Two contestants on Season 24 of American Idol turned to the music of Brandi Carlile during Hollywood Week on Monday night (March 2), and the choice paid off. Genevieve Heyward and Bella Emry each delivered powerful interpretations of Carlile songs, earning spots in the next phase of the competition after the field was narrowed from 60 hopefuls to the Top 30 in the nail-biting “Golden Room” reveal.
For Heyward, who affectionately earned the nickname “pickle girl” because of her well-known love of pickles, the performance marked a major step forward. Taking advice previously given by judge Luke Bryan to push herself vocally and emotionally, she chose Carlile’s soaring anthem “The Story.” The song, which famously reached No. 1 in Portugal and was featured on the hit TV drama Grey’s Anatomy, demands both vulnerability and vocal strength, and Heyward rose to the challenge.
“You know what’s driving me nuts? No one is admitting that they’re nervous,” she said before taking the stage. “It’s pissing me off. You are nervous. I’m nervous, and I’m admitting that.”
Despite her candid confession, Heyward’s nerves were nowhere to be seen once the music began. Unlike her initial audition, this time, she was backed by a full live band, a setting that appeared to energize rather than intimidate her. The added instrumentation gave her room to command the stage, and she did just that.
Dressed in a fringe-sleeved dress and black boots, the 26-year-old rocker, who built her early career performing throughout Wisconsin, delivered gritty, gravel-toned vocals that cut through the arrangement with confidence and control.
Heyward showcased impressive range, and her stage presence matched the intensity of the song’s message. She appeared fully immersed in the moment. Watching proudly from the sidelines were her mother, Kim, and her vocal coach, Didi, who cheered her on as she delivered one of her strongest performances to date.
At the final note, all three judges, including Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, rose to their feet in applause.
“Wow. You have this energy around you. Like you just feel like you want to be on stage owning the moment, and you should be very, very happy. Good job,” Bryan commented afterward.
As the praise continued, Richie leaned toward Underwood and whispered, “Her voice is like on. She was clear.”
Just minutes later, Emry took the stage with a very different, but equally compelling, approach. The Bend, Oregon native selected Carlile’s emotional ballad “The Joke,” bringing a more solemn and introspective tone to the evening. Where Heyward leaned into rock-infused grit, Emry embraced softness and subtlety, allowing the song’s message to unfold gradually.
Only seconds into her performance, Bryan mouthed the word “Wow,” signaling that Emry had already captured the judges’ attention. Her gentle, angelic vocals carried a weight that wasn’t overpowering, but vulnerable and sincere.
Bryan was quick to commend her artistry.
“I’m seeing authenticity. I’m seeing style. I’m seeing uniqueness, that’s what it takes to do well in this competition,” he told her.
“That was solid,” Richie added.
Emry’s Hollywood Week success follows her standout audition, where she accompanied herself on guitar for a performance of “I’m A Little Crazy” by Morgan Wallen. That audition established her as a thoughtful, musically grounded artist, and her take on “The Joke” reinforced that identity.
With both Heyward and Emry advancing to the Top 30, the next stop on their journey is Hawaii for the “Ohana Round,” filmed at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina. There, they will once again face high-pressure performances as they compete for a coveted spot in the live shows.
Fans can follow their journey on American Idol every Monday night on ABC.
