh, you can't "sang"?
No, we can't "sang."
What about you? I sing and I play the drums.
Oh, so you got it all going on over there.
Okay. Something like that.
Leondra: He can "sang." He can "sang"?
He can "sang."
♪ Never met a man ♪
♪ Quite like you ♪
♪ Doing all you can ♪
♪ Making my dreams come true ♪
♪ You've got the charm ♪
♪ You simply disarm me every time ♪
♪ As long as you drive ♪
♪ I'm along for the ride your way ♪
♪ You said it before ♪
♪ There won't be a door that's closed to us ♪
♪ Putting all my trust in you ♪
♪ 'Cause you, you'll always be true ♪ Carrie: Whoo!
♪ I never could have known ♪
♪ Said, this would be ♪
Oh, he's gone.
♪ Oh, you and you alone, yeah ♪
♪ All for me ♪
Lionel: Uh!
♪ I know you're the best ♪
♪ You passed every test ♪
♪ It's almost too good to be true ♪ That's it!
♪ You're the perfect man for me ♪
♪ You're the perfect man for me ♪ Lionel: Oh!
♪ I love you, I do ♪ Ah!
♪ I love you ♪
[ Music ends ]
Carrie: Whoo! Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Wow! Makiyah: Thank you. Thank you.
Carrie: It's good! Makiyah: Oh, thank you.
Thank y'all. Okay, so -- so, wow.
My cheeks -- Since you walked in... Whew! Mm!
...my cheeks have been smiling the whole time. Oh!
You light up the room. God.
Your energy is just, like... [ Whistles ]
It's the energy, right? Thank you.
My God. Ah. It's the energy. It's...
I mean, I don't even think she still knows how great it is.
I mean, like, there's still more. Oh.
You didn't miss a note.
So good, so strong... Oh!
...and in control of everything. Oh!
Easily the strongest voice we've heard so far. Oh. Oh.
Oh, wow. Whoa.
This is -- You are meant to be here...
Thank you. ...right now.
Thank you. Thank y'all.
Wow! We pray for the standout.
We pray for the one
who's gonna kind of put the pressure on everybody else,
set the curve. Yes.
Who's gonna lead the class?
You understand me? Yes, sir.
It's you. Wow!
What "American Idol" is all about
is, in walks Miss Pine Bluff, Arkansas... Ah!
Yeah. ...that just grew up shaking the rafters
of a church somewhere. Mm.
Yes, sir. Why have we not seen you yet?
Carrie: 'Cause now is her time. God's timing.
God's timing.
Yes, it's just, singing is all around,
what brings me peace, what brings me joy. Mm.
And it'll just be wonderful, you know,
taking this journey with you all.
Mm.
You want to get your family in here?
I do. Ryan: Okay.
You know what to do. Yes.
-Good luck. -Go in there.
Let's hear it -- all the way to Knoxville.
Y'all better come on in here. Woman: Hi.
Watch that step up. Woman #2: Hello.
Watch that step right there. Carrie: Yes, it is a step with a little lip on it.
There you go.
Luke: How do any of y'all
get any sleep with that big voice in the household?
Woman: We don't.
-Does anybody else sing? -We all sing, but he's...
Woman #2: All of us sing.
Are you kidding me? That whole... You sing?
Step up with your sister. Makiyah: Come up here.
Come on up. Come on up here. Yeah.
My favorite song that I like to hear him sing
is "Love" by Keyshia Cole.
Would you mind doing a little of it? Just for fun.
There's no pressure. Come on. Just play around.
-Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. -Come on, C.J.
Makiyah: Go ahead. Come on.
♪ I used to think that I wasn't fine enough ♪
♪ And I used to think that I wasn't wild enough ♪
♪ And I won't waste my time trying to figure out ♪ Come on.
♪ Why you playing games ♪
♪ What's this all about? ♪
♪ Oh-oh-oh, love ♪ Whoo!
♪ Never knew what I was missing ♪
♪ But I knew once we start kissing ♪ Bless this family.
♪ I found ♪
Oh. Ah!
[ Laughter ] I love it.
But wait. Wait, wait, wait. Wait there. Whoo!
Wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait. Come here.
Makiyah: Go. Now, Luke...
Luke: Do you know how hard it is, what you just did?
Do you know how hard it is?
Oh, my goodness!
That was great.
I just want to tell you, it's a joy.
Thank you. Hit 'em with it, Lionel.
Should I do it? Do it.
All right. One, two, three.
Together: You're going to Hollywood Week!
[ Group cheering ]
Thank you. Hey, kid.
Oh, thank you.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in the house!
-Yeah! -Yeah!
And she has a ticket!
[ Group cheering ]
Makiyah: I worked very hard to be here today.
♪♪
We got a golden ticket!
♪ Every day of your life ♪
Carrie: Think about their church on Sundays.
The church must be rocking, boy.
♪ Whoo ♪
♪ Every day of your life ♪♪
[ Organ music plays ]
[ Congregation singing indistinctly ]
Man: Our own Makiyah Mustiful has been granted a golden ticket
to go to Hollywood.
[ Cheers and applause ]
And we all know that she's gonna be representing us.
[ Cheers and applause ]
We all love her. Let's show her how much we love her
and how much we support her.
[ Cheers and applause ]
We going to Hollywood!
[ Congregation singing indistinctly ]
Carrie: You might be my favorite person
that's walked through those doors.
I think you're a racehorse, man.
I love what you did.
You're crazy talented. Crazy, unbelievable.
If we say no to him, what are we doing here?
Yeah, yeah.
Boom! [ Glass clinking ]
I have an announcement.
Yay! [ Laughs ]
[ Both vocalizing ]
It was just mwah!
You can handle it with that voice any day of the week.
I don't think we've seen a star, star, star like you yet.
♪♪
Lionel: I wonder, do we have any valedictorians in this class?
Carrie: Mm! Where did you rank in your class, Carrie?
I was salutatorian.
But the only reason I wasn't valedictorian
is because two of the classes I needed were at the same time.
So you could have been it? Yeah.
And I remember talking to the counselor
like, "This isn't fair.
What were you?
I was not in the running.
[ Laughs ] You didn't qualify.
I was known back then as "Lionel who?"
[ Laughs ] They didn't know I was in the class.
[ Laughter ]
Oh, God.
Woman: How you feeling?
Good. I'm excited. I'm nervous.
Yay! Happy to be here.
Finally here. Oh! It says "Idol."
Man: Today's the day!
It feels incredible to have my family here
because they definitely shaped me
into the young woman I am today.
And I don't know who I'd be without them.
-Oh, yeah. -I love you so much.
Ruby: I've just been trying to think
all the positive thoughts, manifest all of the things,
but the fact that it's all today,
I think, is kind of stressing me out a little.
Oh, my God, I don't know why I'm so nervous.
I'm sorry. Aah!
Lionel: Come on in. Hello.
Carrie: Hi. How are you?
Good. Thanks. How are you guys doing?
Oh, the sunshine yellow.
We're doing fine. Carrie: Yeah!
Tell us who you are. Where are you from?
My name is Ruby Rae.
I'm 16 years old and I'm from Pacific Palisades, California.
What are you gonna sing for us?
I'm singing "Vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo.
Very good. Let's hear it.
[ Intro plays ]
♪♪
♪ Hate to give the satisfaction ♪
♪ Asking how you doing now ♪
♪ How's the castle built off people ♪
♪ You pretend you care about? ♪
♪ Just what you wanted ♪
♪ Look at you, cool guy, you got it ♪
♪ I see the parties and the diamonds ♪
♪ Sometimes when I close my eyes ♪
♪ Six months of torture ♪
♪ You sold as some forbidden paradise ♪
♪ I loved you truly ♪
♪ You gotta laugh at the stupidity ♪
♪ I've made some real big mistakes ♪
♪ You made the worst one look fine ♪
♪ I should have known it was strange ♪
♪ You only come out at night ♪
♪ I used to think I was smart ♪
♪ You made me look so naive ♪
♪ The way you sold me for parts ♪
♪ As you sunk your teeth into me, oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Bloodsucker, dream crusher ♪ Ooh.
♪ Bleeding me dry like a damn vampire ♪
♪ You said it was true love ♪
♪ But wouldn't that be hard? ♪
♪ You can't love anyone ♪
♪ 'Cause that would mean you had a heart ♪
♪ I tried to help you out ♪
♪ Now I know that I can't ♪
♪ 'Cause how you think's the kind of thing ♪
♪ I'll never understand ♪
♪ I've made some real big mistakes ♪
♪ You made the worst one look fine ♪ Wow.
♪ I should have known it was strange ♪
♪ You only come out at night ♪
♪ I used to think I was smart ♪
♪ You made me look so naive ♪
♪ The way you sold me for parts ♪
♪ You sunk your teeth into me ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
Whoo! Wow.
♪ Bloodsucker, dream crusher ♪
♪ Bleeding me dry like a damn vampire ♪
[ Squeals ]
[ Yelling ]
[ Laughter ]
[ Squeals ]
-Can you hear? -Yeah.
She's going right now? She just finished, I think.
"Vampire"? Yeah, I think I heard, like, claps.
I am so happy for us. I mean, I'm so happy for you. Whoo!
Wow!
That was right on the money.
Thank you so much.
If there were a thousand things on a list to check,
I think you checked them all. Yeah. Yeah.
I mean, I don't think we've seen
a star, star, star like you yet.
Really, really incredible.
Your breath control is quite amazing. Thank you.
There was one point and you just kept going. Kept going. Yeah.
And I'm like, "When is she gonna breathe?"
Thank you.
I'm just curious to know -- I mean,
what drove you to be here?
Performing is my favorite thing ever.
And I'm also here really for my community -- the Palisades.
We need a win after such a hard year for everyone.
And I'm just, yeah, here singing for my family and my community.
♪ Where do we go when the last one falls?
Ruby: In January of 2025, there was a wildfire
that destroyed a lot of our community.
♪ And the siren calls ♪
So much of our community burnt,
like my preschool...
[Voice breaking] the first theater I ever performed in,
um, the home that I lived in until I was 5.
My childhood best friends' homes.
Um...
♪ I will carry no thing but my love for you ♪
It was a really --
It's been a really hard time seeing the town
that I grew up in completely gone.
♪ Carry no thing but my love for you ♪
Ruby: After the fires, it was really hard
to just find joy in the little things,
but it's taught me a lot.
It's taught me when everyone comes together,
it can be so strong.
Well, sorry for all of that.
I know the pain that that community is going through,
and to have such a bright spot like you to come in
and represent is fantastic.
Thank you.
I want to vote! Please, Luke, Luke...
calm down. Calm down. I want to vote.
Talk about it. What do you want to do, Lionel?
I want to vote!
Ruby: Okay. It's a yes. A big ole yes.
Big ole yes. Luke. Thank you.
As big as a yes can sound.
This is yes. Of course it's a yes.
Are you kidding me? Yay!
Thank you. That was fantastic.
Come on down here. You're going to Hollywood Week.
Thank you. My gosh! Go out and celebrate.
[ Screams ]
[ Group cheering ]
♪ I will let it be ♪
Ruby: This golden ticket was 100% for my family
and my community in the Palisades.
This has definitely been one of the most challenging years,
but I've learned that I can keep powering through
and the light will keep on shining.
Hollywood Week is upon you. Whoo!
All right. Thank you for being here.
That is a definite top tenner.
That's a different kind of 16.
You know what I mean? [ Laughs ] I agree.
Now, that's a different kind of 16-year-old.
Wow. ♪ I will carry no thing but my love for you ♪
Luke: "Carrie Underwood named the highest-rated
RIAA-certified female country artist of all time."
Oh, guys.
Way to go! Way to go!
Thanks.
Congratulations to our... Congratulations.
...wonderful co-judge. Make our judging -- I love it.
You beat everybody. You slayed them.
How does that make you feel?
I like winning.
Carrie Underwood is literally my favorite singer of all time
since I was 5 and I saw her on "American Idol."
The performer that I look up to is Carrie Underwood.
I, like, love her. And if I see her and meet her,
I might pass out.
Hi. Hello.
Who are you?
My name is Kamryn Palmer, and I'm 25, and I'm from Florida.
But I've lived here for six years.
So I actually dressed up as you for Halloween...
Nice! ...after you won "Idol."
I was 5 years old. My mom is awesome.
She sent a photo to you, and I got a little postcard back.
It's dated December 2006.
Wow. Aww.
And I thought I'd bring it now, so...
Hopefully it's good luck.
Hopefully. I love you so much.
Thank you.
What are you gonna sing today?
"Home Sweet Home" by Motley Crue.
Lionel: Wow. Wow.
You're already making Carrie happy.
What just happened? Hopefully.
[ Intro plays ]
♪♪
♪ You know, I'm a dreamer ♪
♪ But my heart's of gold ♪
♪ I had to run away high ♪
♪ So I wouldn't come home low ♪
♪ I'm on my way ♪
♪ Home, sweet home ♪
♪ Tonight, tonight ♪
♪ I'm on my way ♪
♪ Home, sweet home ♪
All righty.
Kamryn, you're very comfortable in playing... Thank you.
...and singing and emoting,
which is really refreshing. Thank you.
You've got a nice voice, but I just don't know
if it's all the way there yet for "Idol." Okay.
I'm trying to place you in a setting where seven songs in,
is the house gonna come down?
I'm still not quite clear on that element of it.
Yeah.
Um, it's gonna be a no,
but it's a real optimistic no.
Okay. Carrie: You have a good voice.
I would love to, like, hear more fire in there.
This is just crazy! I know, I know.
But if you can find that sass and push your voice... Yeah.
...I think you deserve a chance to do that.
Thank you. So it's a yes for me.
Cool.
I'm gonna work my butt off. [ Laughs ]
I'm a no.
Okay. Thank you.
Before I go, can I sing it with you?
Let's do it. Okay.
Lionel: That's so cool that you would ask.
[ Carrie breathes deeply ]
Kamryn: Okay.
♪♪
Do you start or do I start?
Did y'all plan this? Yeah.
No!
All right, I'll go.
Okay.
♪ You know, I'm a dreamer ♪
♪ But my heart's of gold ♪
♪ I had to run away high ♪
♪ So I wouldn't come home low ♪
I was hoping that the saying no part would get easier.
[ Vocalizing ]
And it -- it did not.
It's a no for me.
And it's -- I was, like, 15 years old... [ Sniffles ]
...and I had a chance and it didn't work out.
And if it had, it would have been the worst thing
that had ever happened to me.
So just keep at it, girlfriend.
Lionel: I don't want to B.S. these kids.
I don't want to fluff them, you know?
I want to make sure they understand
they're not ready yet.
I would really like to see you spend more time working
on your -- on your vocals.
Yeah, it's a no for me.
It's a no for me, bud. Thank you for being here.
-Thank y'all. -Thank you.
Thank you, man.
It was no.
Luke: You always just want to really reassure them
that it's not their time yet...
I'm gonna give you an encouraging no.
I want to push you and I want you to find some fire in there.
Thank you.
...and for them to go continue their path
in the music business.
♪ Home, sweet... ♪
Both: ♪ Home ♪
♪ Tonight, tonight ♪
♪ I'm on my way ♪
♪ Sweet ♪
♪ Home ♪
There you go. Whoo!
That was, like, one of the best moments of my life.
Aww. Thank you. Thank you.
Lionel, they rehearsed that somewhere.
Of course they did. Carrie: We did not.
Thank you. Thank you.
♪ I'm on my way ♪ Okay.
♪ I'm on my way ♪
Oh, no, no. I finally sang that piece
of pepper out of my throat.
Oh, God. Luke, be careful.
♪ Tonight, tonight ♪
No. Yeah.
It's okay. I got to sing with Carrie.
You guys are heartless.
We are not heartless. You are heartless.
I'm 1,000% gonna keep singing. It's my whole life.
It's what I believe I was put on this Earth to do.
And I'm gonna keep doing it.
All right.
♪ I'm on my way ♪
♪ Way ♪
♪ I'm on my way ♪
♪ Home, sweet home ♪
Michael: My name is Michael Garner.
I'm from Palestine, Arkansas,
and I'm a sophomore in high school.
Hey, y'all. What's up?
All right! Hey.
Gosh, how old are you?
I'm 16 years old.
That's great.
When I found out I was gonna be able to audition,
I started busting out, crying. Me and my mom and my dad.
Woman: We're gonna give you a shot.
Are you serious?
Yes, I am serious. Oh, God!
Michael: I feel like this audition
could definitely change my life and my family's lives.
♪ But you're a long way from home ♪
He's gonna do great. We all believe in him.
We're behind you. We love you.
I've watched "Idol" with my family for a long time.
This has always been mine and their dream.
I always said that I was gonna be on there someday,
and here I am.
What do you do in Arkansas other than music?
You know, deer hunt, duck hunt.
The only thing that really is in Arkansas
is football games and back roads, you know.
A little bit nervous going in there?
-Yeah. -I think so.
It's the biggest stage he's ever been on, Ryan, so...
It's a big one. Woman: Yeah.
What kind of music are you into?
Country. All right.
This man says what he says, and he says what he says. Carrie: Yep.
I like it. Man of few words. What are you gonna sing?
I'm gonna sing "I'm Still Fine" by The Red Clay Strays.
Perfect. Let's hear it. All right.
[ Intro plays ]
♪ I'm on display ♪
♪ I've lost my way ♪
♪ Oh, God, I pray ♪
♪ Let this pass over ♪
♪ I lost the note ♪
♪ I rocked the boat ♪
♪ I've even choked ♪
♪ I lost my composure ♪
♪ People here living it up, I think they're blind ♪
♪ I think they're out of their minds ♪
♪ Not one of them has had this ♪
♪ God's not giving me up ♪
♪ No, I'm just fine ♪
♪ It's just a matter of time ♪
♪ Though I can't feel my sadness ♪
♪ I know that it should be there ♪
♪ Maybe I'm just too tired to care ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm still fine ♪
♪♪
[ Music ends ] All right.
Thank you.
Where's he going?
Boom! There you go.
Boom!
Ah, I wish you were, like, 20 years old.
I mean, I believe I'm ready. You know?
I'm willing to give you everything I got.
Yeah, you are. Yeah, you are. You're really good.
Whatever happens today, you're on the right path.
Yes, ma'am.
What you do with your voice
is definitely beyond 16.
Like, I feel like you have a control
and a composure about yourself.
I think I'm gonna --
I'm gonna be wrestling over here.
I think your opening was just nerves.
Um, that look has not caught up with that matured voice.
I'll have to think about this while Luke is talking to you.
If we say no to him, what are we doing here?
Yeah, yeah. I know what you're saying.
In my opinion. I mean, I know he's young,
but we're all saying that he sings great.
[ Chuckles ]
Gosh, he's just playing guitar great.
And he's singing pretty daggone good.
So I look at you, and I see my son,
and I would not throw him in the middle of it
where you are at 16.
So that's where I'm coming from.
It's a no for me.
What do we do with this young prodigy?
♪♪
It's a yes for me.
Nice.
Um...
♪♪
[ Dramatic music plays ]
[ Indistinct conversations ]
Tears.
Ticket.
[ Group cheering ]
High five. Congratulations.
Come over here, young man.
Was that terrifying?
I mean, playing in front of them? Yeah, a little bit.
We did it. We're going to Hollywood Week. Let's go.
He's country Justin Bieber. Luke: Well, and I...
That scares the crap out of me. 'Cause I'm like, "Oh, noooo!"
Listen, listen. You're right.
And all I can think about is Justin Timberlake.
[ Cheers and applause ]
You can't take the mama out of me.
I mean, since when do you --
Yeah, no. It's good. No, it's good.
Since when do you have a heart and you're a mother?
Miss Carrie, I just want to say I'm gonna prove to you
that I have what it takes.
♪ 'Cause I feel it all ♪
Luke: It's been a good day.
Hello, hello. Hello.
Tell us all about yourself.
My name is Sheldon Riley.
I'm 26 years old, from Melbourne, Australia.
[ Australian accent ] Melbourne. What you doing here?
"American Idol," huh? A bit crazy.
[ Laughter ]
I've wanted to do music since I was a really young kid.
When I was maybe about 15 years old, I sung at my school.
And I remember that first applause.
I was like, "Yeah, this is what I want to do."
I loved the way it made me feel.
I loved the way that it made me feel noticed.
About 10 years ago,
I auditioned for a big TV show back in Australia.
Um, it was my big moment.
And I sung my song
and they said, "It wasn't quite enough.
Just you singing, it's not enough."
♪ You said, "Don't lie," so I made the truth ♪
Sheldon: That experience made me doubt myself.
It made me feel I had to play a character just to be seen.
♪ Seemed like a lie to even you ♪
I kind of created this character that dressed up, like, crazy.
The most avant-garde,
high-fashion crystals and diamonds.
And it was the thing that made people see me.
♪ You'll be my resolution ♪
And it just kind of took off.
I had opportunities like crazy --
not just Australia, but the entire world.
♪ Characters of no illusion ♪
I've been on every TV show competition known to man.
I've done it all. And the outfits
just kept getting crazier and crazier and crazier.
It almost felt like an addiction
to be the most memorable person in the room.
But I'd come home.
I'd take the mask off, the makeup, the accessories,
the everything,
and I would hate the person that I saw in the mirror.
I hated that version of me.
♪ I'm not you, nor you, me ♪
So I took two years off and remembered
why that little kid got up onstage that first time.
And this is the one show...
there's no smoke, there's no mirrors, no nothing.
And I said to myself
if I was gonna come back into music,
it would be here with just a piano and just me and...
and if you don't like it, you don't like it.
I don't even know if anyone's ever really gonna want
what I have to give without everything
that I usually put on.
That's a big part of why I'm here --
just to remind myself that my voice is enough.
Everybody's got their version of what you just said. Hm.
You know, everybody's got their mask,
whether it is something physical that they hide behind
or this certain identity that they've created for themselves.
Yeah. And, you know, then, of course,
you do worry that, "If I wasn't that,
would anyone still love me?"
Yeah. You're very relatable.
Aww. Thank you.
What are you gonna sing for us today?
This is "Brother" by Matt Corby.
He's an Australian singer.
Yeah. Okay.
All right. Thank you.
[ Breathes deeply ]
[ Intro plays ]
♪♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh, oh, ohhh ♪
♪ Somebody call out to your brother ♪
♪ He's calling out your name ♪
♪ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh ♪
♪ Hiding under the covers ♪
♪ With no one else to blame ♪
♪ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh ♪
♪ You couldn't help out your own neighbor ♪
♪ You couldn't tell it to his face ♪
♪ You were messed up by the blame ♪
♪ You cower in the corner ♪
♪ Confide in your father ♪
♪ Let it out and say ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Let it pass away ♪
♪ Yeah, hey, yeah, yeah, hey ♪
♪ Wait there ♪
♪ Pull yourself out of this state, dear ♪
♪ Acknowledge you were a fake here ♪
♪ And from there, you might just grow ♪
♪ Grow ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Somebody call out to your brother ♪
♪ He's calling out your name ♪
♪ Whoa, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ You couldn't help out your own neighbor ♪
♪ You couldn't tell it to his face ♪
♪ You were messed up by the blame ♪
♪♪
Yeah.
Wow.
Thanks. Thank you.
You're crazy-talented.
Crazy. Unbelievable. Thank you.
Don't know why you ever had to wear the mask
'cause you're an amazing-looking person.
You being the loudest guy in the room,
you don't always have to be that.
Being the most dynamic singer in the room,
you don't have to be that.
It's okay to just peel a layer off.
But that was impressive.
Thank you. You're an artist, man.
And you're authentic.
I love watching someone in their moment.
You have stage presence.
It's all there.
Accept you. Embrace you.
Yeah.
I'm really glad you're here.
I'm really glad I'm here.
Yeah, I love your voice.
Let's vote.
Yes.
Thank you.
Yes.
Thank you very much.
And make it three. It's a yes for me.
You're going to Hollywood Week. Thank you so much.
I appreciate it. Thank you so much.
Yeah, man. You just...
just sing.
Lionel: Enjoy. Enjoy this. Thank you.
All right. Welcome to the class.
Thank you, thank you. [ Laughs ] Thank you.
I've been judged by a lot of people,
um, very important people.
But, uh, I feel like that was the first time
it really meant something...
because I went out there not playing a character.
It was me. They liked me.
♪ If nothing lasts forever, babe ♪
♪ Then can we make a start? ♪
Cha! Cha! Cha!
Oh, yeah. This is gonna be good.
♪♪
I'm Trace Casanova. I'm 22 years old.
I'm a lounge singer from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Is that your God-given name?
Oh, no. No? "Oh, no."
I was raised by bikers.
Growing up in the dive bars, biker clubs.
That's where I get the leather vest from, you know?
My motto is, I take my career seriously, not myself.
One, two, three, four. One, two, three.
♪ I'm-a just out of school ♪
♪ I'm-a real, real cool ♪
♪ Gotta jump, gotta jive ♪
♪ Got the message, I'm alive ♪
♪ I'm a wild, I'm a wild one ♪
♪ Ooh, I'm a wild one ♪
♪ Gonna keep a-shaking, gonna keep a-moving ♪
♪ Mama, don't you cramp my style ♪
♪ I'm a real wild child ♪
You keep going, Phred. Hey, Carrie.
I just wanted to say you're one
of the most gorgeous judges I've ever seen. Luke: Hey!
No offense, fellas. Aww. Thank you so much.
If we were to go out dancing, let me show you what would happen.
Okay. Hey!
♪ Well ♪
♪ I'm a-gonna pick you up in my '88 ♪
♪ Get ready, sugar, and don't be late ♪
♪ We're gonna move it all night long ♪
♪ Whole lotta shakin' going on ♪
♪ I'm a wild one ♪
♪ Yeah, baby, I'm a wild one ♪
♪ Gonna break loose, gonna keep it moving, baby ♪ Carrie: Whoo!
♪ Don't you cramp my style, I'm a real wild child ♪
Why'd you give her back? Whoo!
You don't give her back.
Keep her dancing. Bring it home, Phredley!
♪ Cramp my style, I'm a real wild child ♪
Whoo!
Oh!
Whoo!
Carrie: Whoo, whoo, whoo! Encore!
Wait, wait, wait. We need more.
I'd like to have another song, right?
I think we do. I think we do. Yeah, we're gonna need one.
Keep the energy going. Trace: All right. Sure.
[ "Grazing in the Grass" plays ]
Wow. Old chorus there.
♪ I like big butts, and I cannot lie ♪
Yes!
♪ You other brothers can't deny ♪
♪ When a girl walks in ♪
♪ With an itty-bitty waist ♪ ♪ Itty-bitty waist ♪
Trace and Luke: ♪ And a round thing in your face ♪
♪ You get sprung ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Wanna pull up tough, 'cause you noticed ♪
♪ That butt was stuffed ♪
♪ Deep in the jeans she's wearing ♪
♪ I'm hooked and I can't stop staring ♪
♪ Whoa, baby, wanna come wit' ya ♪
♪ And take your picture ♪ A picture!
♪ My homeboys tried to warn me ♪ Butt!
♪ But that butt you got make me so... ♪
♪ Fellas ♪ Carrie: Yeah?
♪ Fellas ♪ Yeah?
♪ Has your girlfriend got the butt? ♪
Hell yeah!
♪ Tell her to shake it ♪ Shake it.
♪ Shake it ♪ Shake it!
♪ Shake that healthy butt ♪
♪ Baby got back ♪
Hey, bring it in, everybody.
♪ Baby got back ♪
Oh, yeah.
Here's my favorite part. ♪ Carrie got ♪
Sorry. Carrie: What? H.R.! H.R.!
Trace: ♪ Little in the middle, but you got much back ♪
♪ Little in the middle, but you got much back ♪
♪ Baby got back ♪
I like you, Trace.
Luke, what do you think?
Ohh, Casanova...
uh, I think it's probably a stretch for American Idol,
but I can appreciate your ministry.
Yeah. Thanks.
Joy. Humor.
I love what you did. Thank you.
Honestly, when I tell you that.
But unfortunately, this is a competition. Right.
I don't want to let you guys vote.
Oh. Yeah. I'm in charge here.
♪ I like big butts and I cannot lie ♪ I'm in charge here.
I feel you, Carrie. I know what you're saying.
I think we need you.
I think you're a morale booster for all of us.
I'm thinking of myself and my fellow judges
and all the people that work on this show,
and all the joy you would bring as you go forth.
So I'm gonna give you a yes.
All right.
I'm gonna give you a no.
All right.
What is it, Lionel?
[ Dramatic music plays ]
♪♪
♪ I like big butts ♪
Woman: Yay!
♪ Your other brothers can't deny ♪
I never thought I would have
Carrie Underwood fighting for me,
but, hey, I guess I'm just a cowboy Casanova.
He's the class clown.
♪ A good-time cowboy Casanova ♪
It's one of her songs.
♪ Leaning up against the record machine ♪
We got to check y'all's ears.
This slice of Casanova cake is going to Hollywood Week!
♪ Candy-coated misery ♪
[ Group cheering ]
I feel that some things just have to be pursued.
No, this was... That was great.
Sorry. I followed you, Carrie.
What is happening?
Hello. Hi.
Welcome. Who do you listen to?
Carrie, you've been, like, my vocal inspiration
for as long as I can remember. Ah. Very cool.
Like, "Cowboy Casanova"
just has a very special place in my heart.
Can you kind of give us a little taste?
Let's hope I remember the lyrics.
I will help you.
Lionel: Yeah, she knows all the lyrics.
Kitti: Okay. So just look at her.
Both: ♪ He's a good-time cowboy Casanova ♪
♪ Leaning up against the record machine ♪
Luke: Look at her face.
You gotta get some stink face going.
♪ He's the devil in disguise, a snake with blue eyes ♪
Oh, my gosh, you're so good. I'm, like, fangirling.
I can't believe this is happening.
That was great. Come on in, guys.
There you go.
This is my instrument for today.
Well, you brought enough backup, I would say.
Tell us who you are.
And then who are those people behind you? Yeah.
Well, my name is Kitti Taye.
I'm 22, and I'm from Laveen, Arizona.
And this is Mosaic Whispers, my college a cappella group,
and I thought I'd share one of my songs with y'all
with them as my instrument.
Okay. What are you gonna sing for us?
We're gonna sing "Masterpiece" by Jazmine Sullivan.
Oh, wow. Let's have it. Okay.
[ Group vocalizing ]
♪ My eyes ain't used to rays ♪
♪ I'm feeling exposed ♪
♪ But I can't hide no more ♪
♪ I can't hide ♪
♪ As the sun shines on all of my glory ♪
♪ My flaws don't look so bad at all ♪
♪ What was I so afraid of? ♪
♪ Every part of me is a vision of a portrait of Mona ♪
♪ Of Mona Lisa ♪
[ Vocalizing ]
♪ Every part of me is beautiful ♪
♪ And I'll finally see ♪
♪ I'm a work of art ♪
♪ I'm a masterpiece ♪
♪ Oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh ♪
[ Vocalizing ]
♪ Mona Lisa, ooh ♪
[ Music ends ] Wow.
Wow. That was amazing. Thank you.
Thank you so much. That was amazing.
I want to tell you, I really enjoyed it.
Thank you. Yeah. You guys...
Luke: Look out, Lionel. Yeah, they had that...
♪ Whoa, ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
Thank you. Thanks so much.
Carrie.
Very sweet. Kitti: Thank you.
Um, I feel like you were so sweet and smiley.
Thank you.
Carrie: And I feel like it needed maybe a little more
staying in character just a little bit.
Okay. Okay.
Um, but you have a -- you have a fabulous voice.
Thank you. Thank you so much. Carrie: Absolutely.
Luke. Yeah.
I mean, you surprisingly got a nice country tone to it.
That soulful country, like... Yeah. Soulful country.
And, um, and even on the song with the whole group,
you really had some great vocal moments, too.
Okay. Thank you.
Yeah. Yeah.
Let's vote. Carrie?
I would like to hear more.
It's a -- it's a yes for me.
Thank you. Oh, my gosh.
Yes. Yay!
It's a yes for me.
Without a doubt.
Welcome to the university.
Oh, my gosh. You got it.
Thank you so much. Congrats.
It's so nice to meet you.
So nice to meet you.
So good, you guys.
Ladies. Fantastic. Thank you.
Great support.
[ All screaming ]
Kitti: That was amazing.
Oh, my gosh.
Can't really believe what just happened, but...
It's okay. Pinch me.
All: ♪ She's going to Hollywood Week ♪
[ Laughter ]
I couldn't stop looking at her baby knees.
Her what? Baby knees?
When you have, like, a face in your knees.
Lionel: Oh, really?
Do you know baby knees?
I've never heard of it. I didn't know that.
I have baby knees.
Oh, really?
Right after Kate and William had their baby.
George. Right?
Right. Yeah. George. Yeah.
My knees were in a magazine,
and it was like "Prince George's face is
in Carrie Underwood's knees."
And I was like, "What the crap is going on with my knees?"
So I have baby faces in my knees, and I can --
I can make them sing, too.
You can make them sing?
I was like, ♪ Baa ♪
♪ Baa, baa ♪
I gotta check my knees now.
That's crazy.
[ Bluegrass music playing ]
♪♪
Lionel: Ah, there we are.
Carrie: Hello! Luke: How you doing?
Hannah: Good. How are you?
Great. What's your name?
Hannah Harper. Where are you from?
Willow Springs, Missouri.
Where did you get that dress?
This was homemade.
If this doesn't scream, "Yeehaw,"
I don't know what will. [ Laughs ]
What kind of music do you perform? Listen to?
I grew up doing bluegrass.
My family had a bluegrass-gospel band.
Went church to church and sang at churches.
I grew up in a super musical family.
My dad worked at the lead mine for several years.
One evening he was just feeling like God was calling him
to do something different with his life.
So in 2009, my parents quit their jobs and we bought a bus
and we went on the road as a family band.
[ Bluegrass music playing ]
The tour bus was 40 foot long,
it was bright red and we lived on the bus for seven years.
We just would go coast to coast
and play banjos and sing for the Lord.
It was a very unconventional upbringing,
but I literally wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
[ Cheers and applause ]
We didn't come back into Missouri until 2016.
We settled back down and then I met my husband,
got married and we found out we were pregnant
with our first baby, like, four months after we got married.
Oh, right in the noggin. I'm sorry, buddy.
Then one turned to three really fast.
With three boys comes a lot of chaos...
♪ Same old coffee ♪
...and a lot of fun.
♪ Same old coffee cup ♪
Cy, why are you standing up there?
♪ Same old house, same old stuff ♪
It's just hectic at all times.
Mom, I need some piece of paper.
♪ To clean it up ♪
Let's eat some pizza and then you can go take a nap.
Do you want to go night-night? No! No!
I'm trying out for the show just because I want
the opportunity to give the boys the same life
that I had growing up in a bigger way, if possible.
To be able to sustain my family and do music full time.
Carrie: I have two boys.
They make things more interesting.
Oh, for sure. Mine's been screaming all day.
Carrie: Good. Yay! That's great. Love it.
What are you gonna sing for us today?
I'm gonna sing an original
that I wrote called "String Cheese."
You're, like, my favorite person.
You're wearing homemade clothes.
You're singing songs called "String Cheese."
What's the song about?
My youngest is 1.
And shortly after he was born, I had postpartum depression.
And so I was sitting on my couch.
I said I wasn't gonna cry.
I was sitting on my couch wallowing.
And you have boys. You know.
Everybody wants to touch you.
And I didn't want to be touched.
And my youngest son,
like, I was just having a pity party and praying
that the Lord would calm my -- calm my spirit.
And my son kept coming up to me, and he said, "Mom, open this.
Mom, open this. Open my cheese."
I'm like, "Leave me alone with the dadgum cheese."
And I finally opened his cheese.
And when I did, I realized that God had put me in that place
and that where I was in my house was the biggest ministry
that I could ever have.
And being a mom, so...
I gathered myself and I got up off the couch
and I quit throwing a pity party.
And I realized that that was exactly what I wanted.
And I kind of kicked the postpartum depression
in the butt, and I said, "I ain't doing it."
There you go.
So I wrote this song called "String Cheese."
Do you need a second? I want to give you, like...
Hannah: Probably just give me one second.
Yeah. Yeah.
Carrie: I can't -- I can't cry and sing, so...
I don't want to put you in that position.
That is a tough one.
Here. Thank you so much.
Man: You ready? I think so.
♪♪
♪ I warm my morning coffee up for the third time ♪
♪ Miss Rachel on the TV with their favorite nursery rhyme ♪
♪ Hot Wheels and Little People under my feet ♪
♪ Babies crying ♪
♪ It's pure chaos, but I don't miss a beat ♪
♪ Always knew that a 9 to 5 wouldn't suit me very good ♪
♪ But my hours are extended ♪
♪ That's just motherhood ♪
♪ I never knew this is what my 20s would look like ♪
♪ But they saved me before I had the chance to waste my life ♪
♪ One day I'll be alone with a hot, fresh cup of Joe ♪
♪ Wishing that someone would just drop by ♪
♪ And I'll sit and reminisce on times that I sure miss ♪
♪ Of scattered toys and a baby on my hip ♪
♪ I thought finding peace in the quiet's what I wanted ♪
♪ But I'd do anything to go back to being needed ♪
♪ To those days I want to cry ♪
♪ Run away and hide ♪
♪ But I'd worry about their every need ♪
♪ When I'm overwhelmed and touched out ♪
♪ They come climbing up on the couch saying, "Mama ♪
♪ Can you open my string cheese?" ♪
♪ I smile because I know meeting their needs fills my soul ♪
♪ Being their mama is who I'm meant to be ♪
Do you have more tissues?
Oh!
My turn.
[ Laughs ]
This pack is going quick.
[ Laughs ]
Um, well, that's about the most relatable song
I think I've ever heard.
Hannah, great job.
Thank you. Great job.
Just with that mountainous bluegrass sound
that you have in there.
I kept thinking, like, Kacey Musgraves is in there.
I kept thinking, certainly Alison Krauss.
A lot of -- A little Dolly.
A little Dolly in there.
And gosh, even if we got you to lean in more on it,
fill the room a little more,
you're gonna be able to move some people.
But great song.
Way to really write the moment you're in.
Yeah. Lionel: Yeah.
I want you to use Dolly as the example of two things.
One, her storytelling ability.
And two, she has the ability to tell that story
and then give us a lift. Mm-hmm.
You've got the range.
I would have loved to have found you
just on one of those lines, just hold it for a minute.
♪ La la la ♪
I was gonna, but then I chickened out
because I was crying. Yeah, well, it's hard to come from a tear.
It is.
You might be my favorite person
that's walked through those doors in the past week.
You're my new best friend.
Um, you're gorgeous.
Thank you. Like, you look famous already.
I just think you have just
a beautiful simplicity to your voice.
You're one that I'm gonna think about when we leave here.
Like, "I wonder what song she's gonna sing next."
And I feel like I'm gonna be just rooting for you.
I love everything about everything you just did.
Thank you so much. I mean, it's a yes.
I'll go first. It's a yes for me.
I'll go second. It's a yes for me.
Yes for me. Heck yeah, brother.
Come get this. You are going to Hollywood Week.
Thank you. Going to Hollywood Week.
It's nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, too.
I got a ticket!
Right on!
♪ Go on ♪
Hannah: Hearing Carrie say that I was one of her favorite people
that has walked through the doors,
I almost melted in my boots.
That's the biggest compliment I've ever received.
She was great.
Oh, my goodness.
It means a lot to me to get up there and stand
and represent other moms.
♪ So good ♪
And let them know that they're not alone
and let them know
that they can still chase their dreams with their little people.
Some real juice on that one.
Unassuming. Sweet.
Perfectly moldable into stardom.
♪ I'm gonna love you ♪
Boy: Yeah!
Look. You wanna help me put it on the fridge?
♪ Gonna love you ♪
Good job.
Luke: ♪ Can't hurry love ♪
Luke, Carrie, and Lionel: ♪ No, you don't have to wait ♪
♪ She said love don't come easy ♪
Luke and Lionel: ♪ It's a game of give and take ♪
♪ I remember mama said ♪
Oh, I missed the beat!
Have you seen the guy do the...
♪ You just have to wait ♪ ...put pins and stuff?
Is that one of your TikToks?
It's a TikTok. I can tell right away.
He's on the TikTok doom scroll.
[ Connie Francis' "Pretty Little Baby" playing ]
Oh, man.
I remember swearing off TikTok and now I'm a TikToker.
♪ Pretty little baby
♪ You say that maybe ♪
Is he down? ♪ You'll be thinkin' of me ♪
Is he down?
♪ And try to love me ♪
♪ Pretty little baby ♪ [ Laughs ]
I'm addicted to TikTok.
I'll just go on and say it
if anybody wants to intervene.
♪ Ooooh ♪
♪ You can ask the flowers ♪
Ah, look at that.
♪ I sit for hours ♪ [ Meows ]
♪ I sit for hours ♪
[ Horn honking ]
♪ I sit for hours♪
[ Speaks indistinctly ]
Luke: And now I'm actually scrolling, finding talent
that somehow makes it in front of us judges.
♪ Pretty little baby ♪
Well, tell us how you made it here.
Somebody happened to see me.
That's right.
What's your dreams in music?
I want to go from being a TikTok singer to a real singer,
and I also really want a Birkin bag.
Oh! Ha!
♪ I've been everywhere, man ♪
♪ Looking for you, babe ♪
♪ Searching for you, babe ♪
But, Lord, I've had a lot of no's.
I don't want to tell you no
Yeah. because I feel like I'm responsible
for bringing you here.
But it's a no for me right now.
♪ Don't tell 'em I've gone crazy ♪
It's gonna be a no for me this trip.
I agree. It's a no for me.
Obviously, I'm learning that TikTok has filters on it
to make you sound amazing,
so maybe I need to go find those filters
and sing on them myself. [ Laughs ]
Alright. Tell the world how you arrived here.
I had somebody message me
and they were like, "Hey, come on in."
Well, I might have seen you on TikTok.
But I must say, currently,
I'm 0 for 2 on TikTok referrals.
♪ We both know where this is gonna lead ♪
Whoo! Come on.
I think I'm gonna be okay.
Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Think I ended the slump, Lionel.
You did. I think you...
♪ Probably lead ♪
[ Applause ] Whoo!
What'd you think, Carrie?
[ Laughing ]
I'm a yes.
Lionel.
Congratulations, Luke.
It's a yes for me.
Hey. Awesome.
Yes! Yes.
I'm 1 for 3. There you go.
♪ Now is just the time ♪ Thank you guys so much.
♪ While both of us are young ♪
Mr. Luke Bryan,
thank you so much for getting me here after seeing my TikTok.
You did it.
Finally.
I was told that I saved Luke Bryan's career.
And you totally redeemed yourself.
♪ Or at the pop shop ♪
♪ Pretty little baby ♪
Let's go!
♪ Pretty little baby ♪
Are you videoing?
Oh, yeah. Oh, my gosh!
Carmen, I'm so proud of you.
Yay!
[ Camera shutter clicks ]
Oh, my goodness.
Hi, I'm Carmen Lorell Martin.
I'm 20 years old.
I'm from El Dorado Hills, California,
and I'm here with my aunt Britani Bateman
from "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City."
Aah! I'm so excited.
She lives with me.
You're on "Real Housewives of..."
Of Salt Lake City. Yes. Salt Lake City.
So who is your nemesis?
Or is there not one?
Or are there many?
I feel like you guys are gonna be in next season as well.
I just get this vibe about you. I think so too.
We're gonna start some fights.
I think on the show, she's definitely still her silly self.
She's a little crazy and I love it.
Ding ding ding. Ding ding ding ding.
Ding ding ding. I have an announcement.
What about me?
You guys, seriously. What about me?
Ah!
Carmen: Britani has always been a very big mentor to me
to get out there.
Okay, everybody look up. Get in, Carmen.
Okay. She has her own spotlight.
She's living out her dream. And that's why I'm here, too.
She is music.
I mean, she radiates music out of her pores.
Your aura just explodes Yeah.
into bubbles and lights.
Yeah.
♪ Carmelita ♪
That's -- My theme song.
You go in there and you crush it.
My lovely Carmelita.
Woman: Britani, you could stay off to the side
and just sing "Carmelita" as she comes in,
and they don't know what's...
♪ Carmelita ♪
I really should do that.
Does anyone have a glass and a knife?
Why do you have a wine glass?
Uh...you'll see.
Luke: Howdy, howdy, howdy.
Whoa, wait. What?
What's happening?
Hi.
How are you? How are y'all?
What do you have?
I have an announcement.
What is the announcement?
This is my beautiful niece. ♪ Carmelita ♪
That's been her nickname since she was born.
Carmelita?
That is me.
Do you know me? I'm Britani.
[ Crickets chirping ]
Britani Bateman.
"The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City."
Oh. We, uh...
But this is not about me.
This is about my amazing, gorgeous, perfect niece,
Hi. who you're about to hear.
And it's insane.
Well, if we don't have good things to say,
she has a knife, she has a weapon.
So, alright, Miss Britani,
you can go right there on that "X."
Be careful. Don't fall over that.
Give away the spotlight to the niece.
Alright, let's hear it. Let's hear it.
Carmen: Okay.
Do you guys want this?
Yes. For good keeping.
Oh, good keeping. Carrie: Sure.
Yes? Let's do it, Miss Carmen.
Okay.
[ Playing "Thought It Was Love" ]
♪ I woke up with a headache today ♪
♪ 'Cause I've got a mortgage due and an empty bed to make ♪
♪ Baby, I bet you're happy now ♪
♪ Probably found you someone new ♪
♪ Who's got his life all figured out ♪
♪ Girl, I thought it was love ♪
♪ Girl, I knew it was love ♪
♪ I guess I didn't know what love was ♪
Good job.
You have a really pretty voice.
Like, your range is really great.
You're hitting some high notes in there,
but it would be great if you could put some oomph in there.
Yeah. We actually might have something to sing together.
Okay. Cool. Oh.
Carmen: Yeah. Let's hear y'all do one.
Okay. Go ahead. Just sing.
Have fun like you're in the living room.
Lionel: You got it. Okay.
♪ Let me be your star ♪
♪ I'll just have to forget the hurt ♪
♪ That came before ♪
♪ Forget what used to be ♪
♪ The past is on the cutting room floor ♪
♪ The future is here with me ♪
Both: ♪ Choose me ♪
♪ It's all you've been needing ♪
♪ It's all here and my heart's pleading ♪
♪ Let me be your star ♪
That was great. Well. Well.
Um, yeah. I think...
Runs in the family. I learned something.
It's very good.
It was very present there.
We just got to get you to cut loose a little bit.
I think the piano is forcing you to be very proper.
Oh, you should see me with a band.
Well, we gotta get you to the band.
That's very true. That's very true.
I think that the only way
she's gonna actually understand this thing
called roughing up is to put her in a brawl.
And the only way to put you in a brawl is to say yes.
So you can go to the next level
and meet the rest of this crazy class,
and you'll understand what this means.
Oh, yeah. Okay?
So it's a yes for me. Okay.
I think your voice has definitely earned you a yes,
but I want to see some -- some fire.
Carmen: I can show it. I kind of believe you can.
It's a yes. Hey!
Let me see the glass.
Ding ding ding.
Not too hard there. Not too hard.
I need you to come get your golden ticket.
[ All cheer ]
I have an announcement.
Carmen: ♪ We're going to Hollywood ♪
♪ You're going to holiday ♪
Oops.
♪ You're going to Hollywood ♪
[ All screaming ]
She's a good little singer.
I have an announcement. Come on.
I swear! I swear, it's true.
Carmen: I think today, I played it very safe.
But they will see the fire that is inside me
and they will see me roar.
I concur.
She didn't seem villainous.
No.
Nice to meet you. So nice to meet you.
Thank you for coming. Seriously, thank you.
By the way, are you still dating Jared?
[ Laughing ]
Is that true? Is that real?
I was always wondering.
♪ Lean on me, yeah ♪
♪ When you're not strong ♪
♪ I'll be your friend ♪
♪ I'll help you carry on ♪
♪ For it won't be long ♪
♪ 'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on ♪
♪ I just might have a problem ♪
Come on. ♪ That you understand ♪
♪ We all need somebody ♪ ♪ We all need somebody ♪
♪ To lean on ♪ ♪ To lean on ♪
♪ You just call me ♪
♪ You just call me, yeah ♪
♪ You just call me ♪
Cool. Alright.
Whoo! Wow.
Thank you so much.
I have never seen you just jump out of that chair.
It made me happy. She was like...
I was like, "Is she gonna rush the artist?"
I think it is because, you know, you did your own thing with it.
It sounded fresh and I feel like it was such a smart song choice.
It was just, mwah. Thank you.
You know, I'm telling you, familiarity is everything.
Uh, big voice.
Once you go to the kaboom,
it's magnificent.
Thank you.
You took that song that the world
has heard a million times,
and you made it very authentically you.
Which that says you're an artist in your own mind
and your own right.
I appreciate it.
Can I say I'm a yay?!
I'm a yes! Yay.
Yes. Yes!
Thank you so much. Wow. There we go.
You need this. Break the news.
You're going to Hollywood Week.
Okay. Thank you so much. Carrie: Thank you.
Can I shake your hands? Oh, please.
It's an absolute pleasure. Pleasure.
The standing ovation from Carrie Underwood was --
was insane.
And here he comes with...
Hello!
[ All cheering ]
♪ Just call me ♪
♪ When you need a friend ♪
I'm going to Hollywood Week, baby!
♪ When you need a friend ♪
♪ Call me ♪
I appreciate you coming. It means the world.
I know you're gonna do great.
You got it.
Love you, dawg.
Love you.
My name's Braden Rumfelt.
I'm 22 years old, and I'm from Murphy, North Carolina.
You got it.
Ahh!
Oh, no.
When I was young, my life revolved around baseball.
My twin brother, Kellen, and I played sports constantly.
Dad was dead set on us becoming college athletes.
Unfortunately, going into high school,
I was starting having knee pain in both of my legs.
♪ Tell me how to be in this world ♪
Then I found out that I have a congenital issue.
My legs are naturally in the wrong position.
♪ Tell how to be in this world ♪
I needed surgery,
I needed two lower leg realignments.
That put a stop to the dreams of becoming an athlete.
♪ Tell me how to be in this world ♪
It was tough seeing everybody be able to get to do
what I wanted to do.
As I'm hurt, it kind of hit me like,
"Wait, I feel better when I am singing."
And my twin brother, Kellen, was there for me.
He was kind of like my voice of encouragement.
♪ That even in the dark we will find a way out ♪
Kellen: Growing up, until now,
I always felt that his talent is music, is singing,
and I couldn't be more proud of Braden
because of everything that he's gone through,
where he's at now with pursuing his new dream.
He's my hero.
Braden: The only reason
that I hadn't signed up for "American Idol"
was because I was scared.
This is my dream.
I didn't know that I would get like, a, you know,
a chance like this.
So this is -- this is really awesome.
What's up? Well, hey.
Carrie: Hi. How's it going?
I'm really good. Who are you?
My name's Braden Rumfelt.
I'm 22 years old. I'm from Murphy, North Carolina.
This is my twin, Kellen.
Twin brother. Oh, yeah.
Did y'all grow up playing music together?
We did.
As long as I've been sentient, I've been singing.
Good deal, good deal. Alright.
What do you want to sing for us?
"Girl Crush" by Little Big Town.
Let's hear it.
You ready? Kellen: Yep. I'm ready to go.
♪♪
♪ I got a girl crush ♪
♪ I hate to admit it but ♪
♪ I've got a hard rush ♪
♪ Ain't slowing down ♪
♪ Yeah, I wanna taste her lips ♪
♪ Yeah, 'cause they taste like you ♪
♪ I wanna drown myself ♪
♪ In a bottle of her perfume ♪
♪ I want her long blonde hair ♪
♪ I want her magic touch ♪
♪ Yeah, 'cause maybe then ♪
♪ You'd want me just as much ♪
♪ And I've got a girl crush ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ I wanna taste her lips ♪
♪ Yeah, 'cause they taste like you ♪
♪ I want to drown myself ♪
Whoo. I like that.
♪ In a bottle of her perfume ♪
♪ I want her long blonde hair ♪
♪ I want her magic touch ♪
♪ Yeah, 'cause maybe then ♪
♪ You'd want me just as much ♪
♪ And I've got a girl crush ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ And I've got a girl crush ♪
That's good. That's a standing...
Yeah. That's good, that's good. That's good.
Luke: What do you think, Carrie? I'm happy.
Surprising.
I don't know what I expected to come out of your mouth,
but that wasn't it and it made me happy.
I feel like you are very nervous.
I am. Gotta loosen up.
Like, I wanted to come out there and just, like,
shake your arms
and throw your vest across the room.
And I think you're a racehorse, man.
Don't you agree? I agree.
You have a top end to your voice.
It's not as high as Steve Perry,
but the texture when you get up there
is so sweet, man.
Doesn't break.
No, it does not.
If we can wake the outside of you up...
Mm-hmm.
...to combine it with the inside of you,
what's coming out...
we've got show business.
Oh, he can sing, y'all.
He can sing. Yeah, he can. Yes, he can.
You're gonna do really good in this competition.
Gonna do really great. I think we can 1, 2, 3 it.
Yeah. 1, 2, 3.
All: You're going to Hollywood Week!
Hollywood Week! Let's go.
Carrie: Yes! Hollywood Week!
It's gonna be fun.
Y'all are great, I appreciate it.
Good job. Gotta get a handshake
off you, too, man. Come on.
Yes, sir.
Luke: Good job, twin brother.
Great job. Good seeing you, man.
Alright. Yeah. Good seeing you.
Way to go.
Alright. Bye. Bye.
Awesome. High five. We're fired up.
Let's go.
Like, are we -- Is this real, you know?
I almost wanted to pinch myself.
♪ You want me just as much ♪
That was nice. Heck yeah.
Standing ovation.
With the struggles that I've had over the years,
couldn't be happier.
He is 80% Lionel: He can sing his butt off.
of what he could be doing.
He's got such potential.
♪ You want me just as much ♪
♪ I got a girl crush ♪
[ All cheering ]
That was crazy to see how well he did.
We've got a lot of memories together under our belt.
And I wouldn't be here without his help.
And I love this guy. He's the best.
You're gonna make me cry, dude.
I'm going to Hollywood Week.
[ All cheering ]
♪ An old cowpoke went riding out ♪
♪ A dark and windy day ♪
♪ Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way ♪
♪ When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw ♪
♪ Plowing through those ragged skies ♪
♪ And up the cloudy draw ♪
♪ Yippee-yi-yo ♪
♪ Yippee-yi-aye ♪
♪ For the ghost riders in the sky ♪
Ah!
Sorry. Whew. Lionel: There you go.
It happens.
Oh, you know, Matthew, I mean, right now,
you're just doing a sing-along.
We're talking about lead singer,
center stage, crowd screaming at you.
I'm gonna give you a passionate no,
because you're passionate about this business.
I think that passion is gonna take you a long way
and don't lose that spark, man.
It was a no.
It's a no today, but I'm not gonna stop working.
I'm not gonna... not gonna give up.
[ Thunder rumbling ]
I'm gonna make the best of this moment.
You have been on some amazing platforms.
You've been with national recording artists.
But today is your day.
Hi.
Come on in. What's your name?
My name is Tianna Roberts.
Carrie: What brings you to us today?
I'm just ready to get myself out there,
take the risk.
That's just kind of been my motto for the year.
No risk, no story, so...
No risk, no story. What's the deal with that?
Well, uh, last year,
I had a miscarriage. Ahh.
That moment made me realize that life is short.
And I could just think of all the things that I didn't do
because I was too scared.
I decided that the risk was worth the sacrifice.
So no risk, no story.
So here I am. Ahh.
I like that. Very good.
Well, what are you gonna be singing for us?
I'm gonna be singing a hymn called "Pass Me Not."
Okay. Okay.
[ Piano playing "Pass Me Not" ]
♪♪
♪ Pass me not ♪
♪ O gentle Sa... ♪
♪ Savior ♪
♪ Hear ♪
♪ My humble cry ♪
♪ While, while on others ♪
♪ Thou art call-alling ♪
♪ Savior, do ♪
♪ Do not pass me ♪
♪ Me by ♪
♪ I'm crying Savior ♪
♪ O Sa-a-a-vior ♪
♪ Why don't you hear ♪
♪ My humble cry ♪
♪ Oh, while ♪
♪ While on others ♪
♪ Thou art, art calling ♪
♪ Savior, do ♪
♪ Do not pass me ♪
♪ Me by ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ Oh, do ♪
♪ Do not pass me ♪
♪ By ♪
Whoo!
Thank you.
Thank you! Wow.
You have an incredible voice.
I feel like we've been waiting for you all day.
[ Laughs ] Tell me about it.
When you have a foundation and an instrument like you have,
it's just a matter of,
what song would you like to sing?
On this show, it's gonna be challenging
because you're gonna cover everything from Disney songs
all the way across to every event
that ever happened in life in the music world.
You can handle it with that voice any day of the week.
I love what you did.
Thank you so much.
Well, great big voice. You just sang within your means.
When I saw you going for the big note,
I was like, "Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh.
She got it. Alright. She saved it for the end."
We love our gospel singers.
But just get ready to branch out and get ready --
I'm ready. Get ready to do a lot of stuff.
Carrie: You made everything just seem very effortless.
Your small notes were beautiful and clear and crisp.
You kept things small and then it grew.
And by the end of it, you were just soaring.
You are a really talented vocalist.
Thank you.
It is a massive yes for me.
Yes.
It's a yes from me.
You got three yeses.
Ah! Okay.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Your girl did it.
Whoo!
♪♪
I don't even have words
to describe what it felt like for them to say,
"We've been waiting for you."
Like, "What? Me?"
Star, star, star, star, star right here.
Woman: She's our winner. She will always be our winner.
I'm proud of you. I'm so proud of you.
Thank you, Mama.
I got my ticket. Hey.
I got my ticket.
Julián.
Do you remember this kid?
Yes. I've thought about him a lot.
Lionel: Really? Huh?
Ahh! Julián: Hey, guys.
Carrie: Hi. How are y'all?
Julián: We're doing great. How are you guys?
We are so happy to see you.
We're happy to be here.
1, 2. 1, 2, 3, 4.
[ Guitar strumming ]
My name is Julián Kelel Amanson.
I'm from El Paso, Texas, and I'm 19 years old.
Last year at audition, I had no idea what to expect.
Obviously, I was terrified.
When I talk about it with my sister,
we both say that we kind of just blacked out
and, um, gave a performance of our lives, I guess.
♪ There's a hole in my chest ♪
♪ Knock me down ♪
♪ Lay me to rest ♪
♪ Drown my thoughts with kerosene ♪
I performed an original song called "Surrender,"
which talks about the struggles of anxiety and depression.
♪ So I surrender ♪
♪ If it's worth it, I'll raise a flag ♪
♪ But fate is in his hands ♪
I felt like I was at your show just now.
Are you serious?
Yeah, I did. Wow.
It played like a record.
Just a star. He's a star.
Just a straight-up, straight-up star.
♪ I'll be gone without a sound ♪
♪ When my heart fails me ♪
♪ And I'm not around ♪ Yes!
Hallelujah, yes!
Hallelujah! Come here, come here.
Julián: The things that the judges told me,
I felt like my life was changing in that moment.
Luke: He may win this thing.
He literally might win it.
It was one of the greatest moments of my life.
♪ Oh, I surrender ♪
I'm going to Hollywood!
♪♪
Unfortunately, though, I was not able to continue forward.
There were shared concerns about my abilities
to balance a journey like "American Idol"
and my mental health.
♪ I caught a golden wave ♪
I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression
my freshman year of high school.
But I'd been struggling with those feelings
for a big part of my life.
I mean, through even elementary and middle school.
Melodya: He came up to us and said, "I am not okay.
There's something happening with me."
I mean, it's a knife to your chest
because you're thinking, you know,
"What's going on? What's -- What's happening?"
And he said, "I'm sad all the time."
For me, anxiety is just like a big wave crashing on you
and you just drown.
♪ The ocean was angry ♪
I was questioning the value of my life.
Andres: You have to look in the mirror
and recognize
that mental-health professionals need to get involved,
and that there's no shame in that.
♪ Turning in the undertow ♪
Music is my lifeline.
It's what keeps me grounded.
I had so much to smile about with my audition.
Oh, wow! Oh, wow! And I just knew, like,
I'd really regret it if I didn't give this another shot.
I'm just hoping that whatever I'm doing
just reflects the message of just not giving up.
And most importantly, to not be defined by your struggles,
but by your strengths.
I choke up just thinking about it
because I'm very lucky to be here.
You know, life is a gift.
For you to come back out here to try this,
we are very happy and proud of you.
We're so happy to be here.
Thank you so much.
So what are you gonna do for us?
The song today is called "Lone Guitar."
I wrote it at a very dark time in my life,
where I was at a crossroads of deciding
whether or not to give up or to keep going.
Huh. And found that,
you know, it's as simple as just stay one more day.
That's the message.
It's been rough. We've had some rough years.
And this song in particular, it's, um,
it's suicide prevention, basically.
♪♪
♪ What do you see ♪
♪ When you look at me? ♪
♪ The blessings that I'm letting go ♪
♪ Lord, you forgive so easily ♪
♪ It's getting harder to find peace ♪
♪ Get the chance to grow old ♪
♪ I'm not the man that I should be ♪
♪ Never fail, travel hell and back every night ♪
♪ Too far gone for prayer ♪
♪ Just a boy afraid to die ♪
♪ Oh, heartaches still, words unspoken ♪
♪ The burden of my flaws ♪
♪ An empty chair, a family broken ♪
♪ Pain is all I cause ♪
♪ I should stay ♪
♪ You walk a daydream of thoughts unholy ♪
♪ Damn near given up ♪
♪ Hug your mama till there's just enough ♪
♪ To see that old sunrise ♪
♪ Mmm, I should stay ♪
♪ I should stay ♪
♪ Oh, I'll stitch my wounds and learn to love ♪
♪ These marks along the way ♪
♪ Oh, I should stay ♪
♪ Lord, let me stay ♪
♪ I got too much to give ♪
♪ A God I love used to say ♪
♪ Don't want to make my old man cry ♪
♪ Leave my mama screaming, "Why?" ♪
♪ Guess I'll mend this bleeding heart ♪
♪ Light headed my way ♪
♪ To the boy alone in suffering ♪
♪ Thinking no one understands ♪
♪ If it's strength that you need ♪
♪ You don't have to be a man ♪
[ Sighs ]
Luke: Awesome.
Thank you. Lionel, what you think?
Welcome back. Welcome back.
Thank you.
I'm gonna leave you with some words
that I keep repeating over and over again.
And I'm gonna pass it on to you.
You were born enough.
♪ I haven't seen too many years ♪
Melodya: Come on.
♪ But I have feared and I have loved ♪
Everything about you is just honest,
and you organize your thoughts and your feelings
into song in a way that comes across so real.
Thank you. That is something that's needed...
Thank you. I agree. ...very much.
Yeah, man, you got the magic.
♪♪
I think that you're incredible.
I think you have all the skills and tools
of a great singer.
So glad you're back.
And we'll just have fun with this thing.
How about that? Absolutely.
♪ Do you like who I am now? ♪
♪ Did I go and make you proud? ♪
What do you think, Lionel?
♪ Will I ever do enough? ♪
It's a yes for me.
Yes for me.
Let's go.
Again! Thank you guys. Thank you so much.
Luke: Welcome to Hollywood Week, friend.
We're back. We're back.
Hi, parents.
Andres: You did it, mijo.
Karyssa. Karyssa.
You did it, mijo. Congratulations.
♪♪
Julián: I just felt understood.
I felt seen for the artist that I try to be.
I want to spread my message.
You are loved and everyone is born enough.
Everyone is, in fact, born enough.
♪♪
You're one of my absolute favorites.
God blessed you with an instrument.
The first time I've had full body chills
the whole time.
Oh, my God!
You can't learn what you just did.
You are a star.
Oh! [ Laughs ]
Happy. Yay!
Hello. Anybody want to sing for us?
No. Don't sing. Sorry.
You're going to Hollywood Week.
Yay!
[ People cheering ]
You were born to sing.