Autistic American Idol Contestant Sam Finelli Gets STANDING OVATION For His Gorgeous Audition! WATCH!

EXCLUSIVE: American Idol is heading into its Showstoppers round but is already planning a 20th birthday celebration with some familiar faces.

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.

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

No need for the “American Idol” judges to take it easy on Danielle Finn.

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

A formerly homeless singer-songwriter showed the world what happens when you don’t give up during the latest episode of “American Idol“.

 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.

. 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”.

Longtime viewers of “American Idol” will see a blast from the past on this week’s episode.

as contestant Sam Finelli faced his fears and auditioned 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.

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.

Aretha Franklin’s young granddaughter has been rejected from American Idol after auditioning for the long-running talent show last month.15-year-old Grace Franklin didn’t advance from her audition on February 27. Speaking before her audition, she said: “I feel like people expect me to sing exactly like her, but I am my own artist and I have my own voice.”Performing a version of Roberta Flack’s ‘Killing Me Softly’ in the style of the Fugees‘ iconic cover, Franklin was told by judge Luke Bryan that the performance “was all just a little sleepy and subdued to me,” while fellow judge Katy Perry called it “soft”.Another performance, this time of her grandmother’s track ‘Ain’t No Way’, followed, but Franklin was unsuccessful in her attempts to reach the next round of the competition.Watch both performances below.Aretha Franklin died in August 2018 in Detroit at the age of 76.

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, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, but this aspiring singer did it.On Sunday's , the judges are left speechless when they meet contestant Kenedi Anderson. In ET's exclusive sneak peek from Part 2 of the auditions, at first Perry, Richie and Bryan think nothing of her audition.