American Idol viewers got their first glimpse of Filo Ebid before his audition ever aired. Judge Carrie Underwood and host Ryan Seacrest surprised the season 23 hopeful with a platinum ticket during ABC’s live New Year’s Eve celebration. Now that fans have finally witnessed his audition performance of Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness,” Filo just might have attained frontrunner status. Here are three quick facts about the American Idol standout whose performance Lionel Richie has dubbed “divine guidance.”
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1. He Was Born in Egypt
Filoptir “Filo” Ebid moved to Dublin, California, from his native Egypt when he was just 13. Uprooting your entire life and starting over in an unfamiliar country is never easy for anyone, much less a teenager. Fortunately, “music was my link into American society,” the 23-year-old American Idol hopeful said in an interview with ABC10.
Falling in love with vocal powerhouses like Whitney Houston, John Legend, and Beyoncé, Filo got his start performing in his church.
2. Filo Ebid’s Mom Wants Him to Be a Doctor—Even If He Wins ‘American Idol’
Filo’s mother, Haidi, was there to support her son as he auditioned before the judges. However, even if he walks away with the recording contract and prize money, Haidi doesn’t want her son to abandon his pursuit of a medical degree.
After his stunning audition, however, Carrie Underwood actively discouraged that career path. “You don’t need to be no doctor,” the “Blown Away” singer declared. “Tell Momma she was wrong.”
Amid her fellow judges’ laughter, Underwood quickly added, “No, don’t say that. She’s just looking out for you.”
3. He’s a Seasoned Performer
If Filo seemed remarkably at ease during his American Idol audition, it’s because the stage is familiar territory for him at this point.
Earning a degree in vocal performance from the University of the Pacific in 2023, the aspiring musician starred in performances of “The Threepenny Opera” and “Into the Woods.”
Additionally, Filo performed during university President Christopher Callahan’s inauguration dinner, along with the 2023 memorial service for student life pioneer Judy Chambers. Watch him sing “Pacific Hail,” his alma mater’s fight song, at the start of the video below.
Featured image by Disney/Eric McCandless via X/Twitter
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