American Idol (2002–…): Season 19, Episode 2 - 402 (Auditions) - full transcript

♪♪

Good morning.

♪♪

♪ Once, there was a way ♪

Oh! Oh, my gosh.

♪ To get back homeward ♪

Singing is my dream,

and I just want to show them
that I have what it takes

to kind of bring it home.

♪ Once, there was a way ♪

Wow.



♪ To get back home ♪

♪ Sleep, pretty darling ♪

♪ Do not cry ♪

Well, okay.

♪ And I will sing a lullaby ♪

♪ Golden slumbers ♪

♪ Fill your eyes ♪

♪ Smiles await you ♪

♪ When you rise ♪

♪ Sleep, pretty darling ♪

♪ Do not cry ♪

♪ And I will sing a lullaby ♪

♪ Once, there was a way ♪

♪ To get back homeward ♪



Mm.

♪♪

One...

two...

three.

You're going to Hollywood!

Thank you.

We've never done that.

You are one of a kind.

♪ And I'm going, going, going,
going to get you ♪

Singers have traveled
from all across the country

with one common goal ‐‐

to leave with that iconic prize
only we can offer,

a golden ticket to Hollywood.

♪ Nobody knows
how loud your heart gets ♪

It's really happening.

Can you believe
that we are here,

about to meet icons,
musical legends?

Like, in the same room.

San Diego.

Welcome to the show.

♪ Yea‐a‐a‐a‐h ♪

Very nice. Very nice.

Thank you.

I got to do what I got to do.

And first step is getting
this golden ticket, okay?

Who do you think's gonna
win the golden ticket today?

Probably me. Me, by a long shot.

No, I'm the oldest.

If Ammon wins,
which is very unlikely...

Oh, my ‐‐

Yeah, I'll be happy for him.

The only thing that will be hurt
is my pride.

Good. Good.
You need to be humbled anyways.

Come on in.

Hello.

Hi, guys. Who are you?

I'm Ammon Olayan.
I'm 17 years old.

I'm Liahona Olayan. I'm 16.

And we're brother and sister.

So you're from Hawaii?

Yeah. Yeah. Wahiawa, Hawaii.

Tell me about growing up, then.

Well, we moved, actually, to
the Big Island five years ago,

and we lived in a tent there
for a while, actually.

In a tent? Lionel: In a tent?

When I was 11, my parents
decided to grab two suitcases,

leave everything,
and move into the tent.

♪♪

They did it to get closer
to our Hawaiian heritage

and to get closer as a family.

We lived off the land.

I actually raised a baby goat
named Stripey.

That's when we discovered
that we could write music,

'cause we love writing music.

How many months apart are you?

We're exactly a year apart.
A year.

Wow!
That means
a lot of recovery.

Yeah. No recovery. Recovery.

I used to wish for twins,

and then I finally had a child,
and I go... crazy.

Right?
And we're the oldest
of eight kids.

Oh. So...

I was like, two kids
back to back?
Yeah.

And then you say eight.

Do you guys, like,
ever sing together?

Yeah.
You don't want
to be a band or...

We do sing together. Yeah.

We actually wrote
a song together.

Do you want to hear it? Yeah.

Okay. Yeah, actually.

This is fun. Okay.

So this song is called
"Listen to My Heart."

And we wrote this because
we tend to get in fights a lot.

Especially with
a lot of siblings,

sometimes you say things
that you don't mean.

Ohh. Hm.

♪ It started with a hello ♪

♪ But I was on the go
'cause we got in a fight ♪

♪ Nothing felt right ♪

♪ 'Cause you had things
you had to do ♪

♪ You didn't like my tone ♪

♪ And you hung up the phone ♪

♪ And now all of the words
that you said ♪

♪ I can't get it
out of my head, no ♪

♪ Now I don't even know
what to do ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm standing here
thinking of you, oh ♪

♪ And I can't help but say ♪

♪ I don't want to be alone ♪

♪ Alone ♪

♪ 'Cause it doesn't feel
like home ♪

♪ When we fall apart ♪

♪ I don't want
to have to walk away ♪

♪ 'Cause I really want to stay ♪

♪ Listen to my heart ♪

♪ Boom ♪

♪ Boom‐boom ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
Wow.

♪ Boom ♪

♪ Boom‐boom ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oblivious ♪

♪ I don't know what to do ♪

♪ Feeling so reckless ♪

♪ When I'm not with you ♪

♪ Can you hear me go boom? ♪

♪ Boom‐boom ♪
Wow.

♪ Yeah‐eah, ay ♪

♪ Boom ♪

♪ Boom‐boom ♪

♪ When I'm not with you ♪

Very good. Thank you.

Very good.

Come take the oval.

You guys are not even writing
about heartbreak yet.

No. No, they're not. Not yet.

Nowhere near it.
Wait for it. Wait for it.

So I want to know
before we go any further

the phone number
to your mom and dad

so I can figure out
how to put my kids in a tent.

I think what's missing now
is everything is so contrived.
Mm‐hmm.

And the beautiful part
about this, it's so fresh.

Thank you. Thank you.

And I don't even want
to critique it hard.

- I like what you both did.
- Thank you.

Thank you.
You brought it to the table.

Thank you so much.

I don't even know
what y'all were singing.

I don't even know
what was going on.

All I know is that I was loving
the savant‐ness of it.

I mean... Thank you.

Liahona, you have a voice.

Like, we could write a song,
record it,

and it is ready for the radio.

Ammon, you have a little bit
of growth vocally.
Uh‐huh.

But y'all complementing
one another is absolute magic.

But I think the sky's the limit.

And I'm just freaking out.

Wow. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah. I think you guys
are on the right path.

You are talented
beyond belief.
Thank you.

Incredible songwriters.

Thank you.
Like, should be signed
right now.

Right.
That's gonna be your future.

Really, really, really,
really soon.

I think, Ammon, you do need to

kind of work on
your delivery vocally.

Yeah.

Liahona, I think you're like
a Lorde or an Alessia Cara.

Oh, I love Alessia Cara.

Yeah, I think you're that good.

Thank you.
And you're just young.

Yeah.
And it's just gonna take
a few years to get that pro.

But you are on the track.
Thank you.

Find that tent you were in

and put it
in your backyard somewhere,

'cause I want you to write
more songs out of that tent.

It may be in the Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame one day.

You understand me?

Alright, Lia,
I like what you did.

It's a yes for me.

Okay.

Ammon, love what you did.

It's a yes for me, alright?

Good job, bro.

You both are on the path
to greatness.

It's a yes from me
for both of you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Listen, you're just special.
And you have it.

You have it.

It's a big‐time yes for me.

Ammon,
it's a big‐time yes for me.

- Can we give it to them?
- Ooh!

You're going to Hollywood!

Whoo! Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo!

Love it.

♪♪

Mom, Dad, baby. Mom, Dad.

Well, they've got two cards
over there to pick up, alright?
Congratulations.

Whoo! Great to meet you guys.

Thank you. Great to meet you.

You are going to Hollywood.

Thank you. Thank you.

Oh, my God. Take care. Yeah.

Oh, snap. Just grab one.

How sweet is that?

Yeah!

I'm not even thinking
of the other contestants.

It's just about
beating this guy.

Oh, my gosh.
That's all I care about.

We're going to Hollywood!

Coming up...
Wait a minute.
Watch out.

Are you with me?!

...it's game on...

Aah!

...as more
undiscovered talent...

You're sitting on a gold mine.

...change their lives...

I'm gonna go get
a golden ticket.

You are a new voice
that the world has never heard.

...forever.

This mean the world,

not only for me,
but for my family.

More "Idol" in 60 seconds.

We're here in a magical land.

I love it.

They say that Ojai is a vortex.

It's like a place
of the unknown,

a place of mystery and magic.

I'm excited to see if any
of that magic shows up today.

You done brought me
into hippie land out here.

Beautiful place.
I brought my walking shoes.

I brought my clubs.

I brought my crystals.

What is that? I don't know.

♪♪

Warriors, shield‐maidens,
gather.

Gather before me.

Today we audition
for "American Idol."

We will send these judges
to the depths of Niflheim,

and only with the power
of the voice

will we claim
the golden ticket of the gods.

Are you with me?!

Victory or Valhalla!

Follow me to the audition!

Whoa. It got serious
all of a sudden.

Hi, guys. Hello, Thor.

How you doing?
Welcome to the show, man.

Hey, man, no big deal.

Just a sledgehammer
in your hand.

Thor's hammer, actually.

Mm‐hmm. Uh‐huh.

That's what gives me
my power to sing.

Who are you?
My name is Anthony Guzman.

Would you consider yourself
a Viking?

More of a modern Viking,
honestly, but, yeah.

Skoal. Skoal.

Skoal. Skoal!

Skoal! What is that?

That means ‐‐
Do that voice again.

Listen. Skoal!

Can we teach them about skoal?

Yeah. Okay, you teach them.

So, basically,
it's a way of, like,

saying cheers in Scandinavian.

You want to hear
a little fun fact?
Yeah.

I'm 33% Scandinavian.

No. No. No. Skoal!

Skoal! Skoal, brother.

Skoal! Skoal!

Skoal! Skoal!

Skoal!

My man.

Sometimes it feels good to yell.

Yeah. We needed that.

I feel real good.
I feel refreshed.

God, I hadn't done that
in a while. Alright.

Listen, I'm really excited
to hear

how this translates
into your music.

♪ Now you say you're lonely ♪

Holy hell, that's a curveball.

♪ You cried
the whole night through ♪

♪ Well, you can cry me a river ♪

♪ Cry me a river ♪

♪ I cried a river over you ♪

♪ Remember ♪

♪ I remember all that you said ♪

Get loose with it.

♪ You told me
love was too plebeian ♪

♪ And told me you were
through with me ♪

♪ And now you say you love me ♪
Yeah.

♪ Well, just to prove
that you do ♪

♪ Why don't you
cry me a river? ♪

Hey!

♪ Cry me a river ♪

♪ I cried a river ♪

♪ Over you ♪

Thank you.

Never judge a book by its cover.

Or its hammer.

Alright, let's vote.

I just didn't really feel
like it was like this huge

artist moment yet for you.

So, yeah, it's a no for me
right now.

I think you have to decide
what you want now.

You feel me?

Yep, absolutely.
Alright, I'm a yes.

Thank you. Whoa.

Thank you. Okay.

- You can seriously sing.
- Yeah.

Now I want you
to take yourself serious.

Yeah. You got it?

Yes, sir.
'Cause that is the secret
to this next move.

You got a yes from me, okay?

Wow. Thank you. Thank you.

I guess that means
you're going to Hollywood.

Thank you.

Skoal. Skoal!

♪ Cry thunder ♪

I see the cape in the shadows.

Congratulations.
Thank you so much.

First time I've seen, I think,

a Bublé song done
in a cape, for me.

Nice. Nice.

Yeah! Yeah!

Right on, right on.

I'm going to Hollywood!

We have found
so many fabulous artists.

We have more of a show
than we've ever had, actually.

Man, it's amazing, though.

Like, we might have
a better season this year

than we've ever had... Ever had.

...'cause it's so authentic.

No, absolutely correct.

It's so authentic.

I'm sweating.

I know that's TMI, but...

I don't have a filter.
I'm sorry.

My name's Hannah Everhart.
I'm 17 years old.

And I'm from
Canton, Mississippi.

Canton's a small town.
Everybody knows everybody.

That's the good stuff.

I go out and ride my horse.

You know, it's just
the simple country life.

It's pretty perfect. Mmm!

How do you like
being in California?

It's different, for sure.

It's not Mississippi.
It's not home.

Flying for the first time
was crazy.

Using the bathroom in the air.

I'm not kidding.

Like, how many people get to say

that they used the bathroom
in the air?

I smell cow crap.

But in a good way.
It reminds me of home.

I never thought I'd be
on a camera on TV.

This is weird.

The bright lights are bright.

Going to sing in front of, like,
celebrity famous people?

I know.
How are you feeling about that?

Oh, God.

Oh, my gosh,
I get it all the time.

Every time
I go get my hair done,

"Wow, she looks
like Katy Perry."

Maybe it's the eyeballs,

'cause we both got blue ones
and they're big.

I never exactly saw
little ol' me

getting to do
something like this, you know.

"American Idol."

Let's get 'er done.

♪ If your eyes are on me ♪

What's up? How y'all doing?

♪ You're lookin' at country ♪

Just sitting around.

Yeah, I've been waiting
too long.

I'm ready
to get this thing done.

Oh, wait.

I just love that twang
in your voice.

Who are you,
and where are you from?

I'm Hannah Everhart, and I'm
from Canton, Mississippi.

M‐I‐S‐S‐I‐S‐S‐I‐P‐P‐I.
That's right. Mississippi.

Something like that.

So tell us about where you live.

Everybody knows everybody.

I get barbecue ribs
at the gas station.

Half slab or full slab?

Full. I eat a full slab
by myself.

You sure do,
'cause I do, too.
Full slab.

Me too.

Are you the country version
of me?

Everybody said I look like you.

Were we separated at birth?

Something like that. Be careful.

Something like this.

I don't want to stall
any more time.

What are you gonna sing for us?

"Wayfaring Stranger."

"Wayfaring Stranger."

Alright, let's hear it.
Ohh. Ooh.

Okay, I'm ready.

♪ I'm just a poor ♪

♪ Wayfaring stranger ♪

♪ Traveling through ♪

♪ This world below ♪

♪ There is no sickness ♪

♪ No toil ♪
Alright, stop.

Yeah, yeah, thank you.

Quit checking us out
to see what our reactions are.

I'm not. I'm just real nervous.

Don't lie.

Okay, maybe.

Okay, y'all want me to start
from the beginning?

Yeah. Yeah, you got it.

Okay. Go full slab on this.

♪ I'm just a poor ♪

♪ Wayfaring stranger ♪

More energy.

♪ Traveling through ♪

♪ This world below ♪

You're on your horse.

♪ There is no sickness ♪

♪ No toil or danger ♪

♪ In that bright land ♪

♪ To which I go ♪

♪ I'm going there ♪

♪ To see my father ♪

♪ I'm going there ♪

♪ No more to roam ♪

♪ I'm only going over Jordan ♪

♪ I'm only going over home ♪

Sorry, my voice
was a little dry.

I'm a little nervous. It's cool.

It's all good.

So listen,
your 50% whups everybody

in your little hometown. Mm‐hmm.

But if you start going 100%,

you're gonna start whupping
people on "American Idol."

Yeah. Thank you.

You know, my first song I was
actually gonna audition with

was "At Last" by Etta James.

But then I was like,
"Well, let's play it safe."

Why you gonna play
"American Idol" safe?

Yeah, give us
a little bit of "At Last."

Okay.

♪ At last ♪

♪ My love has come along ♪

- Sing it to us, Hannah.
- Okay.

Come on, hands out.

♪ My lonely days are over ♪

Out‐sing me, Hannah.
You know you can.

♪ And life is like a song ♪

There it is.

♪ Oh, yeah, when you smiled ♪

♪ You smiled ♪
♪ You smiled ♪

♪ Oh, and then
a spell was cast ♪

♪ And here we are in heaven ♪

Come on.

♪ For you are mine ♪

♪ At last ♪

♪ Oh, ooh, yeah ♪

You want me to do that?
I'm scared.

Mother is still here
in the building.

♪ Oh, oooh ♪

- ♪ Yeah ♪ - ♪ Yeah ♪

♪ You are mine ♪

♪ At last ♪

Yeah!

Cool beans.

You're very close
to being an amazing singer.

You're not yet.

But I'm going to do all I can

to push you to the next level,

not for me,
not for "American Idol,"

but for yourself,

because you owe it to yourself
to really be pushed...

Yes, sir... and dig in.

You have an attitude problem.

In a good way?

I think I've been
pretty respectful.

And I like it. Okay.

But you are no longer
allowed to play it safe.

Yes, ma'am.

You better start
rolling the dice on your life.

Yes, ma'am. Listen to me.

On every note you hit,
at the end of that,

I can hear you go,
"Eh, whatever."

You're going to have competition

that they know
what they're going to sing,

they know what they're
going to curl on,

and they've already set up
the next line.

And on top of that,
they're entertaining.

They're not doing this.

Come get us,

because you're sitting
on a gold mine.

Listen, there's some
we can save.

You got it.

Yes, sir. Thank you. Okay?

Luke Bryan, what's your vote?

My vote is a heck yee‐haw yes.

Thank you. My vote's a hell yes.

Thank you.

Hell, yes, a yes, okay?

Thank you. Alright.

You're going to Hollywood!

Thank you.

Thank you.

I got the ticket!

Aah!

I love her, y'all.

Come on, Hannah.
She was amazing.

It's definitely a lot thicker
than I thought it'd be.

I didn't know if it was
plastic or paper.

I'm going to Hollywood,
but they're not finna change me.

I'm not gonna turn Hollywood.

I'm not eating another salad
once I get there,

'cause got to have
my French fries and hamburgers.

I'm done.

Go.

♪♪

Stay with us.

Take a second to soak it in.

This right here,
this mean the world,

not only for me,
but for my family.

My name is Calvin Upshaw.

I'm 26 years old, and I'm from
the Delta of Mississippi.

Coming up in Marks, we didn't
have too many opportunities.

Got this.

And whenever you have
a community like that

with no jobs,
no education opportunities,

it'll lead a child
down the wrong path,

and it'll turn a person

to a person that he would
never want to be.

Being incarcerated, it really
took a lot away from me.

CJ, where you at, baby?

Time to get you ready
for school.

To be away from my child
and my family ‐‐

I can't get them days back.

Want you to have a good day
at school today, alright?

Okay.

Come here,
give me a hug before you go.

You can't get it back.

I love you, Junior.

Love you, too. Mwah!

I got down on my knees and I
asked God to please help me

and guide me down the right path

to be able to make it back home
to my family.

Sometimes life can get hard.

But what you overcome
is what you make out of it.

I don't want you
to get discouraged

about your past, man.

There's nothing you can do

to change what happened
in the past.

All you need to do
is look forward.

Stay forward. You got it, man.

Alright, be safe. Yes, sir.

Lord, right now, Lord,
you are the one

that will be able to bless me

and uplift me to become
a better man than I am.

Guide me.

Lead me.

Oh, my God. This is heavy.

You got to be strong.

I will never end up
back in prison

because I know what I left.

Okay.
Shoot the ball.
Show me what you got.

And I know one child out there
for sure look up to me.

That's my child.

Uh‐oh. It's my ball.

I get first ball. No, you don't.

Yes, I do. No.

We on the way.

You made it for real.

Yeah, I got to make it.

I have to be the one
to make decisions

on what I want to be in life,

but if I continue to stay
focused, I'll continue to grow.

Clearly, you've made a change
in your life

to get on a different track.

That's why you're sitting
right here.

I knew that I had to change
my life at some point

because I have a young man
that is 8 years old.

And I knew one thing ‐‐ If I
didn't change my life around,

he was gonna go down
the same path.

It's not every day a person
get to live their dream.

You living yours,
and we're proud of you.

We love you, son.

I love y'all, too.

Whatever we want out of life,

if we strive for better

and push it
and push it and push it,

we will achieve our dream.

So this audition means...

A lot, the world.
...a lot to you.

That's pretty serious.

What are you gonna do
for us, man?

Today I'm gonna sing something
by Calvin Richardson.

Calvin Richardson.
"Falling Out of Love."

Wow.

Alright, give it to us, Calvin.

♪ See, we need to take some time
and talk about ♪

♪ Like a pillow on a bed,
so comfortable ♪

♪ This is an emergency ♪

♪ Can't you see
you're losing me? ♪

♪ Sun is going down ♪

♪ And I'm falling out of love ♪

♪ I don't want to put you down ♪

Ooh.
♪ 'Cause you taught me
how to love ♪

♪ I feel like a bee ♪

♪ I need your honey ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm hungry ♪

♪ You're starving me ♪

♪ Listen ♪

♪ When it's cold outside, baby ♪

♪ I won't be back
to keep you warm, lady ♪

♪ I know you're gonna
miss my touch ♪

♪ Gonna miss my love ♪

♪ And say the sun
is going down ♪

♪ Hmmm ♪

♪ I don't want to ♪

♪ I don't want to never
walk away and leave, girl ♪

♪ I feel like a bee ♪

♪ I need your honey ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm hungry ♪

♪ You're starving me ♪

♪ And say the sun
is going down ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ I don't want to lose you ♪

Man, I got to tell you,

that voice crack
was not a vocal crack.

That was a feeling crack.

You were ‐‐

Yes, sir, it was,

because I broke
a lot of people down,

and once you hurt somebody,
it affects you, as well.

And I know
when you break some hearts,

it's not a good thing.

Mm.

So no matter what a person done,

you got to know how to bring
the pieces back together.

Sounds like you've been
through some stuff.

♪♪

♪♪

What you're carrying
on your shoulders is ‐‐

I can't even imagine.

Listen, Calvin,
today is a new day.

Okay? Calvin: Yes, ma'am.

Don't forget that.

Calvin, let me
tell you something.

Very few times
in this jaded world we live in

something comes along
and just stops the show.

Man, there is a small percentage
of people

that can walk out
on "American Idol,"

start singing from their soul,
and it's right on the money.

What you did
was very, very brave

to open up to us like that.

Yes, sir.
God started you
at this point with us,

and we're gonna go forward
with you.

You understand me? Yes, sir.

And no matter
how far it takes you,

it's gonna be better than
where you ever started in life.

You have my word on that, okay?

Yes, sir.

Guys, let's vote.

Luke, what are you thinking?

Yes.

You're ready. Yes.

Calvin, whatever strength
got you here, we now see you.

Not only do we see you,
but the world sees you.

It's a yes for me.

And I'm very happy to say...

You're going to Hollywood!

♪ Want to stay high with you ♪

It's gonna be the experience
of a lifetime, my friend.

Thank y'all.
Now go pick that ticket up.

Whoo! Congratulations.

God bless you, Calvin.

Thank y'all.

♪ There comes a time ♪

♪ At night ♪

I knew it.

CJ, I love you, baby.

♪ Dancin', jumpin',
clappin', yellin' ♪

Y'all, it is impossible to watch
a human being go through that

without giving him love.

That was so moving.

♪ I just want to stay high
with you ♪

This right here is the golden
ticket to Hollywood, baby.

Get it.

This feel like a new beginning.
It's a new start.

It was amazing.

Is that an Afro on my golf cart?

Got my tackle, got my nets.

Alright, who you got
your money on?

I don't know nothing about
no hunting and fishing,

but I know something about
that driving.

Yeah.

Later, dude.

Oh! Wait. Hold it.

Wait a minute.

♪ Well, my temperature's
rising ♪

♪ And my feet on the floor ♪

Watch out, buddy.

Hey, hey, hey. Watch out.

♪ So glad we made it ♪

Rubbing's racing. Wait, wait.

♪ Gimme some lovin' ♪

♪ Gimme, gimme some lovin' ♪

♪ Gimme some lovin' ♪

Come on! It's on.

Come on!

♪ Gimme some lovin' ♪

Oh!

Come on! Yee‐haw!

They didn't tell me that my Afro
was gonna give me some drag.

Help me, Tom Cruise.

Hold it. Help me, Tom Cruise.

I had my pedal to the metal,

and I could not get
the power that I needed.

Come on!

But you know what? I look good.

I look real good.

To the judging table.

♪ Gimme some lovin' ♪

Alright, we're going in.

Who's the next singer?

I stand here?

My name is Casey Bishop.

I'm 15 years old,
and I'm from Estero, Florida.

I come from a really small town,

and there's nothing there
for me musically.

So I have no experience
performing.

Most people here seem to have
lots of performing experience.

I'm, like, kind of intimidated.

The only places I sing
are literally my bathroom.

I put my song on,
pick up my brush,

and then I just go for it.

Like, in the mirror, I just
literally pretend I'm onstage.

Auditioning for "American Idol"
means everything to me.

Singing in front of Katy,
Lionel, and Luke,

like, that is definitely
nerve‐racking,

but I'm pretty excited about it.

♪ 'Cause now I'm in it ♪

Hello.

How are you? Aha!

I'm doing awesome. Oh, my gosh.

This is the biggest thing, like,
that has ever happened to me.

This is insane.
Like, I can't even believe this.

Tell us your name, your age,
and where you're from.

My name is Casey Bishop.

I'm 15,
and I'm from Estero, Florida.

15? You're 15?

Yeah.
I have socks older than you.

Oh, my God.
So tell us about yourself.

Well, I don't have any
performing experience, really.

Most of the people that know
that I love to sing

are my friends.

That's pretty much it.

Well, who do you listen to?

I listen to Nirvana. Oh.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime.

And then I love blues
like Ella Fitzgerald.

Wow. Yeah.

I love rock, though.

Well, what are you gonna do
for us today?

I'm gonna be singing
"Live Wire" by Motley Crue.

Wow. Okay.
Alright. Give it to us.

I don't think we've ever
heard that song on this show.

We've not heard this.
This is the first.

That means we're gonna be
paying attention.

And you're gonna do it
a cappella? Okay.

Awesome. Okay.

♪ I'll either break his face
or take down his legs ♪

♪ Give him my ways at will ♪

♪ Go for the throat
and never let loose ♪

♪ Goin' in for the kill ♪

♪ Take my fist
and break down walls ♪

♪ I'm on top tonight ♪

♪ Oh, no ♪

♪ You better turn me loose ♪

♪ You better set me free ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm hot, young,
and running free ♪

♪ Little bit better
than I used to be ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm alive ♪

♪ Live wire ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm alive ♪

♪ I'm a live wire ♪

♪ You better lock me down ♪

♪ I'm on the prowl tonight ♪

♪ Well, be mine tonight ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm alive ♪

Alright.

That's a live wire over there,
ladies and gentlemen.

Want you to know that.

Katy, what do you think
about this young lady?

I mean, if it's possible,
I'd like to hear a little bit

of the Ella Fitzgerald
that she likes.
Ooh.

It's just gonna show us
a little bit of the difference

and the soul part of your voice.

Well, I've got Sarah Vaughan.

Okay.

♪ Is your figure ♪

♪ Less than Greek? ♪

♪ Is your mouth ♪

♪ A little weak? ♪

♪ When you open it to speak ♪

♪ Are you smart? ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ But don't change ♪

♪ Your hair for me ♪

♪ Not if you care for me, babe ♪

♪ Stay ♪

♪ Funny Valentine ♪

♪ Stay ♪

♪ And each day ♪

♪ Is Valentine's ♪

♪ Da‐a‐a‐a‐a‐a‐y ♪

Alright.

That's way beyond your 2005...

Yeah.

...scope and depth.

I would love for you
to appreciate rock...

Yeah.
...but sing like that, okay?

Yeah. Casey, I didn't think
anybody would get close

to Alejandro's audition
as far as me being

just, like, dipped in Disney

and sparkles and flowers
and doves.
Thank you.

And that's what your audition
was for me.

Thank you so much.

I wrote "top 10 def"
on the Motley Crue song,

and then you just did what ‐‐

I don't even know what the heck
just happened just then.

Thank you so much.

Okay, so you're 15.

It's obviously not
your first time on this planet,

but maybe this time
you will fulfill your purpose.
Not her first time. Mm, yeah.

You're really, really,
really good.

And I love that nobody knows
that you can sing

besides you and a couple
of your friends

and your hairbrush, probably.
Yeah.

I mean, a lot of hair,
a lot of brushing.

Yeah. A lot of microphone time.

I mean,
what a great concept.
Right?

"I discovered I could sing

center stage
on 'American Idol.'"

We're gonna enjoy
watching you grow

right here in front of us.

I think she's the damn winner
of "American Idol," period.

It's evident what
my opinion is ‐‐ yes.

Yes, Miss Bishop.

Oh, my God.

The sky is the limit.

Yeah. It is a yes for me.

Oh, my God. Katy: That's right.

You're going to Hollywood!

Thank you so much.
That's so great.

Mama, she made it.

This Mama? Casey: Oh, my God.

She made it.

Oh, my God.

Mama, you should be
very, very proud.

- Thank you so much.
- That's the ticket.

I'm going to Hollywood!

Wow, y'all.

I mean, my body
has been tingling

for 10 minutes. She is amazing.

She is a massive star.

For them to compare me
to Alejandro was insane.

I've just been singing
in the bathroom my whole life.

Now here I am holding this.

I'm going to Hollywood!

Whoo!

♪ Tengo una nota ♪

♪ Me fronteó y el humo
le pasé de boca ♪

Alright,
what's going on, everybody?!

How you doing? Let's go.

Party time, party time.

My name is Yurisbel.

I am 25 years old.

And I am from Miami, Florida,

the party town
of the United States.

I love Miami.
I love Cuban culture.

I love reggaeton and hip‐hop.

I, like, want to
bring that together.

For a living,
I am an entrepreneur.

I am also a performer.

My dad's best friend, he has
a Polynesian restaurant, right?

They have a stage and a show.

I host those shows.
I also come out. I do my songs.

I bring people onstage.
We all have a party together.

It's a good time.

You know, I don't do it
for the ladies,

but if the ladies come,

then, you know, like, it's just
what am I gonna do, you know?

♪ Bam‐bam bing, pow, pow, pow ♪

That's my kind of night.

Ah, ah, ah.

I want the judges to enjoy

this flavor they've never
tasted before.

I'm a walking empanada.
You know what I mean?

I'm full of flavor,
of Latin flavor.

It's dinnertime.

Have a taste of Yurisbel.

♪ Pam‐pam‐pam ♪

♪ Tú tás ready? ♪

Katy? More coffee? Coffee!

Anything else you need to do
before you go in?

You ready? I'm ready. I'm ready.

We're looking for something
to wake us up.

Let's go.
Let's go. Now, come on.

You need a golden ticket
to match that shirt.

IHola, mi gente!

Hey!

What is going on? Hello, hello.

Howdy, Mr. Luke Bryan.
How you doing?

Katy. How are you?

How are you, sweetheart?
How are you doing?
I'm awake!

I am awake, too.

Hello.
How are you doing, Lionel?

How are you doing?
I'm loving this.

How are you? How are you?

Oh, my gosh.
Oh, my gosh, indeed.

I can't believe I'm here.

You might be just what
we needed right now.

I think so. I think I am
exactly what you need.

Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed.

Why am I dying
to hear his voice?

Why am I dying ‐‐
I just keep wanting
to hear you talk.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Can you say, "I want to go
fishing in the morning

and catch a largemouth bass"?

Okay. I want to go fishing
in the morning

and catch a loud‐mouth bass.

You know I have
a little accent.
That's good.

Okay. It's okay. It's okay.

My name is Yurisbel.
I am from Cuba.

I live in Miami, Florida,
right now.

My dream is to be a Latin star,
you know, like Pitbull,

you know, Bad Bunny,
J Balvin, Daddy Yankee.

I know you're his friend
with him.
Yay!

"Con Calma," all that stuff.

I know. I know. Right?

So all that stuff.

I know. Of course. Oh, yeah.

Of course, right?
Of course, right?
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah.

I just want to be ‐‐

My grandma,
she a singer in Cuba, right?

She a singer. She's still there.

She's not dead. But I miss her.

She is everything to me, right?

I mean, she made me
want to sing.

She made me want to perform.

Especially on "American Idol."
You know what I mean?

I love it.
Alright. What are you
gonna sing today?

I'm singing "Fireball"
by Pitbull.

Yes, you are, Pitbull!

So today
we're all gonna stand up

and dance with me
as I sing it, okay?
There you go, there you go.

You have stole
my move, boy.
But did you see ‐‐

Okay. Oh, that's right.

♪ Play it again, play it ‐‐ ♪

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Wait, how you do that?

♪ Play it again, play it again ♪

♪ Play it again ♪

Yeah!
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
See that?

- ♪ Play it again ♪
- Hold on, hold on, hold on.

♪ You are the sun ♪

Hold on. Hold on.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You look a little bit
like a Latin Luke.

Oh!

Wait, can I see?
Can we just take a peek?

You want my glasses?
Okay, that's okay.
Sunglasses off.

Luke!

How you doing? How you doing?

Wow. Howdy.

I don't know where it's gonna
end up or where it's gonna go,

but I think he'd be great
on the radio, too.

Yeah. Right?

Yeah, or, like, maybe,
like, a buddy cop movie,

like, you and him.

"Idol Blue," Scene 21.

Attempted golden ticket robbery
in progress.

Oh, yeah. Ho!

Oh, hell.

♪ Mr. Worldwide to infinity ♪

♪ You know the roof on fire ♪

♪ We gonna boogie, boogie,
boogie, wiggle and dance ♪

♪ Like the roof on fire ♪

♪ I tell her, baby, baby, baby,
baby, baby, baby, baby, baby ♪

♪ I'm on fire ♪

♪ I tell her, baby, baby, baby ♪

♪ Baby, baby, baby,
baby, baby, baby ♪

♪ Fireball ♪

Everybody dance. Da‐da‐da‐da!

Hey! Da‐da‐da‐da‐da.

Hey! Da da da‐da‐da‐da.

Oh, yeah! Hey! Da da da‐da‐da.

Oooh‐whoo!

♪ I saw, I came, I conquered ♪

♪ Or should I say, I saw,
I conquered, I came ♪

♪ You know the chico on fire
and he no liar ♪

♪ Y'all slippin',
just runnin' the game ♪

Unh!
♪ The big bang booty
with the kitty little booty ♪

♪ And a nice little shade ♪

♪ I gave Katy a little pat
upon the booty ♪

♪ And she turned around
and said, "Walk this way" ♪

♪ I was born ♪

♪ In a flame ♪

♪ Mama said that everyone
would know my name ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm on fire ♪

♪ I'm on fire ♪

♪ I'm on fire ♪

♪ Fireball ♪

♪ Da da‐da da‐da‐da ♪
Come on, Luke!

I'm in a trance.
I'm in a trance.

Come on, Luke.
♪ Da da da‐da‐da‐da ♪

He's got me.
I'm in a trance.
Come on, Luke!

Come on, Luke! Whoo!

- It's the Latin Luke.
- Hey!

♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey ♪

Unh! Katy: Aah!

Hey, look.
Hey, look, look.
It's two Lukes!

You got to listen to me.
Like this. Like this.

Hey, hey, hey. Ooh.

And then you do a little
like this.

Ooh, ooh. Da‐da‐da‐da.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Whoo! ♪ Fireball ♪

Thank you, everybody.
Thank you, thank you.

Hey!

I need a fireball shot.

It's okay.

Luke. Wait, hold on.

Hold on, hold on. Luke.

How can you be there
but also be here?

Right.

Well, let me tell you, Katy.

Right? Whoo!

That was the best workout
for the lower half.

Man, you know, I got a ‐‐
I'm exhausted.

I have pulled a haunch muscle.

My butt hurts.

In a good way, I hope.
Yes, that was
a glute/core exercise.

It hurt in a good way.
Right. Right. It's good.

I'm kind of feeling like
I'm back a little bit.

Yeah! Yeah!

I'm back touring.

That's right.

That was fun.

That was awesome.

Thank you. Thank you.

Except for the part
I went in a trance.

That was crazy.

Yeah, you were in a trance.

It was like
"Weekend at Bernie's."

"Take me."

Yeah, yeah.
That was so much fun.

I just want you to understand
we needed that, by the way.

Just to be able
to just let go...

Right. Right... is everything.

Come out and have fun.

Thank you. Thank you.
I so enjoyed it.

Mr. Worldwide!
Whoo! That's right.

I think you would definitely
disrupt the competition.

Absolutely. Right.

Good. Let's vote. Let's vote.

I'm too out of breath to talk.

Well, too bad.
You're gonna have to start.

♪ Play it again ♪

♪ Play it again ♪

Wait. ♪ Play it again ♪

♪ Play it again, play it again ♪

Alright, Daddy Yankee,
let's do it.

Yes.

Oh, baby, yes.

I feel like I ‐‐ Katy, mama.

Listen.

I want to say yes, but...

I have to say no.

But why?

I'm sorry. I think it's fun.

But I just don't know if anyone
would ever trust me ever again

if I said yes.

What? I trust you.

Yeah.

You're gonna say no, Katy?

Ohh. Alright. Okay.

Okay.

Because I think the kids need
to be able to have some fun.

You're the mascot of fun.

Thank you. It's a yes for me.

I want to see this come up.
Oh, my God!

I want to see you come with it.

Give it to me.

♪ Da‐da da‐da‐da ♪
Give it to me!

♪ Da da‐da da‐da‐da ♪
Give it to me!

♪ Da‐da‐da‐da‐da ♪
Absolutely.

We're looking for that.
Wow. Katy, what happened, mama?

- You're going to Hollywood.
- I appreciate it.

No, no, no, it's alright.

You're going to Hollywood.

Okay.

Oh, my God! Thank you!

I wish I could hug all of you.
Katy.

No, no, no, but, listen.
There's your golden ticket.

Yes, sir. Can I take a selfie
with you guys?

Is that...? Please, please.

I don't know
how far I have to be.
You got us?

Can you see us?

There we go.
Oh, my hair's a mess.

Wow.

♪ Fireball ♪

♪ I saw, I came, I conquered ♪

Love you guys.
Thank you so much.

Thank you, guys.
You know, you reminded me
who you do sound like.

Okay, tell me.

A bit like a Cuban
Cookie Monster.

I like that. I do like cookies.

I do like cookies.

Can you say... Tell me.

..."I love cookies"?

I love cookies.

I'm the Cookie Monster.
Rah, rah, rah, rah, rah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, there it is.

Alright. Thank you, guys.
You guys are fantastic.

Thanks, Yurisbel.
Love you very much.

Thank you.
Katy, you won't regret it.

I'm kidding. Mwah!

- I bet I will.
- Alright, bye.

I bet I'll regret it.

♪ I'm on fire ♪

What do we got?
What do we ‐‐ Oh!

Congratulations.
You got the golden ticket.

I did get the golden ticket.

I will regret it.

And you all will regret it.

Listen, at some point,
there will be regret.
Hallelujah!

Yes.

Like what I just did
in this area,

when I see it on TV ‐‐ regret.

Hey! Like that.

Hey! Hey!

Hey! Like that.

Hey! Like that.

I'll leave that to you.
Okay. I'll leave that.

♪ Da da da‐da‐da‐da, hey ♪

Whoo!

What we just did
was we woke ourselves up

right in the middle
of Hollywood Week.

I guarantee you.

It's gonna be like a breath
of fresh air.
Oh!

I'm awake. I'm definitely awake.

♪ Fireball ♪

For years, "American Idol"
has discovered the best talent

from all corners of America.

I'm from Eugene, Oregon.

I'm from Apopka, Florida.
I'm from East Tennessee.

And Luke loves to show
our "Idol" hopefuls...

Just go on and say it.
I'm a pillar of the community.

...he knows where
they're coming from.

Tell us who you are
and where you're from.

I'm from Stuttgart, Arkansas.

Duck capital of the world.

He knows! Yes!

Quack, quack, quack, quack,
quack, quack.

Y'all, he looks a little bit
like a duck today.

Oh, oh, don't get him started.

♪ We're on a road to nowhere ♪

I'm from Peachtree Corners,
Georgia.

Little Miss Peachtree Corners,
Georgia.

- You got peaches there?
- What are you talking about?

We do. See?!

Everything's peaches
or something.

I'm from Toronto, Canada.

- Canada?
- Sorry. Sorry.

Oh, my God, that's only accurate
for like about 20% of us.

Sorry I said sorry.

I'm 18 years old,

and I'm from
Prairieville, Louisiana.

Prairieville?
Are there any prairies?

Um...

He's on a roll
these last two days.

I am telling you.

I'm gonna have to get a retainer

because I'm clenching my jaw
so hard.

Oh, my God.

Well, I work down in Riverside,

so I drive down to Riverside
every day for work.

Is there a river in Riverside?

♪ We're on a road to nowhere ♪

I mean,
not necessarily, no.
Come on, man.

I mean...

♪ We're on a road to nowhere ♪

Alright. Whew!

Here we go. Oh, my God.

Who the hell are you?

My name's Chayce Beckham.

I'm from Apple Valley,
California.

Apple Valley
sounds like a place to retire.

It's not really a place
I'd want to be.

It's the desert.
It's up in the desert.

So there are no apples?

No apples. No, no.

Who the hell named it?

There's not, like, a hilltop
where you stand

and you see green grass

and you look down and
you're like, "There she is"?

Nothing. "Look at our valley."

There's none of that? No.

Apple Valley is very bare.

There's nothing very special
about it.

It's very rocky and sandy.

I've been working for this
company going on three years.

We rent out
pretty much everything

that has to do
with construction ‐‐

forklifts, backhoes,
excavators, water trucks.

I kind of get to live out
every little kid's dream.

I get to play with pretty much
giant Tonka trucks

all day and toys,
so it's a good time.

So why are you
auditioning today?

I got pushed a lot
by my parents and family.

They've been telling me
to do this kind of stuff.
Yeah.

And I always was like,
"No, I don't want to do that."

So I guess ‐‐

Why? You think we're not cool?

No, I thought I wasn't cool,
so I didn't want to,

- you know, come up here.
- Aww.

Well, you look cool.

This last year's been pretty ‐‐
pretty interesting for me.

I've gone through a lot of ‐‐

I don't know,
a lot of ups and downs.

It's been
quite the roller coaster.

♪ It weighs heavy
on one's heart ♪

My whole life
kind of flipped upside down

and moved back home
with my parents.

He was on a dark path
for a little while

just with drinking
and his self‐worth

and whether or not
he was good enough.

He went through
some really hard times.

Really hard times.

♪ If only I had strength
to change... ♪

Whenever everything else was
bad, music was always there,

and that would just kind of
keep me grounded at all times.

For me, it's everything.

♪ Oh, darling, save yourself ♪

I feel like this "American Idol"
stuff is a blessing

because the timing of everything
worked out perfect.

Yeah, it gave him a reason
to live and move forward.
Yeah.

♪ Don't give in, yeah ♪

Yeah, I've made some positive
changes, you know,

so I can't complain
about none of that stuff.

But without my family,

I definitely wouldn't
be doing this.

I told my mom the other day ‐‐ I
said, "I owe you guys big‐time."

She said, you know,
"You don't owe us anything.

That's what family's for."

I'm grateful for all the
negatives, all the positives.

Everything that's happened in
my life, it's added up to this,

so I'm gonna take this shot,
and I don't think I'll miss.

Well, let's hear you sing.

What are you gonna sing today?

I'm gonna sing a song
for you guys that

this year kind of helped me
get through some stuff.

So it's a special song to me.

It's called
"What Brings Life Also Kills"

by Kolton Moore
& the Clever Few.

Perfect.

♪♪

♪ Dear, I'm writing this
for you ♪

♪ As I sit here ♪

♪ In my sorrows ♪

♪ Dear, I'm writing this
for you ♪

♪ As I contemplate ♪

♪ Tomorrow ♪

♪ But it's hard to be thankful ♪

♪ When what's dead ♪

♪ Is the only good
that you ever had ♪

♪ And I know ♪

♪ There's somethin'
in these hills ♪

♪ And I know ♪

♪ What brings life also kills ♪

♪ So hold on ♪

♪ And love strong ♪

♪ Even when ♪

♪ The one that you love
is gone ♪

♪ And remember now ♪

♪ What you didn't know then ♪

♪ And how you wish ♪

♪ You could take it all back ♪

♪ 'Cause she's gonna miss you ♪

♪ And you're gonna miss her ♪

♪ And she's gonna miss you ♪

♪♪

You sound like you operate
a forklift.

Thank you, I guess.

Let me ask you a question.
Do you have a band?

Do you play out?
This is just your ‐‐

Yeah, I actually play
reggae music, so, yeah.

Reggae. I can see that.
It's totally different, yeah.

I just started playing
on my acoustic guitar

and, like, posting
on my Instagram this year,

like, singing my own songs
that I wrote

that I didn't want to take,
you know, to the band,

stuff that I felt
was kind of out of place

but I still enjoyed playing it.

So, I mean, that's kind of
what got me here, too,

is I just started
doing my own thing.

What I got right away
was believable, you know?

I mean, it's not anything
I have to figure out.

You know, here's the artist.

And whether you sing reggae

or whether you sing anything
straight down across Americana,

it's gonna be real as real.

And I definitely love
what you just did.

I really appreciate that.
Thank you so much.
Yeah, yeah. You killed it.

The reason why we sit in these
chairs for long hours ‐‐

because "American Idol" is about
finding a forklift driver.

You're what this show
is all about.

And you're why I call home
and tell my wife

and people back home, "Wait till
you see this one dude."

Wait till you see him. Yeah.

Oh, man. Your first note had me.

I mean, I started clapping...
Exactly.

...and I didn't even know
my hands were clapping.

When you lock us in,
do not let us go.

Yeah. Emotionally.

Hold us the whole time.

Lionel, I got a guess
what you're gonna say.

Well, let me just say
before I say it,

who knew that when you
grew up in Apple Valley

with no apples

that you would be the poster
child of who lives in that town?

Yeah. I want to be. No kidding.

Hopefully I may be, you know.

That's the goal.
Listen. You know why?

'Cause I'm saying yes.

Thank you so much.

You sound like
the heart of America.

Well, thank you.

Yeah, I think you're a top five.

Ooh. Oooh!

Wow.
That's a huge compliment.
Wow.

Thank you so much. Wow.

It's a yes from me. Thank you.

Yes.

Alright.

Alright. Sweet.

Thank you, guys. Hey.

You're going to Hollywood,

where there is no holly.

Oh, shut up.

You don't know that
back in yesteryear.

It was so nice to meet you guys.

Thank you, guys, so much.
Get that sign right there.

Go hug your mama. Thank y'all.

He's too good‐looking
to be a forklift driver.

Oh, my God,
that's straight comedy.

Straight "Looney Tunes."
I loved it.

Is there any apples?

You know, I can't explain
how excited I am right now.

Hope I made you proud. You did.

If I'd rather be operating
a forklift or singing,

I'd rather be singing
than operating a forklift

for the rest of my life or any
other heavy equipment, so...

Love you, Mom.

♪ Singing, oh, happiness ♪

♪♪

You can't put the reins

on these kids
wanting to do original songs.

I'm gonna sing an original song
called "Venom Veins."

I'm doing an original.

It's called "Clothes On."

Very good.

"Clothes On"? Yeah.

Alright,
"Venom Veins," let's go.

It is a dice roll.

I was not crazy about
the original song.

But it's exciting
that people want to show that

more and more
at "American Idol."

It makes the show
more authentic.

We don't have anything
like this.

We're not getting singers.
We're getting artists.

Your ticket is right over there,
my friend.

Here comes the expression.

Yes!

Individuality may be
what makes you as an artist,

in my opinion.

Hello. My name is Ace Stiles,

and I am 16,
and I'm from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

And I'm gonna sing a song
that I wrote called "Addicted,"

but it's not about drugs, 'cause
I'm 16, and that's illegal.

Okay.

♪ I cry wolf on the daily ♪

♪ And I got a head'll
make you dizzy ♪

♪ It ain't pretty,
but it ain't me ♪

♪♪

♪ You're one of them
cool cats, yeah ♪

♪ And I'm hard candy ♪

♪ Don't lick it,
it ain't pretty ♪

♪ But it ain't me ♪

♪♪

♪ I can't let it go ♪

♪ I notice, though ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ That's just how I roll ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm addicted ♪

♪ To you, mm, mm ♪

♪ I'm addicted ♪

♪ And you don't u‐u‐use ♪

Ah.

Alright, Ace.

Pretty cool. Thank you.

Is that your real name?

Sure. I'm trans,
so I got to pick my name.

So technically it's my name,

but ‐‐ That's right.

Not legally yet, but it's okay.
That's okay.

We got a way. You got to be 18.
It's okay.

I know, but you know what?
Ace is a great pick.

Ace Stiles is pretty great.

Thank you.

♪ The ash has gone ♪

A few years ago, we noticed

that Ace went from very
gregarious and outgoing

to suddenly very withdrawn
and quiet.

♪ The darkest time ♪

We saw him go
into a deep depression.

It became super confusing.

I definitely had to
come out to myself

before I decided
to come out to everybody else.

But when I was 14,

I had a moment of realization,
if you will.

♪ You see it your way,
I see mine ♪

Ace sat me down in his room,

and he said, "Mom,
I've got to tell you something.

Um, I'm a boy."

And I said, "Okay."

He said, "Wait,
that ‐‐ that's it?"

My mom is definitely
a big part in me being happy.

It's so amazing to be okay
with yourself again.

And, like, it's kind of like

re‐learning
how to love yourself.

And I saw...

the sky.

Thank you.

I did the school play,

and I wasn't allowed
in either of the dressing rooms.

They made me change in a closet.

Wasn't fun.

Made me cry, but it's chill.

♪ I don't watch the news ♪

Watching him go through

all the growth
and the hardships, it's hard.

But he's never shown
any bitterness

or anger over any of it.

♪ 'Cause I know I'm not alone ♪

After coming out,
I definitely felt

better than I have
in a long time.

♪ We're all cravin' change ♪

I've always wanted my kids
to be who they really are.

And Ace has done that
every minute of his life.

♪ We're all searchin'
for somewhere ♪

Everybody at home,

I hope they see that,
like, it's okay to be yourself

and that I'm gonna be myself,

and, like, I didn't need
any of you to, like,

tell me I'm not worth it,
'cause I am worth it,

and I figured it out on my own.

♪ 'Cause we're all reachin'
for somethin' ♪

♪ We're all cravin' change ♪

I like myself, and I wouldn't
have it any other way,

'cause I think I'm pretty cool.

♪ Is better than today ♪

Wow.

Ace, you're doing great.

It's gonna get better
and better and better.

How many songs have you written?

Like 50.

50?

I feel like you're far smarter
than your years.

But the only thing that I'm
dealing with is the introverted,

- the quietness of your voice.
- Right.

I think as you grow older,

you'll be able
to write songs in that realm.

And I would totally
anticipate that out of you.

But I think it's just not quite
ready for "American Idol" yet.

♪ I'm addicted ♪

♪ And you don't u‐u‐use ♪

I feel like you're far
smarter than your years.

But the only thing that I'm
dealing with is the introverted,

- the quietness of your voice.
- Right.

I think it's just not quite
ready for "American Idol" yet.

Ace...

I'm having a dilemma.

Uh‐oh.

No, I'm trying to figure out,

when I hear your voice,
if you commanded it,

because the curiosity
of your voice is there.

You understand me? Yes, sir.

So that's where my dilemma is.

Yes, Ace.

I think you've got
an interesting voice.

I think it's kind of vintage‐y.
It's definitely very quirky.

I think
that you've got something

worth investing in.

It's gonna get better
in all the ways,

the longer that you have
more experience of life,

of playing out, getting out
of your comfort zone.

So we're gonna take a vote.

I'll start.

Ace, we're here for you,
and we support you.

Right. You know?

I see it in you.

You're a quirky artist,

but we want it long‐term.

We don't want a short situation
for you, okay?

It's a no for now.

But I'm here for you.

♪♪

Ace, it's a no for me, okay?

Alright, chin up, alright?

♪ Just wait and see ♪

Best class you ever took
in your life right here, okay,

because what we told you
was actually the key,

your key to your future.

Okay? Now I'm gonna say a yes

to make you feel good
about the fact

that we believe in you, alright?

And it's gonna come.

Ace is still percolating.

Let it come.

We love you. We love you.

We love you. Thank you, Ace.

Thank you, Ace. Thanks, Ace.

♪ I'm afraid that's just
the way the world works ♪

♪ It ain't funny,
it ain't pretty ♪

♪ It ain't sweet ♪

♪ Oh, and I'm afraid that's just
the way the world works ♪

It's okay.

Um...

♪ But I think that it could work
for you and me ♪

It's okay!

♪ Just wait and see ♪

♪♪

I thought I was good enough, and
I thought that I was worth it.

Ugh, wow.
Oh, that breaks my heart. Ugh.

You did very good.

I could hear you
through the door.

You were strong.

This is just the beginning.

♪ It's not the end
of the story ♪

♪♪

♪ Mm‐mmm ♪

There's no way to not have
adversity in the music business,

and that's tough
to try to explain to a kid.

But some of these times
we tell them no

has to light a fire in them.

Ah.

Not one of us on
that stage as judges ever heard,

"Oh, my God. You're just what
we're looking for.

Thank you very much. Come on.
Here's your hit record."

What we heard was,
"No. Come back.

Not what we're looking for.
Come back.

You're not ready yet.
Come back."

But if you're great,

"American Idol,"
it is kind of overnight success.

So you have to be
really careful,

because some people can't
take that and survive it.

♪ I open up, spread my wings,
I was born to fly ♪

How do you feel
about being here?

I feel blessed,

and I feel like
it's not real right now.

It kind of feels like
I'm in a dream.

My name is Cassandra Coleman.
I am 24 years old.

I come from a little small town
south of Nashville

called Columbia, Tennessee.

Hi, guys. My name's Cassandra.
I just sing for fun and ‐‐

Aww, thank you.

I pretty much
just perform online,

so I'm not used to performing
in front of people.

This is totally new for me.

Terrifying.

Yeah.

I want to have the courage
to pursue these dreams

that I've wanted to do
since I was a child.

But you have your ‐‐

your insecurities
that overcome you,

and they keep you trapped
in a little box

that keeps you from doing
what you really want to do.

So I'm trying to ‐‐ Sorry ‐‐

put that overwhelming sense
of fear and nervousness aside,

because I'm like,
"That's not Cassie.

That's just fear.
That's just fear of failure.

You need to get out of here,

because Cassie wants
to be a performer."

♪ Not the same destinations ♪

I'm hoping that this will
help me in my process

to conquer my nerves
and my fears

and to just truly be
who I want to be.

I'm gonna go get
a golden ticket.

♪ You're safe as a mountain ♪

♪ But know that I'm dynamite ♪

How are you?
Wonderful. How are you?

We're good. Tell us who you are
and where you're from.

My name is Cassandra Coleman.
I'm 24 years old.

I am from Columbia, Tennessee.

Columbia. Columbia.

Do you know Columbia?

Yes. I thought so.

I got a farm there.

No! Yeah.

Cut it out. That's my spot.

That's where I go check out.

So, what are you
gonna sing today?

"The Way It Was" by The Killers.

Alright. Let's hear it.
Let's hear it.

Okay.

♪♪

♪ Maybe a thief
stole your heart ♪

♪♪

♪ Or maybe
we just drifted apart ♪

♪ I remember driving ♪

♪ In my daddy's car
to the airfield ♪

♪ Blanket on the hood,
backs against the windshield ♪

♪ Back then this thing
was running ♪

♪ On momentum, love and trust ♪

♪ That paradise
is buried in the dust ♪

♪ If I go on
with you by my side ♪

♪ Can it be the way it was
when we met? ♪

♪ Did you forget
all about those golden nights? ♪

♪ Darling, darling ♪

♪ Can it be the way it was
when we met? ♪

Mm.

♪ Did you forget
all about those golden nights? ♪

♪ Can it be the way it was? ♪

Mm.

Very good.

Very good.

Was that okay?

I loved it.

Oh. What do you got, Katy?

I didn't like it. Aw.

I loved it.

Oh!

Yay.

Every once in a while, things
just work out for the best.

And that was about as angelic
as it's gonna get.

Oh, thank you so much.

I loved it.
I thought it was great.

Yeah.
Thank you so much.
I'm really honored.

Well, it is so inspiring

when it's just
straight‐up God‐given.

Yeah. Like, I felt free

listening to you sing.

I just got caught up
in the show and the magic.

Where do you usually perform?

I don't really perform. What?

It's ‐‐ This is so
out of my comfort zone.

I mean, I don't ‐‐
I get nervous.

I get the shakes
just performing for my family.

I want you to understand
one line.
Yes, sir.

Life begins at the end
of your comfort zone.

Okay? So every time
you get afraid...

Yes, sir.
...take a step forward.

Okay.
I have a question to ask you.

Is there a musician side of you?

Yes, sir. I play, but I'm ‐‐

I would just say I'm mediocre,
self‐taught.

I'm gonna put you on the spot
right now.

Okay. Okay?

Play us a song on the piano.

Play us a song? Yes.

On the piano? On the piano.

Oh, dang.

I don't even know
if I have anything memorized.

You didn't think
you were just gonna come here

to be angelic, did you?

Of course not.

What do I even know?

♪♪

♪ I'm holding on your rope,
got me 10 feet off the ground ♪

♪ And I'm hearing what you say
but I just can't make a sound ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah,
I loved you with a fire red ♪

♪ Now it's turning blue,
and you say ♪
Oh!

♪ It's too late to apologize ♪

Wow.

♪ It's too late ♪

♪ It's too late to apologize ♪

♪ It's too late ♪

♪ Oh‐oh‐oh‐oh ♪

♪ Oh‐oh‐oh‐oh‐oh ♪

Now...

Alright, I've got something.

Alright. I mean, like,
I'm so fired up over her.

I'm just ‐‐ Listen.
You are a new voice

that the world has never heard.

We ‐‐ I can't say who you are.

I mean, I want to say, like ‐‐
Sara Bareilles.

Stuff like that,
Edie Brickell, all that stuff.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yes, yes, yes.
But you're not.
You're just your own thing.

You're your own thing.

Let's vote. Lionel?

Alright. I'm very happy
to say a yes.

Thank you.
And I'm looking forward
to the adventure

of watching you grow. Thank you.

Okay, Katy?

I think you have
a voice of an angel

and a presence that's pure.

That's a yes from me.
Thank you, Katy.

Yes. Yes.

Thank you. Great job.

Great job.
Oh, my goodness. Wow.
Thank you.

You're going to Hollywood!

Thank you so much! Very good.

I'm so excited!

Enjoy it. Okay! Awesome!

You get to pick
a golden ticket...
There's your ticket.

- ...off the golden ticket wall.
- Oh, wow. Fancy.

You're gonna go a long way.

We're excited.

Ooh! Ooh, I grabbed two.

Ah, put one back.
I'll just take them both.

Put one back.
Or is that COVID bad?

No, no, no, just ‐‐

That may be bad luck.
That's I was thinking.

I'll just take it. Okay.

Bye, guys!

♪ Don't leave me in the dark ♪

This ticket will
represent believing in myself

because I did it.

That confidence pops out.
Once she got into that piano

and heard her voice
and relaxed in it,

oh, my God, she was on fire.

I love that.

I'm going to Hollywood! Whoo!

♪ Don't leave me in the dark ♪

♪ Don't leave me in the dark ♪

♪♪

Oh, it's only Luke.

♪♪

Luke, what are you doing?

I am sweating.

I about lost my calluses
during quarantine.

I mean, I've been a lazy,

non‐guitar‐playing piece of

Wow. Does that say one more?

Whoa‐a‐a‐a.

Uno más. How you doing, buddy?

I'm doing good.
How are y'all doing?

It's all true. It's all true.

Oh, my.

You're the last one of the day.

The last one, the last one.

Well, tell us who you are.

I'm Willie Spence.
I'm 21 years old.

I was born in
West Palm Beach, Florida,

and raised in Douglas, Georgia.

Douglas, Georgia.
Coffee County, baby.

Coffee County, Coffee County.

You know I'm Lee County.

Really? Old boys.

Did you go
to Coffee County High?

I went to Coffee County
High School, yep.

You know, we beat y'all
in the state championship

a few years ago.
How'd that ‐‐
You know, he just, you know,
couldn't let that go.

He just couldn't let that go.
How'd that feel?

You sure? Coffee didn't win?
You sure?

I'm positive.

My little hometown,
we ain't never won nothing.

Maybe that was your lucky night.

It was our lucky night.

Is this your first time
in San Diego?

This is my first time
in San Diego.

It is very beautiful.
It's very beautiful.
Yeah, right?

Little different
than South Georgia, right?

Yeah, it's a lot different
than South Georgia.

A lot different, definitely.

Why did you come here?

Well, I come here
because I feel like

this is what I want to do.

Wow.

I don't see myself being

anything but a singer, you know?

Music has always been
a passion to me.

And to even
have this opportunity

to audition for "American Idol"
is such a blessing.

♪ Sometimes ♪

This past year,
I had a health scare.

I turned myself in
to the hospital to get a checkup

because I've had pain
in my chest.

And the doctors told me that
they found fluid in my lungs.

♪ While I'm on this road,
you take my hand ♪

I weighed 600 pounds.

♪ Somehow you really love
who I really am ♪

And when they told me that,

I knew I had to focus more
on my health.

I went from 600 to 400 pounds.

♪ Who am I, who am I, who am I ♪

What have you done differently
to lose that weight?

How have you changed your life?

You know, my eating.
That's a big part of it.

I have a trainer now.

You finna work today.

That what I'm talkin' 'bout.

Push through!

I'm doing better.
I have no fluid.

I've lost over 180 pounds.

Wow. Congratulations.

Just eating healthy
and focusing,

'cause, you know,
if I don't have good health,

I won't have a career.
Yeah, you want to be ‐‐

You want to be using those lungs
to sing.
Yes.

You want to be sharing
all of that, right?

Yes, absolutely.

♪ Who am I, who am I, who am I
to be loved by you? ♪

You know, I do this for me,
but not only for me.

I do this for my family,
you know?

They've always supported me.

They've been there
from the very beginning.

I love it. Well, we're excited
to hear what you got.

Thank you.
Uh‐huh. Let's hear you, man.

I'll be singing "Diamonds,"
by the way, by Rihanna.

I got you.

♪ Shine bright like a diamond ♪

♪♪

♪ Shine bright like a diamond ♪

♪ Find light
in the beautiful sea ♪

♪ I choose to be happy ♪

♪ You and I, you and I ♪

♪ We're like diamonds
in the sky ♪

Whoo!
♪ You're a shooting star I see ♪

♪ A vision of ecstasy ♪

♪ When you hold me, I'm alive ♪

♪ We're like diamonds
in the sky ♪

♪ I knew that we'd become one
right away ♪

♪ Oh, right away ♪

So good.
♪ At first sight,
I felt the energy of sun rays ♪

♪ I saw the light
inside your eyes ♪

♪ Tonight, you and I ♪

♪ We're beautiful like diamonds
in the sky ♪

♪ Eye to eye, so alive ♪

Oh!

♪ We're beautiful
like diamonds in the sky ♪

♪ Shine bright like a diamond ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ We're beautiful
like diamonds in the sky ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

Whew.

Yes! Nervous. Oh, my gosh.

Yes, yes!

Let's vote.

Whew. Buddy?

Unbelievable.

Whoo! Unbelievable.

You are a special...

Unbelievable.
...special human being.

Unbelievable. Thank you.

Gosh, I didn't want it to end.

I did not want it to end.

You know you sing good.

Thank you.

Oh, you know it.

So, my question is ‐‐

This is my question. Okay.

When you think about
your future...
Mm‐hmm.

...and you know
the voice you have ‐‐

'Cause you know
it stops people in their tracks.

This is the magic you have...
Mm‐hmm.

In five years, what do you
want it to look like,

in your wildest dreams,

if nothing was standing
in your way?

I just want my voice
to reach the world

and just share my gift.

Hopefully winning
a Grammy one day,

that's where I see myself
in five years.

You think you could do it?

It's gonna take hard work,

but I feel like I can do it.

And you think
this is the spot to do it?

I do.

Willie, you have demonstrated

exactly what
we've been looking for.

You just brought the artist
to the table.

Wow.

And honestly,
you're an undeniable star.

Wow.

You, my friend, are so gifted.

On the first note, I had chills.

And all of your phrasing
and all of your expressions

and your believability ‐‐

I cannot tell you
how excited I am

to have you join us
on this show.

Really, man, that was just
an enjoyable session to watch.

Thank you so much. Thank you.

I mean, that Grammy is...

attainable.

No doubt in my mind.

I mean, when you start singing,
I see your lifetime, like ‐‐

I mean, I see it all.

To watch somebody sing

from a place
that I strive to sing from,

the purest place in the world.

I mean, it just comes out
of your heart and your brain.

Yeah, I‐I need to hush.

Anyway, shall we just stand up
and deliver?

Yes.

Willie Spence
from Douglas, Georgia...

You're going to Hollywood.

♪ Shine bright tonight ♪
Thank y'all so much.

Thank y'all so much.
Like, thank you.

Enjoy your golden ticket,
Willie.
And congratulations.

Thank y'all. For real,
thank y'all so much.

Thank y'all.
Oh, my. Thank you, Willie.

Willie! Yeah?

Try not to sing circles
around everyone out there.

Oh, my ‐‐
Yeah, just give them
a fighting chance.

Give them a fighting chance.
Oh, my gosh.

♪ Like diamonds in the sky ♪
Thank y'all.

I got the ticket!

♪ Shine bright ♪

Bro!

♪ Tonight ♪

Dang right you made it.

God bless him.

We out the hood now.

I never thought that I would
even be on "American Idol,"

you know, but with the support
of my family, I feel like I can.

I know y'all see
this golden ticket in my hand.

♪ Shine bright ♪

♪ Shine bright like a diamond ♪

This ticket right here
means a lot,

'cause not only
did I do this for me,

I did this for my family.

I'm going to Hollywood, y'all!

I'm going to Hollywood!

I'm going to Hollywood!

My family sacrificed a lot
for me to be able to do this,

and I'm just glad
that I have a chance

and an opportunity
to chase my dream,

not only for me, but for them.

See you tomorrow!

That's a damn singer
right there.

See you tomorrow!
He came here to slay.

I mean, when he ‐‐ Hey,
when he kicks that head back ‐‐

Look. Ah! I mean, it's like ‐‐

So ‐‐ Whew.

He's badass, y'all.
That bad boy...

♪ Shine bright like a diamond ♪

♪ We're beautiful
like diamonds in the sky ♪

Hey, great day!

Next...

We're going to
find amazing talent.

Keep calm...
Do whatever the heck
you need to do.

If you need to scream ‐‐

I need an inhaler.

...and rock on,

as we continue our search...

Are you single? Are you?

...for America's
greatest singers...

♪ Ahhh ♪

...with some "Idol" legends.

Oh, my God. Lionel Richie.

He's just a badass.

...and new stars

you won't want to miss.

Top 10!