'American Idol': Katy Perry bends the rules for stripper who wants better life for her daughter
If there's one thing "American Idol" loves more than singing, it's suspense.
Usually that suspense comes as host Ryan Seacrest reads out the names of the singers who earned enough votes to survive on the show another week. But on Sunday's audition episode, fans were left biting their nails as one singer earned something judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie seldom give out: a second chance.
The 22-year-old contestant, who goes by the stage name Fire, opened up about the struggles she's faced. She said her mother struggled with drug addiction, which led her to be "put into state custody" at a young age. She introduced herself as a dancer, and when Perry inquired about the kind of dancing, she whispered she was a stripper.
Despite her difficult upbringing, Fire, who brought her adorable 4-year-old daughter to her audition, said becoming a mom herself at age 18 has been a source of great joy in her life.
“The world’s not designed for single moms to be successful, so I did what I had to do," she said. "I need to do better. I need to get away from dancing. I need to do this for me. I need to do this for my daughter.”
She sang Bruno Mars' "Talking to the Moon," eliciting coaching from Perry, who pushed her to sing full voice on the higher, falsetto parts.
"I just think you need to be pushed," Richie said. "The more you discover, you won’t even think about being nervous.”
Bryan said he appreciated Fire's story, but wanted more from her singing.
"I wanted your voice to be more," he said. "You’ve lived in such complicated backgrounds and scenarios, maybe this show, and we as judges, could push you and encourage you to really go for it. Vocally though, it wasn’t as good as I was hoping.”
Perry said she "nailed" the vocal exercise the judge put her through, but that "there wasn't enough fire" in her audition overall.
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Katy Perry gives stripper and single mom Fire second chance at Hollywood
Fire earned a yes from Perry, but nos from Bryan and Richie. As if the audition couldn't get any more heartbreaking, Fire's 4-year-old ran over and plucked a golden ticket off the shelf and brought it to her crying mother to cheer her up.
After Fire calmly told her daughter to put the ticket back, Perry walked up to her and offered something the judges rarely give after casting their final votes: She gave Fire a second chance, inviting her to see the judges again in Nashville in a month for another audition.
"That’s where you’re gonna show us what the fire is, OK?" Perry said. "I know you didn’t name yourself that for nothing.”
With tears in her eyes, Fire expressed her determination to the cameras.
"I’m not just somebody that’s just been through a lot of stuff," she said. "I’m working hard. And I need it. I need to change my life. I don’t want it. I need it. I’m going to put in everything I got.”
Chris Stapleton lookalike Warren Peay stuns Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry
Is that Chris Stapleton?
That was the question on the judges' minds when Warren Peay, a 23-year-old appliance repair technician from South Carolina, walked into his audition. Peay, who said he gained plenty of music experience as a worship leader at his Baptist Church, is a doppelganger for the rugged country artist.
And, like Stapleton, Peay can really sing too, which he proved with the Zach Williams' song "To The Table."
"A Christian Chris Stapleton!” Perry exclaimed after his performance. She also encouraged him to put his textured, "authentic" voice to use on some rougher songs as well.
Richie said he sees the contestant "headed down the top 10 road."
After earning three yeses and a golden ticket to Hollywood, Peay smiled and said, "I believe the world has lost a repairman."
From superstore to superstar: Kamron Lawson wows judges with his energy
Before his "Idol" audition, Kamron Lawson, a 21-year-old cashier at an unnamed superstore, had never left West Virginia.
So he was excited, but also a bundle of nerves, stepping in front of the judges to sing "Take On Me" by A-Ha.
"You’ve got a big instrument," Perry said. "I just don’t know if you know how to use it yet."
Bryan agreed, telling the contestant, "I think you’ve got more than what you gave us."
Lawson then sang what he was originally planning on performing: "Truly" by none other than Richie.
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Singing one of the judge's songs must have added to the pressure, because after the piano intro, Lawson seemed taken aback and said, "I'm sorry. I choked."
Richie pointed out that, sometimes, fear is a good thing.
"Sometimes you just need to be scared to death," he said. "Just relax.”
Lawson gave the song another try, impressing the judges.
"You have moments of complete control, and you’ve got it," Richie said. "Right now, I just think that you need to study your vocal delivery just a little more.”
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Bryan said Lawson has "one of the better falsettos we’ve heard" and that all he needs is "confidence."
What better place to find confidence than Hollywood?
"I think if he got around other singers he wouldn’t be so intimidated," Perry said.
Lawson left with a golden ticket and a new travel destination: Hollywood.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'American Idol': Katy Perry gives stripper, single mom a second chance
