During Monday's episode of the ABC singing competition American Idol, legendary judge Lionel Richie was visibly moved to tears after witnessing a contestant's powerful performance and hearing her heart-wrenching story about her sick father.
Lanii's Emotional Journey to Nashville
Contestant Lanii, a 19-year-old aspiring singer from Phoenix, Arizona, took her first-ever plane ride to attend the third round of auditions in Nashville, Tennessee. There, she delivered a stunning rendition of Demi Lovato's 2017 hit song "Tell Me You Love Me," captivating the judges with her vocal prowess and emotional delivery.
A Father's Belief and Health Struggles
Lanii revealed that she had tried out for the reality show at the urging of her father Efren, who is currently awaiting a liver transplant after years of alcohol abuse. "He's in the ICU right now — so this is all for him," Lanii explained emotionally. "I'm doing this for him, he believed in me and I'm here and I want this more than ever now."
The high school student shared her personal struggles with insecurity about her voice, crediting her father as her primary supporter. "I'm very insecure about my voice but my dad believed in me when nobody else did," she said. "He saw it in me even when I didn't see it in myself. My dad is the kindest person in the world."
Lanii described her father's long battle with addiction, which began before she was born. "There were so many nights I would just cry from watching my dad stumble upstairs and he would say, 'Tonight's gonna be my last drink' every day," she recalled. Although Efren eventually quit drinking, the damage to his liver had already been 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," Lanii added, highlighting the urgency of her audition.
Judges' Emotional Reactions
After Lanii's performance, judge Lionel Richie wiped away tears and admitted to the contestant: "You got me all messed up over here in the corner." The 76-year-old R&B legend praised her resilience and artistry.
"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," Richie 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."
Unanimous Praise and Support
Judge Luke Bryan acknowledged that Lanii had "a hard journey" and commended her bravery and authenticity. "You're so brave and real and open with us and you're not hiding anything," Bryan said. "You're not trying to be something you're not."
Judge Carrie Underwood agreed, telling Lanii: "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 received three yeses from the judges and the coveted golden ticket to Hollywood, but she also earned a rare group hug from all three judges, whom she thanked profusely for their support and encouragement.
American Idol Continues
Fans can catch more emotional moments and performances from season 24 of American Idol each Monday on ABC, Disney+, and Hulu. The show continues to showcase talented contestants with compelling personal stories that resonate with both judges and audiences.
Meanwhile, Lionel Richie, who has sold over 125 million records and maintains 11.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, is next scheduled to perform live on May 15 at the Acrisure Amphitheater in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The four-time Grammy winner hasn't released new music since his 10th studio album "Tuskegee" in 2012, but continues to be a beloved figure in the music industry and on American Idol.
