Sunday night’s episode of “American Idol” marked the kick off to Hollywood Week. The two-hour episode began with 143 hopeful singers and ended with 56.
One of the fortunate performers to advance to the next round is Clifton’s Hailey Mia.
Mia, 16, stepped out onto the Idol Arena stage and sang a powerful cover of Adele’s “Love in the Dark.” Judge Lionel Richie stood up and praised Mia for her performance.
“You came out swinging,” Richie exclaimed in a video recap shared by TALENTKINGHD on YouTube. “That’s the way to come out of the shoot, girl.”
In a separate cut scene, Richie is seen talking to the camera expressing his admiration for Mia.
“It’s so exciting because those that rise to the occasion,” Richie said with a dramatic pause, “stars in the making.”
Mia’s audition was previously featured in February during the auditions round in Santa Barbara, where she sung a cover of Katy Perry’s “Rise” and impressed all three judges, Luke Bryan, Richie and Perry herself.
“To be re-inspired by someone else singing?” Perry, who was clearly wowed, said following Mia’s rendition at the time. “Full body chills.”
In 2021, Mia, who was 14 at the time, advanced to the finals on NBC’s “The Voice” and finished fourth after singing songs from Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish.
She originally blew away “The Voice” judges with her audition of Tate McRae’s hit song, “You Broke Me First.”
More ‘American Idol’ coverage
- N.J. teen wows ‘American Idol’ judges with original song. Lionel Richie says he’s ‘fearless.’
- How to watch ‘American Idol’ Season 22 Episode 4 (for free)
- Albanian man wows American Idol judges with moving audition, sings to ill mother
- Country music icon’s ‘quiet’ granddaughter unleashes moving ‘American Idol’ audition
- N.J. teen’s powerful ‘American Idol’ audition wows judges. She looks familiar.
- Late country music legend’s granddaughter will make her ‘American Idol’ debut this weekend
- Ex-NFL player shocks ‘American Idol’ judges with audition after injury ruined his career
- Father of 5′s ‘American Idol’ audition scores platinum ticket, blows judges away
- See the emotional ‘American Idol’ audition that left Katy Perry in tears
- ‘American Idol’ judge leaving show after 7 seasons
Saleah Blancaflor may be reached at sblancaflor@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @saleyley and Instagram.