'American Idol': Sam Finelli, a Contestant With Autism, Wows Judges With Kacey Musgraves' Performance

Backwood Mac might need some work.

Katy Perry shared a maternal moment with two moms-to-be during Sunday's episode of  Contestants Haley Slaton and Sam Moss were paired up to sing a duet after Sam announced that she was, in fact, four months pregnant. «Since my audition, life has thrown me a huge curveball,» Sam shared. «Becoming a mom this year was not part of my plan, but it brings a whole new reason and motivation to continue to do what I love.» Haley, who had been pregnant during her initial audition, was in her eighth month during the pre-taped performance and both contestants struggled with emotions and endurance as they prepared for their duet of Robyn's «Dancing On My Own.» Katy pulled the women aside to give them a pep talk before the performance and the moment left her in tears. «My lifelong thing is I'm never enough,» Katy shared with the singers.

Cameron Whitcomb and Tristen Gressett teamed up on Sunday night’s “American Idol” to form team “Both Crazy”.

Katy Perry has certainly left a memorable impression on this season's slate of contestants.The songstress and judge picked up the mic on Monday's new episode to belt out an impromptu rendition of her hit single «Teenage Dream,» and ended up teaching the young up-and-coming singers a lesson in keeping your composure.Right as Perry hit the lyric, «Put your hands on me and my skintight jeans,» the singer's own skintight coral red pleather pants split in the rear and she bent over.Instead of running off stage in embarrassment, Perry simply asked of the production crew, «Can I get some tape? Some gaffer tape?»ima get ur heart racing in my skin-tight jeans on #americanidol tonight

Despite “American Idol” contestant Kelsie Dolin’s extreme nerves, the 18-year-old singer was able to pull off an incredible performance.

Chris Willman Music WriterFor years, the Stagecoach Festival in Indio has had a side stage, dubbed the Palomino tent, that is a virtual festival-within-a-festival, focusing on alternative country, Americana and heritage country acts, “cred” artists that tend to draw a largely different audience than the larger one that stays at the mainstream main stage all day. This summer, Goldenvoice is branching off that approach into a one-day gathering of its own — the Palomino Festival — set to go down for the first time July 9 in Pasadena.Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson & Family and Jason Isbell are newly announced as the headliners for the inaugural event, which will take place at Brookside at the Rose Bowl, a park adjacent to the storied stadium that Goldenvoice has used for a number of other genre-specific festivals in the last decade.

 contestants are keeping it in the family! Former top eight finalist Nadia Turner got the surprise of a lifetime during season 20’s fourth auditions episode on Sunday, after getting tricked into attending her daughter, Zaréh’s audition, on the guise that they were headed out to enjoy a mother-daughter spa day.Zaréh, not only competed on the show 17 years after her mother but wore the same gold halter top for her audition that Nadia wore to her audition for the show's fourth season in 2005. Season 4 is the season Carrie Underwood famously won, after going head-to-head with Bo Bice.With the help of Ryan Seacrest and the American Idol crew, Zaréh was able to fool her mom, blindfolding her and bringing her to the show's set for the big reveal.Ryan was there to meet Nadia and once he took her hands and said his signature, «This… is ,» the jig was up.

Another great singer is going to Hollywood.

Haley Slaton gave it her all as she auditioned for “American Idol” while five and a half months pregnant during Sunday’s episode.

. The 23-year-old musician auditioned during Sunday's episode while five and a half months pregnant with a baby boy.«Being on the show pregnant is actually not going to be an obstacle for me,» Haley assured viewers on Sunday, telling host Ryan Seacrest that she'd already named her little guy, Jaelyn. She performed Miley Cyrus' «The Climb» for judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, who all seemed to be on the fence after the performance. Luke called the audition «not perfect,» saying, «There were some amateur moments, but then there were some real moments.

One lucky contestant got a second chance to shine on the latest installment of “American Idol”.

Another star is born on American Idol!

as contestant Sam Finelli faced his fears to audition for judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. The 28-year-old bakery assistant opened up about his struggles with autism, expressing how music helped him get through a difficult childhood.«I don't connect with people very well. It's just a small part of who I am,» Sam explained.

Not a dry eye in the house. American Idol viewers were blown away by Sam Finelli‘s audition during the third week of auditions — as were the judges.

Sam Finelli had the “American Idol” judges in tears on Sunday’s show.

Taniya Boatwright explained how she was inspired by a former “American Idol” contestant as she auditioned for the judges during Sunday’s episode.

audition, she had also never performed before she stepped on the stage in front of judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. The 18-year-old native of Boone County, West Virginia, shared the story of her difficult childhood, and being raised by her grandparents. Kelsie noted that her grandmother sadly died in 2021 after suffering complications from COVID-19. Noting that her grandmother «pushed her» to try things, Kelsie decided to «step outside» of her comfort zone in her honor.

Katy Perry has had some pretty memorable moments during her time as a judge on American Idol, but a recent one allowed her to finally clear some things up regarding one of her biggest hits.MORE: Katy Perry taken aback by very surprising audition during American Idol premiereThe singer had a conversation with fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as they talked about artists often adding too many unnecessary flairs to their singing.WATCH: Katy Perry's Chocotopia adventureLuke then started singing to Katy's hit Firework by performing the lines in the chorus as "up, up, up," and then "ah, ah, ah," to her annoyance."It's not 'up, up, up' and it's not 'ah, ah, ah'," she said, to which Luke retorted: "Well what is it then, because I've been dying to know all these years?"MORE: Katy Perry looks unreal in all-leather outfit"It's 'awe, awe, awe' everybody, get it right!" she said. Luke even questioned: "Is that a word in the dictionary?" to which Katy responded: "It is!"She even added on to the career-long debate about her song, saying: "It's not Fireworks, it's Firework."A post shared by KATY PERRY (@katyperry)Katy cleared up what the lyrics for Firework really were for LukeKaty posted the clip on her Instagram with the caption: "FOR THE OFFICIAL RECORD • it is AWE not UP • it is FIREWORK not FIREWORKSSS.