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A new season of « American Idol » is upon us and the talent just keeps getting better and better.
In an extended sneak peek of the upcoming season, Jesse Findling — a 20-year-old college student with a severe stutter — left judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan in awe after giving a « beautiful » performance despite the debilitating condition that has left him feeling embarrassed at times.
« I’ve been singing ever since I was little with my brother and sister, » Findling told the judges. « We would pull up karaoke tracks, and we would just sing with each other, and since then I did choirs in school. If you haven’t noticed, I have a stutter and that’s really where kind of my love for singing came. »
« I’ve had a stutter ever since I was little, » Findling said during his confessional. « It’s something that I’ve struggled with since elementary school. It was something embarrassing for me, and it was something that I really had a hard time with. I wouldn’t raise my hand in school, and it was just something that made me feel alone and something that I felt like I had to hide. So it was definitely hard. »
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« American Idol » contestant with a severe stutter shocks the judges with a « beautiful » performance. (American Idol YouTube)
Findling said that singing has always « felt freeing » to him because his stutter disappears.
« When I sang, it was a way for me to express myself in a way where I didn’t have to worry about being embarrassed or what people would think, or if somebody would laugh, » he said. « It was an outlet for me when I was little, and it’s still an outlet for me now. »
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« Walking out with a golden ticket would mean that everything that I’ve struggled with in the past, it’s all led me here, and I can do whatever I want if I work hard, » he added.
Before going into his own rendition of Bensen Boone’s « In The Stars, » he told the judges, « I’ve come a long way with it, and it doesn’t hold me back. »
Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan were left in shock after the emotional performance. (Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images)
During his performance, all three judges were visibly shocked at his approach.
« I don’t think I blinked one time, » Bryan said after the audition. « I mean, wow. You’re a real singer. Thank you, man. I’m really proud of you. I love this show. I love this show because we get to meet kids like you. »
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« Your voice is beautiful, » Underwood added. « You have a beautiful vibrato, a beautiful tone. We could understand everything you were singing, and you were in the song emotionally, which just took us right there with you, so it was beautiful. »
« Problem. What problem? » Richie asked. « You don’t have a problem. The only thing wrong with you is you’ve got to figure out how you’re going to navigate this career. »
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Findling, 19, grew up with a severe stutter. (Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images)
Before sending Findling through to Hollywood, she told him, « I think you could go really far in this competition. We just haven’t had voices like yours coming through those doors. »
While holding his Golden Ticket, Findling told the camera that he’s proud of the progress he’s made.
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« When I was singing that song, I was thinking of younger me who wouldn’t speak in class, who was scared of what people thought of him and the fact that I got this is just proof that everything’s working out how it should, » he said.
« American Idol » returns Monday, January 26, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.
