The 22nd season of American Idol started with a pull at the heartstrings with McKenna Breinholt’s emotional audition that not only left the judges in awe but also sent chills down the spines of viewers.
The young contestant from Gilbert, Arizona, blessed us with words that broke our hearts and made both the panel and ultimate emotional Katy cry. Now we’ll have a look at that audition, which touched every single heart in the world.
Who is McKenna Breinholt?
The story of McKenna Breinholt, a fiction resident of Gilbert, Arizona, became known across the country even before her appearance on American Idol 22. Her emotional audition clip, which aired on ABCOne online becoming a sensation two weeks prior to the season premiere, created a viral sensation.
The preview showcased McKenna’s Grammy-winning duet “There Was Jesus,” a soulful rendition from her childhood, and the poignant tale of her recent discovery of her musical family through online searches, which brought deeper and more emotional dimensions to her journey.
As the spotlight grew, McKenna’s audition video recorded over 1.6 million views before the season started, showing how strong the anticipation of the people for her to appear on the show was.
Even though the artist’s backstory of McKenna Breinholt and her impressive musical talent has made her stand out in “American Idol,” Jesse is still a show to watch out for.
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Her Adoption Story
McKenna Breinholt was adopted when she was a baby and grew up in a loving family with her adoptive parents and two brothers. She always knew she was adopted and had a curiosity about her birth family, but she never pursued it until she was 21 years old.
That’s when she learned that her birth mother was Amy Ross Lopez, a singer from Bisbee, Arizona, who performed with the folk duo Nowhere Man and A Whiskey Girl. She also learned that her birth mother had died in 2013 from complications of lupus and that she had four half-siblings who were also musically talented.
McKenna Breinholt reached out to her birth family through social media and started to communicate with them online. She discovered that they shared a lot of similarities, especially their passion for music. She also learned that her birth mother had written a song for her before she gave her up for adoption called “Little One.” McKenna Breinholt said that hearing that song was “one of the most beautiful moments of my life.”
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Her American Idol Audition
McKenna Breinholt decided to audition for American Idol to pursue her dream of becoming a singer and to honour her birth mother’s legacy. She chose to sing “There Was Jesus,” a song that resonated with her faith and her journey. She played the piano and sang with a powerful and expressive voice that captivated the judges and the audience. She received a standing ovation and a golden ticket to Hollywood.
But the audition was not over yet. McKenna Breinholt told the judges that she had recently connected with her birth family and that they were planning to meet in person in three weeks. What she didn’t know was that her adoptive parents had flown in several members of her birth family, including her grandmother, her aunt, and two of her half-siblings. They were waiting behind a door, ready to surprise her.
The judges asked McKenna Breinholt to open the door and bring her family in. When she did, she was shocked and overjoyed to see her birth family for the first time. She hugged them and introduced them to the judges, who were also emotional and touched by the scene. Katy Perry, in particular, was moved to tears and said, “This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The judges then asked McKenna Breinholt and her birth family to sing together. They chose to sing “Little One,” the song that her birth mother had written for her. They harmonized beautifully and sang with love and emotion, creating a memorable and magical moment that left everyone speechless.
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Her Future Plans
McKenna Breinholt is now one of the contestants who will compete in the Hollywood Week of American Idol. She hopes to advance further in the competition and showcase her talent and personality. She also hopes to inspire others with her story and her music.
She said, “I want to be able to share my story with the world and show people that no matter what you go through in life, there’s always hope and there’s always a reason to keep going. And I want to be able to share my music with the world and show people that music is such a powerful thing that can heal and connect people in ways that nothing else can.”
McKenna Breinholt is grateful for both of her families and their support and love. She said, “I feel like I have the best of both worlds. I have two amazing families that love me and support me and are proud of me. And I feel like I have a purpose and a calling in life. And I feel like I’m living my dream.”
FAQs
What is McKenna Breinholt’s backstory?
McKenna Breinholt was adopted when she was a baby and learned when she was 21 that her birth mother was Amy Ross Lopez, a singer from Bisbee, Arizona, who performed with the folk duo Nowhere Man and A Whiskey Girl and died in 2013. She reached out to her birth family online and discovered that they shared a passion for music.
What happened at McKenna Breinholt’s audition?
McKenna Breinholt’s audition was not only impressive but also emotional, as she revealed that she had recently connected with her birth family and that they were planning to meet in person in three weeks.
How did Katy Perry react to McKenna Breinholt’s audition?
Katy Perry was moved to tears by McKenna Breinholt’s audition and her family reunion. She said, “This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
What song did McKenna Breinholt and her birth family sing together?
McKenna Breinholt and her birth family sang “Little One,” a song that her birth mother had written for her before she gave her up for adoption. They harmonized beautifully and sang with love and emotion.
