Country superstar Luke Bryan was brought to tears by American Idol contestant Grace Kinstler during the season premiere of the hit show on Sunday (Feb. 14).
Prior to her performance, Kinstler shared that her biggest supporter was her father, who recently passed away unexpectedly. Kinstler’s emotional backstory captivated the judges as she explained how her father’s death has impacted her and her brother.
The American Idol hopefully took to the Idol stage with a performance of Gladys Knight & the Pips’ single “Midnight Train To Georgia” before the judges requested her to sing another song for them as they were thoroughly impressed. Kinstler chose to sing Aretha Franklin’s 1967 classic hit, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
Bryan was seen holding back tears while she sang the Aretha Franklin song.
Watch the performance below.
“I get brought to tears by stories and backgrounds of what people have been through and their struggles,” Bryan shared. “And this is the first time in four years that just someone singing made me cry.”
Lionel Richie was equally impressed, telling Kinstler, “You actually have control of that amazing instrument.”
Perry was ready to send the vocalist straight to Hollywood. There’s not a whole of a critiquing that I need to do,” she told her.
“Your dad is very very proud of you right now,” Bryan concluded, while adding, “That’s got to be up there with the Kelly Clarkson audition, the Jennifer Hudson audition.”
Click above to watch Grace Kinstler’s incredible American Idol audition.
