Lyric Mederios flew 10 hours to audition for American Idol, but did her time pay and efforts pay off?
Lyric, a resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, is the daughter of ‘80s singer Glenn Medeiros. She inherited her love of music from her dad, who had a global smash hit with the song, “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You.”
A self-proclaimed country music lover, Lyric was a ball full of nerves before her audition.
Her mom, Tammy, admitted she was a “shy singer.”
“Lyric hasn’t even eaten, so she’s like nervous,” she explained to Ryan Seacrest.
Wearing a denim jumpsuit, Lyric entered the room with a smile as she told the judges, “Aloha! I have some leis for you. I’m from Hawaii.”
After putting a floral lei around the neck of each of the judges, Lyric chose to perform Kelsea Ballerini’s breakout hit, “Love Me Like You Mean It.”
Katy Perry And Luke Bryan Challenged Lyric To Do Better
She got a tough lesson from Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, who challenged her to do better.
“Girl, you flew ten hours to be cute and safe?” Perry shouted. “We know you got more than that!”
“I can sing another song for you if you’d like,” Lyric told Perry, to which she replied, “we need it ‘cause as of right now, you’re flying ten hours back.”
“How about some Carrie Underwood?” Lyric asked.
Joined by a pianist, Lyric then performed a cover of Underwood’s chart-topping hit, “Before He Cheats.”
“Come on, louder!” Katy Perry shouted.
“Look this is going to be very challenging for you. Have you ever made an ugly face in your life? Now get it,” Bryan said, encouraging her to stop trying to look so perfect.
Perry and Bryan persuaded Lyric to make an angry face and lean more into the performance.
Katy Perry then exited the judges’ panel and walked toward the contestant to show her how to get angry and more into her performance.
As she continued to sing “Before He Cheats,” Lyric pretended to fight with Perry and Richie shouted, “There you go!”
“One more time!” Perry said. “There it is, there it is.”
“Lyric, you are too pretty for an ugly business,” Luke Bryan joked.
Following her performance, Perry asked Lyric, “Did your daddy ever tell you that it was hard? Cause it’s hard.”
Did Lyric Mederios Earn A Ticket To Hollywood On American Idol?
Lyric Mederios’ audition left the judges divided.
“I think the only way you’re going to understand what your potential is, is putting you in a room with some brawlers. So, I guess I have to say ‘yes.’” Richie explained.
Bryan said he believed she needs to cut her teeth in the honky tonks, while Richie replied, “You don’t want to throw her into this suit.”
“I don’t think she’s ready, I’m a ‘no,’” Bryan said, making his final decision before asking Perry, “What cha got Katy?”
With the decision on her shoulders, Perry stood up.
“I need you to come up here and slap me across the face as hard as you possibly can. I’m just kidding. I knew you wouldn’t do that, you’re too polite and too sweet or you’re just putting that on and I don’t think that’s exactly you. I have been ‘no’ pretty much this whole time, but there’s something inside of me that’s like ‘I got to give her a shot,’” Perry explained.
Despite a ‘no’ from Luke Bryan, Lyric Mederios earned a golden ticket to advance to Hollywood.
The season 21 premiere of American Idol aired on Sunday (Feb. 19) at 8/7c on ABC. The show is available to stream on HULU.
This season of Idol promises to be a memorable one as it’s a celebration of the show turning 21 (in both years and seasons). Idol judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie return to find the next singing sensation in New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Nashville.
American Idol airs on Sundays at 8/7c on ABC.
