Likewise, Underwood praised Hill. She described his audition as “smooth but powerful” and thanked him for “bringing your gift” to the show. “I’m kind of speechless,” she said.
“When you sing in church, what do people do? Do they just run to the baptism pit and jump in it and get saved immediately?” Bryan jokingly asked.
Hill received an overwhelming “yes” vote from all three judges and was awarded the platinum ticket, which allows him to bypass the first round in Hollywood.
“You get to sit back [in the first round] and watch all the people you’re gonna slay” in the competition, Richie told Hill.
Hill responded by telling “American Idol” viewers that he is “so ready to spread the gospel and that I am going to do.”
Cameras then panned back to the judges and caught Richie telling Underwood and Bryan, “That boy right there was possessed.” Underwood responded, “By the Holy Spirit.”
“You have never seen me act like that before,” Richie said.
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