Luke Bryan wants to ‘ugly cry’ after inspiring audition by autistic singer

Before you sit down to watch the latest auditions for American Idol, you might want to grab some tissues.

Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie learned that lesson the hard way after all three judges were left in tears by Sam Finelli’s inspiring audition on Sunday night’s episode.

Before he started singing, the 28-year-old cashier from Peachtree Corners, Georgia, talked about his life with autism and how music helped him feel less alone during his childhood.

“I was always different as a child,” Finelli said. “I was lonely growing up, but music was like my best friend.”

Finelli’s mother, who accompanied him to the audition, said her son is high-functioning but has trouble socializing. Finelli, a longtime fan of “Idol,” said he only recently found the confidence to audition and had never performed in front of an audience except at a local karaoke.

“I’m kind of afraid to sing with people,” he said. “Right now I’m singing in my bedroom. Right now I’m singing in my basement. Right now I’m singing in my shower. I’m scared I’m not good enough… but I wanted to try.”

Finelli delivered a stirring rendition of Kacey Musgraves’ “Rainbow” that brought all three judges to their feet. With tears in her eyes, Finelli assured the jury, “These are tears of joy.”

“I want you to know that we are so proud of you,” Richie said. “Sam, you were born enough… Do you hear me? You are enough.”

Perry told Finelli he had “picked the perfect song.”

“There’s always been a rainbow over your head,” she continued. “All you have to do is let go of all that fear and all that negativity and always sing from your heart. That’s all you have to do. And that’s exactly what you just did.”

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Bryan said Finelli’s audition “felt like an experience.”

“I love experiences,” he continued. “Thank you for being here.”

With his mother by his side, Finelli received three yes votes and made it to Hollywood.

The jury was visibly still shocked after Finelli left the room.

“Luke Bryan is crazy,” Perry said as the country singer wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “If you want to ugly cry in the bathroom, so can I.”

Is Abigail Brooks the next Barbra Streisand?

Finelli wasn’t the only one who stood out.

Abigail Brooks, a self-described “old soul” from Castle Rock, Colorado, delivered a dreamy performance of Don McLean’s “Vincent” that earned her recognition from all three judges.

Before her audition, the 21-year-old barista confessed that she feels most comfortable singing into a broom alone in her cafe.

“I always wait until the customers leave, then I grab a broom from behind and pretend it’s a microphone,” she said.

To make the audition easier, Perry asked for a broom for Brooks to use as a microphone.

The support was definitely worth it.

“When you started, I got goosebumps,” Perry said after her audition. “You could just feel some of the notes you hit. You’re one in a hundred.”

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Bryan predicted Brooks would sweep the competition on Disney night, but was unsure how she would fit into the overall show, which typically consists of pop, country, rock and soul singers.

“You’re just a great singer of that genre,” he continued. “You sing so naturally. Is that 100% practical for ‘American Idol’ overall? I’m not sure.”

The biggest compliment, however, came from Richie, who compared Brooks to one of his friends, the legendary singer Barbra Streisand.

“I know Barbra very well and she’s playful,” he said. “But when she opens her mouth and gets on stage, she turns into exactly what you want to be and that’s a phenomenon. You have some qualities that are only you and that’s the part I’m in love with.”

He added: “I can’t wait to call Barbra and tell her about you. For me it’s a yes.”

Brooks not only got a golden ticket to Hollywood, but was also allowed to keep the broom.

“I’m taking this broom up and beyond,” she said. “Hopefully one day Barbra Streisand and I will have a broom duet.”

“She might be the winner”: Gary Baker’s granddaughter delights the jury

If music plays a role in your family, expectations for “Idol” can be high.

But Cadence Baker, the granddaughter of country singer Gary Baker, who wrote the hit “I Swear,” lived up to her family’s legacy.

The 18-year-old from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, sang “I’m Your Baby Tonight” by Whitney Houston, with her father accompanying her on guitar.

Baker received high praise from all three judges, including Richie, who also praised her father’s guitar playing.

“I think that was one of the best auditions I’ve ever seen,” Bryan said. “I wrote down ‘potential top 10.'”

As Baker left the room with a golden ticket in hand, Bryan made a bold prediction: “She might be the winner.”

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘American Idol’: Autistic singer’s audition moves Luke Bryan to tears