Lionel Richie was visibly emotional after witnessing a powerful performance by an American Idol hopeful and hearing her poignant family story on the latest episode of the ABC talent show.
Contestant Lanii embarked on her inaugural flight from Phoenix, AZ, to participate in the third round of auditions held in Nashville, TN, where she delivered a stirring rendition of Demi Lovato’s 2017 hit, “Tell Me You Love Me.”
At 19, Lanii shared that her motivation to audition came from her father, Efren, who is in dire need of a liver transplant due to prolonged alcohol addiction.
“He’s currently in the ICU, so everything I do here is for him,” Lanii expressed. “His belief in me is why I’m here today, and now, more than ever, I want to succeed for him.”
Despite her self-doubt about her singing abilities, Lanii spoke about her father’s unwavering faith. “When no one else saw potential in me, my dad did. Even when I couldn’t see it myself, he believed. He’s the most generous person I know,” she said.
She also opened up about her father’s struggles with addiction. “His battle with alcohol started before my birth. Many nights, I watched him stagger upstairs, promising that it would be his last drink, only to repeat it the next day,” Lanii recounted.
Lionel Richie was moved to tears after watching an American Idol contestant sing and hearing the story of her sick father during Monday’s episode of the ABC singing competition
The high school student said Efren did eventually quit drinking, but the damage was done: ‘I really want my dad to be in my future but this could be my last chance to show him his daughter tried for him.’
After wowing the judges with her powerful pipes, judge Lionel Richie wiped away the tears and admitted to Lanii: ‘You got me all messed up over here in the corner.’
‘What you told us about your dad and how you got here and then you walked in this door with this bubbling personality and gave us an artist,’ the 76-year-old R&B legend said.
‘I think that’s what we’re happy about. It’s pretty uplifting to see the human spirit. And you’re a perfect example of it. I really want to see you go forward, it’s a yes from me.’
Judge Luke Bryan acknowledged Lanii had ‘a hard journey’ and praised her for being ‘so brave and real and open with us and you’re not hiding anything. You’re not trying to be something you’re not.’
Judge Carrie Underwood agreed: ‘You have an incredible voice. I don’t even know if you know what you could be capable of but you completely owned that. That was awesome.’
Lanii not only got three yeses and the golden ticket, she got a rare group hug from the judges, whom she thanked profusely.
Contestant Lanii took her ‘first plane ride’ from her native Phoenix, AZ to attend the third round of auditions in Nashville, TN where she belted Demi Lovato’s 2017 song Tell Me You Love Me
The 19-year-old aspiring singer revealed she tried out for the reality show at the urging of her father Efren, who’s awaiting a liver transplant after years of alcohol abuse
‘He’s in the ICU right now — so this is all for him. I’m doing this for him, he believed in me and I’m here and I want this more than ever now,’ Lanii explained. ‘I’m very insecure about my voice but my dad believed in me when nobody else did’
The high school student said Efren did eventually quit drinking, but the damage was done: ‘I really want my dad to be in my future but this could be my last chance to show him his daughter tried for him’
After wowing the judges with her powerful pipes, judge Lionel Richie wiped away the tears and admitted to Lanii: ‘You got me all messed up over here in the corner’
‘What you told us about your dad and how you got here and then you walked in this door with this bubbling personality and gave us an artist,’ the 76-year-old R&B legend said. ‘I think that’s what we’re happy about. It’s pretty uplifting to see the human spirit. And you’re a perfect example of it. I really want to see you go forward, it’s a yes from me’
Lanii not only got three yeses and the golden ticket, she got a rare group hug from all three judges, whom she thanked profusely
Fans can catch more from season 24 of American Idol each Monday on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu
Fans can catch more from season 24 of American Idol each Monday on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu.
Meanwhile, Richie is next scheduled to perform live on May 15 at the Acrisure Amphitheater in Grand Rapids, MI.
The four-time Grammy winner has sold over 125 million records and pulls 11.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, but he hasn’t released new music since his 10th studio album Tuskegee back in 2012.
