After her audition, the judges praised Breinholt for her control of her singing and piano playing. “American Idol” judge Katy Perry called the performance “beautiful,” while judge Lionel Richie said it was “gorgeous…storytelling, smoky voice and I love the little cry in your voice that just cuts right through.”
Perry asked Breinholt if she wanted to invite her family to join her in hearing the judges’ verdict on her audition. Breinholt replied, “Yeah, of course.”
As Breinholt opened the door to invite her family into the room, she was shocked to see her birth family standing there too.
An emotional Breinholt told the shocked “American Idol” judges that she opened the door and they were just standing there. With all of them in tears, Perry asked if Breinholt knew any of her birth mother’s songs that she could play for everyone.
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Breinholt then sat down at the piano, surrounded by both her adopted family and her birth family, and sang one of her birth mother’s songs.
Through tears, Breinholt’s birth grandmother could be seen singing along with her newly found granddaughter. She later expressed that it was as if she was seeing the ghost of her late daughter.
“Music is connection. Music is emotion. Music is heart. You’re not the only person out there that’s searching for their birth family,” Perry said.
Thousands of viewers are saying “me too,” Perry added. “It’s wonderful to have them all together and it’s so wonderful for your mom and dad to see this and to be so open and loving and supportive about this,” she said. “I’m sure there was a big loss for your birth family, and for you to sing like that, I think it’s healing.”
One of Breinholt’s birth family members responded, “You have no idea.”
All three judges gave Breinholt a yes and told her, “You’re going to Hollywood.”
