Last May, Abi Carter became the first woman to win American Idol in over four years. Now that Carter has released an entire album and launched a headlining tour, Idol is on the search for her successor. And a 16-year-old contestant named Kaleo Knight just might have a shot, judging from this preview of her dreamy audition.
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This Performance Landed Kaleo Knight a Golden Ticket on ‘American Idol’
Singing is just one item on Kaleo Knight’s stacked resume. Hailing from the Westchester neighborhood in Los Angeles, Knight grew up performing hula dance and traditional Hawaiian ballet. For good measure, she also speaks Japanese.
But it was her voice that the American Idol judges came to hear, and Knight delivered. With the musical prowess of someone twice her age, she took on Idol alum Jennifer Hudson’s “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from the Dreamgirls film adaptation.
Despite stumbling in the beginning, Knight had the judges on their feet by the end of their performance. “I mean, that was crazy good,” Lionel Richie declared.
Next, Carrie Underwood admitted to feeling skeptical during the first half of Knight’s audition. “I was scared for you, not gonna lie,” the season 4 winner said. “You landed it.”
Often, the judges advise contestants as young as Knight to “come back and audition later,” Luke Bryan said. He went on to label the Los Angeles teen “probably the best 16-year-old voice we’ve heard in this competition.”
“What I loved about you is, you fought through a battle through and then just slayed it at the end—something a 16-year-old should definitely be proud of,” the country star said.
Chiming back in, Richie said, “You went from, ‘I’m scared to death’ to, ‘I got this’… Just stay in your lane and blow them away.”
Watch An All-New Episode This Sunday
Kaleo Knight is headed to Hollywood after scoring a “yes” from all three American Idol judges. Tune into ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern Sunday, March 30, to see who else punches their golden ticket.
Contestants will finish up season 23 auditions, with Hollywood Week premiering Monday, March 31.
Featured image courtesy of Kaleo Knight via Instagram
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