American Idol: Katy Perry fights back tears as McKenna Breinholt meets her birth family for first time during
- The 39-year-old judge got emotional after Gilbert, Arizona, native McKenna, 25, was shocked to learn that her birth family was at her season 22 audition
- 'No, I'm not crying. You're crying,' Katy said while wiping away tears
- McKenna belted out the 2019 duet There Was Jesus by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton and met her birth family for the first time after recently connecting
By Paul Chavez For Dailymail.com
Published: 06:27 GMT, 19 February 2024 | Updated: 06:27 GMT, 19 February 2024
Katy Perry fought back tears as contestant McKenna Breinholt met her birth family for the first time on Sunday's season premiere of American Idol on ABC.
The 39-year-old pop superstar got emotional after Gilbert, Arizona, native McKenna, 25, was shocked to learn that her birth family was at her season 22 audition in Nashville after she belted out the 2019 duet There Was Jesus by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton.
Katy at first asked to have the 'Lopezes on the right' and the 'Breinholts on the left' after McKenna earlier shared that she inherited musical talent from her late mother Amy Ross Lopez who gave her up for adoption.
The newly united family while savoring the moment noticed that Katy, who recently revealed that this season likely will be her last as judge, was crying.
'No, I'm not crying. You're crying,' Katy said while wiping away tears.
Katy Perry fought back tears as contestant McKenna Breinholt met her birth family for the first time on Sunday's season premiere of American Idol on ABC
McKenna's mother Amy played in a husband-wife duo called 'Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl' and Katy asked if she knew any of her mom's songs that she could play for them.
'I do,' McKenna said.
'Tissue on Idol set,' quipped fellow judge Luke Bryan, 47.
'Wow. Look at this,' said judge Lionel Richie, 74, as McKenna sat at a piano with her family standing behind her.
McKenna then played piano while singing a song called Tumbleweed as her grandmother Ranelle openly wept.
'Ah, that's tough,' Lionel whispered while watching the emotional scene unfold.
'Thank you for letting me do that,' McKenna said after the judges applauded her rendition.
'Does it sound the same?,' Katy asked.
The 39-year-old pop superstar got emotional after Gilbert, Arizona , native McKenna, 25, was shocked to learn that her birth family was at her season 22 audition in Nashville after she belted out the 2019 duet There Was Jesus by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton
McKenna was shocked to see her birth family at her audition after recently connecting
Lionel Richie, Katy and Luke Bryan clapped after McKenna covered her mother's song
Katy scrunched up her face while holding back tears
'Oh, it's like a ghost,' Ranelle said as McKenna wiped away tears.
'So beautiful. Look, music is connection. Music is emotion. Music is heart. You're not the only person out there that's searching for their birth family. There's hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands that are watching this right now that are going, "Oh! Me too, me too!" You know?,' Katy said.,
'And 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 added.
'I'm sure there was a big loss for your birth family. And for you to sing like that, I think it's healing,' Katy said.
The family nodded their heads and said they agreed.
'Thanksgiving is gonna be big. It's going to be big now,' Katy said before the judges unanimously voted to send McKenna to Hollywood.
'McKenna, Amy Ross Lopez told me to tell you yes,' Katy said while casting her vote.
McKenna shook hands with the judges and then a video was shown of Amy Ross Lopez 1973-2013 performing Tumbleweed.
McKenna sat at a piano with her family standing behind her
'Does it sound the same?,' Katy asked
'Oh, it's like a ghost,' Ranelle said as McKenna wiped away tears
McKenna shook hands with the judges and then a video was shown of Amy Ross Lopez 1973-2013 performing Tumbleweed
'That's beautiful. Now that's the way American Idol family is supposed to work,' Lionel said.
The family then pulled in host Ryan Seacrest, 49, for a group hug.
McKenna clutched her golden ticket while talking to the camera.
'I feel extremely lucky and blessed that I have now two families who love and support me. This is the best surprise ever. I feel like I'm for sure carrying on my birth mom's legacy, and I am excited to see where that goes. We're going to Hollywood. Amy, I did it. Hope you're proud,' McKenna said.
The two-hour episode opened with English singer Mackenzie Sol, 23, of Newcastle performing the Sam Cooke song Bring It On Home To Me.
Mackenzie, who currently lives in Las Vegas, received a standing ovation and his mother Nicki came out to surprise him as all three judges voted yes to send him to Hollywood.
This season features hometown visits for the judges including an audition on Sunday's episode in Tuskegee, Alabama, for Lionel.
Triston Harper, 15, from McIntosh, Alabama, played guitar while singing Jason Isbell’s Cover Me Up and all three judges voted to send him to Hollywood.
The family then pulled in host Ryan Seacrest, 49, for a group hug
'I feel extremely lucky and blessed that I have now two families who love and support me. This is the best surprise ever. I feel like I'm for sure carrying on my birth mom's legacy, and I am excited to see where that goes. We're going to Hollywood. Amy, I did it. Hope you're proud,' McKenna said
The two-hour episode opened with English singer Mackenzie Sol, 23, of Newcastle, performing the Sam Cooke song Bring It On Home To Me
Triston Harper, 15, from McIntosh, Alabama, played guitar while singing Jason Isbell’s Cover Me Up and all three judges voted to send him to Hollywood
The talented teenager was praised by the judges for his storytelling ability
Lionel, Katy and Luke filmed in Lionel's hometown of Tuskegee, Alabama
Kennedy Reid, 23, performed with her best friend Jean Ann accompanying her on piano.
Katy noticed that Kennedy had bring pink 'coffin' nails and Kennedy revealed that she's a mortician.
Kennedy auditioned to the Tina Turner song River Deep, Mountain High and Jean Ann revealed afterward that they met at a John Conlee concert.
Luke noted that John performed at funeral homes and then had an impromptu duet with Kennedy that helped get her a golden ticket to Hollywood.
'Let's give her a break from death and show her what life is all about,' Katy said while giving her a yes vote.
Kennedy Reid, 23, performed with her best friend Jean Ann accompanying her on piano
Jean Ann revealed afterward that they met at a John Conlee concert and Luke had an impromptu duet with Kennedy to a Conlee song
'Let's give her a break from death and show her what life is all about,' Katy said while giving her a yes vote
Meggie Iyer, 18, from Carmel, Indiana, performed a rendition of I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt.
Katy said she had the 'whole thing' and said she was a top 10 talent.
Lionel agreed that Meggie was the 'whole package' and the judges voted to send her to Hollywood.
Ajii, 27, of Flatbush, Brooklyn, praised his Pakistani parents Mohammad and Sabrina before he sang Lose Control by Teddy Swims.
He impressed the judges and received a golden ticket.
Meggie Iyer, 18, from Carmel, Indiana, performed a rendition of I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt
Lionel agreed that Meggie was the 'whole package' and the judges voted to send her to Hollywood
Ajii, 27, of Flatbush, Brooklyn, praised his Pakistani parents Mohammad and Sabrina before he sang Lose Control by Teddy Swims
Lionel, Katy and Luke were impressed by Ajii
Blake Proehl, 25, of Greensboro, North Carolina, auditioned after his career as a pro football player was cut short due to injury.
The wide receiver signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 as an undrafted free agent and after suffering a knee injury rediscovered his love for music.
Blake posted a video of him singing for his grandmother that went viral and she joined him for his audition.
He played piano and sang In Case You Didn't Know by Brett Young with his Nana standing right next to him.
The judges all voted yes to send him to Hollywood.
Blake Proehl, 25, of Greensboro, North Carolina, auditioned after his career as a pro football player was cut short due to injury
He played piano and sang In Case You Didn't Know by Brett Young with his Nana standing right next to him
Katy for her hometown visit to Santa Barbara, California, was joined by her older sister Angela and recalled how she used to busk on street.
The pop star said sometimes she would get paid with avocados for her street performances and showed off her old green guitar.
The Santa Barbara audition featured Micaela McCall who took on the Stevie Wonder song Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours).
She impressed the judges with her unique style and got a golden ticket to Hollywood.
Odell Bunton, 28, of Texas, who has five children, also performed the Sam Cooke song 'Bring It On Home To Me' and received a standing ovation from the judges.
They voted unanimously to send him to Hollywood and Odell later learned that he received the Platinum Ticket allowing him to skip the first round of performances during Holywood Week.
Katy for her hometown visit to Santa Barbara, California, was joined by her older sister Angela and recalled how she used to busk on street
The pop star said sometimes she would get paid with avocados for her street performances and showed off her old green guitar
The Santa Barbara audition featured Micaela McCall who took on the Stevie Wonder song Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)
Micaela impressed the judges with her unique style and got a golden ticket to Hollywood
Odell Bunton, 28, of Texas, who has five children, also performed the Sam Cooke song 'Bring It On Home To Me' and received a standing ovation from the judges
Jack Blocker, from Dallas, performed his original song I Was Wrong at the Nashville audition.
Luke voted yes to send him to Hollywood, but Katy and Lionel voted no.
The country star appealed to the crew and they overwhelmingly voted in favor of Jack.
Jack was brought back and Lionel informed him that the crew voted to send him to Hollywood.
Luke gladly handed Jack his golden ticket and the contestant celebrated with his wife.
Jack Blocker, from Dallas, performed his original song I Was Wrong at the Nashville audition
Luke voted yes to send him to Hollywood, but Katy and Lionel voted no
The country star appealed to the crew and they overwhelmingly voted in favor of Jack
The crew raised their hands in favor of Jack
Luke gladly handed Jack his golden ticket and the contestant celebrated with his wife
Jack and his wife Georgia celebrated after the crew saved him
McKenna was the final performer during the two-hour premiere episode.
She shared how she recently connected with her birth family and planned on meeting them for the first time in a few weeks.
The show then surprised her by having her birth family at the audition.
American Idol will return next week on ABC.