American Idol featured two contestants making the judges cry and another stunning them with his originality during Thursday night's episode on Fox.
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Tristan McIntosh, a 15-year-old girl from Nashville, TN, performed "Why Baby Why" by Mickey Guyton on the piano after revealing her emotional story about having a mother in the military overseas. Tristan's pain bled through her vocals and instantly connected with judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr., who all praised her ability afterwards as well as her heart.
Before the judges handed Tristan -- whom Jennifer said reminds her of Alicia Keys -- her golden ticket to Hollywood, Harry read aloud an email the contestant's mother Amy wrote to her before the audition. Amy explained how proud she was of her daughter, dubbing Tristan her "hero" for following through with a dream she had since she was 10-years-old.
Tristan broke down crying at the personal email and then the judges shocked the young girl by asking the US Army major to enter the room. Tristan was convinced her mother was not going to make her audition, but on the contrary, Amy insisted she wouldn't have missed it for the world. The pair embraced as Tristan bawled with joy and there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
Another singer brought Keith to tears: Melanie Tierce, a 21-year-old student from California, who performed "Rise Up" by Andra Day on her guitar.
Melanie sang so beautifully that Harry immediately got up from his seat, told the artist he wants to see her in Hollywood, and then watched the rest of her audition off the set. Keith cried and said it was "unbelievably good." Harry then told Melanie her vocals were "absolutely stunning" and it was one of the best Idol auditions he's heard in his three years as a judge.
The contestant who floored the judges with his unique talent was Trent Harmon, a 24-year-old waiter from Amory, Mississippi.
When Trent approached the judges for his audition, he spoke with a thick country accent and revealed he lives on a 400-acre farm with his family. Trent came across as a simple, humble guy, and when Keith asked him what he was going to sing, Trent replied "Unaware" by Allen Stone -- which appeared to completely baffle the country superstar.
Well once Trent started singing, all of the judges were taken aback. Trent's voice was not country at all. Instead, he has a smooth R&B sound. His falsetto was on point and Jennifer was so surprised she couldn't stop gushing about him and talking as he sang.
Jennifer told Trent she was "so blown away" with his soul and dynamics. Harry called it his favorite audition since the show started and admitted the competition needs him just as much as he needs the competition.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
