We've all cried watching "American Idol" at least once. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the times “American Idol” turned on our waterworks with their moving first songs.
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00:00 "Just to be your uncle forever."
00:06 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the times American Idol
00:11 turned on our waterworks with their moving first songs.
00:14 "It's my turn to chase the monsters away."
00:20 Number 10.
00:21 Kelsey Dolan
00:22 This 18-year-old taught us all that you should never let anything stand between you and your
00:27 dreams.
00:28 "Piece by piece, he collected me up off the ground."
00:35 Dolan confessed that she struggled with confidence and admitted she'd previously dealt with stage
00:39 fright.
00:40 However, she decided to audition in honor of her late grandmother, who had always been
00:44 her biggest cheerleader.
00:45 "He'd never ask for money, he takes care of me, he loves me."
00:52 From the moment she opens her mouth to sing, there's a magnificent transformation.
00:56 Then, with a little coaxing from the judges, she truly opens up and sings her heart out.
01:01 "Let me photograph you in this light in case it is the last time."
01:09 Sailor Woodmansey's audition that season also hit us hard in the feels.
01:13 She captures the heartbreak of her dad walking out while boldly showcasing her resilience.
01:18 "It is to find somebody."
01:25 Number 9.
01:26 Ray Lewis.
01:27 From the moment he opened his mouth, we could feel in our gut that he was singing from a
01:31 deep, soulful place.
01:32 "Got me seeking for what has begun."
01:36 He chose to sing "Stone" by Whiskey Myers, and his voice just soars, infusing every note
01:41 with raw emotion.
01:42 After the number, he shared that he was a survivor of a firearms incident at his school,
01:46 and that he wanted to bring a little light back into his community.
01:50 "Sweet, sweet heart of mine, I'm gonna break again a million times."
01:56 The judges, especially Katy Perry, were visibly moved.
02:00 She broke down in tears, echoing what many viewers likely felt.
02:03 Lewis' warm vocals and heartfelt delivery are captivating, but knowing the immense heart
02:08 he pours into the performance adds another layer of depth.
02:11 "Have you turned to stone?"
02:17 Number 8.
02:18 Sam Finnelli.
02:19 Finnelli overcame a lot of nerves to chase his dreams, starting with singing Kacey Musgraves'
02:24 "Rainbow" at his audition.
02:25 "But you didn't even notice, it ain't raining anymore."
02:32 Finnelli shared that due to being autistic, connecting with others often proved challenging,
02:37 but music always provided solace.
02:39 He might not have been accustomed to singing publicly, but his voice deserves to be heard
02:43 far and wide.
02:44 "There's always been a rainbow hanging over your head."
02:53 He seems to transport to another realm when he sings, pouring his entire being into each
02:58 moment.
02:59 The judges gave him a standing ovation, and we wholeheartedly joined in.
03:02 Finnelli just has one of those voices that makes you stop in your tracks and listen intently,
03:07 and just the most gorgeous soul to match.
03:10 "I'm so right now."
03:15 Number 7.
03:16 David Francisco.
03:18 In this season, Brandon Elder hit us deep in the fields with his beautiful song "Gone,"
03:22 dedicated to his late adoptive mother.
03:24 "Love from a mother's heart, though we are far apart."
03:29 David Francisco, whose life was changed drastically following a road accident, also showed us
03:34 the healing power of music.
03:40 "Isn't she lovely?
03:41 Isn't she wonderful?"
03:43 Given what he'd been through, Francisco's spirit is something else.
03:47 His love of life, music, and his fiancée left a lasting impression, and had us reaching
03:52 for the tissues.
03:53 "I can't believe what God has done, through us he's given life to one."
04:00 Emotions ran high among the judges, too, prompting them to stop him while they could still get
04:05 out their final thoughts.
04:07 "Ain't from love.
04:10 Isn't she lovely?"
04:13 "Stop, stop."
04:15 "Ain't from love."
04:18 We wish we could have also gotten in on those hugs, but we were delighted when they sent
04:22 him through to Hollywood.
04:24 Number 6.
04:25 Taylor Fagans.
04:26 In 2022, Taylor Fagans auditioned with a poignant original song about the tragic incidents of
04:31 violence and loss of life that have affected Black communities in America.
04:35 "And little Black boys don't go to stores or use their pockets anymore."
04:43 His song "We Need More" pays tribute to Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, and the enduring
04:47 struggles of others who have been failed by systemic racism.
04:51 Fagans shared that he wrote the song shortly after George Floyd's death, feeling compelled
04:55 to raise his voice against injustice.
04:57 "Little Black boys and girls are scared.
05:01 Their parents feel so unprepared."
05:04 When he finished, he was met with silence as the judges let the moment wash over them.
05:09 The soul-stirring lyrics and profound emotion underscore the power that music has to evoke
05:13 deep feelings and inspire change.
05:16 "Try to find the light we're living for.
05:17 And we need more."
05:18 "Try to find the light we're living for.
05:19 And we need more."
05:25 5.
05:26 Marcio Donaldson
05:28 Marcio Donaldson was accompanied to his audition by his adorable six-month-old baby.
05:33 He opened up to the judges about his challenging childhood and the life-changing moment he
05:37 adopted his then-weak old nephew, whose mother faced substance use disorder, hoping to offer
05:42 the stability he lacked as a kid.
05:44 "I'm jealous of the rain that falls."
05:51 Singing labyrinths jealous, Donaldson's soul permeates every word, sending our tear
05:56 ducts into overdrive.
05:57 The authenticity of his sound and heartfelt delivery blended with the story of his history,
06:02 passion, and hopes for the future creates a powerful whirlwind of emotion.
06:07 "The best of all this world could give."
06:14 Although he didn't win the competition, he undeniably captured the hearts of everyone
06:19 watching.
06:20 "I'm jealous of the way you're happy without me."
06:25 4.
06:26 Nick Townsend
06:28 Nick Townsend and his family faced the unimaginable pain of having two brothers take their own
06:32 lives.
06:33 However, even during the darkest moments, Nick felt a strong need to chase his dreams
06:37 for them.
06:38 "Seeing shows and even close views."
06:42 There's a lot to unpack, his heartbreak and his guilt, but most importantly, his strength
06:47 shines through in his music.
06:49 "So come on, let it go, just let it be."
06:55 He chose to sing James Bay's "Let It Go," and you can really feel he's singing directly
06:59 to his brothers.
07:01 No doubt they would have been proud.
07:04 "Why don't you be you, and I'll be me, and I'll be me."
07:11 Seventeen-year-old Shea Wynn is another contestant from that season who showed what resilience
07:15 truly means.
07:16 Having become blind the previous year, she was determined to prove she could rise up
07:20 no matter what.
07:22 "I rise up, and I do it a thousand times again."
07:29 3.
07:30 DJ Johnson
07:31 In 2021, Ash Rooder moved us with a touching song about reconnecting with her father.
07:36 It just happened that his birthday coincided with her audition.
07:39 "Rooder, no, I'm proud to see who you've become.
07:43 I've loved the man I've come to know."
07:46 Eighteen-year-old DJ Johnson also performed an original song called "Scars," inspired
07:50 by her estranged mother.
07:52 The lyrics eloquently relay the pain and anguish her mother left behind, and she sings it with
07:56 her whole heart, really making us feel every word.
08:00 "Oh, could a mother be okay, leaving scars on her children?"
08:07 Mid-performance, she breaks down, but with her dad there, she's able to power through.
08:12 You can see the heartache on his face, getting us choked up all over again.
08:16 Seriously, try not tearing up listening to her.
08:19 It's a challenge.
08:20 "Tired of this pain that keeps bringing up your name.
08:21 I'm tired of this pain that keeps bringing up your name."
08:27 Number 2.
08:28 Tyler Allen
08:30 Allen poured his heart into his performance, dedicating it to his nephew and sister, whom
08:34 he'd lost to a terrible accident months earlier.
08:37 "I believe in dreams again.
08:41 I believe that love will never end."
08:46 From the moment he mentioned he'd be singing Whitney Houston's "I Believe in You and Me,"
08:50 the song he used to sing to his nephew, we were a mess.
08:53 Taking on Whitney is no easy task, but he quickly proves he has the talent, voice, and
08:58 star power to do it justice.
09:00 "Just to be your uncle forever."
09:06 We could barely see through our teary eyes, but we could feel the emotion in his heartfelt
09:11 performance.
09:12 Channeling his pain through the power of his voice, he had everyone, including Perry, ugly
09:17 crying hard.
09:18 "Cause you and me."
09:21 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:25 Alanis Sofía
09:27 The 19-year-old pulled at our heartstrings singing Demi Lovato's "Anyone" into the toy
09:31 microphone her mom gave her as a kid.
09:33 "Please tell me anyone.
09:36 Lord, is there anyone?"
09:40 Cam Amon
09:41 He broke our hearts with his touching backstory and soulful rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."
09:46 "Nothing on my tongue but hallelujah."
09:53 Chris Medina
09:54 He dedicated the script's break-even to his fiancée, who had been in a life-altering
09:58 accident shortly before they intended to marry.
10:00 "What am I gonna do when the best part of me was always you?"
10:07 Hollywood Anderson
10:08 How can you not melt at this original song dedicated to his college bestie?
10:12 "There she goes, she's the one for me."
10:15 Noah Thompson
10:16 The Season 20 winner captured the hearts of everyone from his very first performance of
10:21 Cameron Marlowe's "Giving You Up."
10:22 "You were the same way you did me out in the moonlight."
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10:47 1.
10:48 Ieum Dong-Hee
10:50 From the moment Dong-Hee revealed that he'd recently lost his father, who had encouraged
10:53 him to pursue music, we weren't sure if he'd be able to get through his audition.
10:57 However, then he starts singing James Blunt's "Monsters," and it's almost too much for our
11:02 hearts to bear.
11:03 "Tell you I love you once more, time is gone, so here it is."
11:11 His voice's authenticity and pure quality make you feel every emotion.
11:15 He won everyone over right there and then, keeping us hooked through the finals and ultimately
11:20 leading to his victory.
11:21 "While you're sleeping, I'll try to make you proud, so daddy, won't you just close your
11:28 eyes?"
11:29 As if that audition didn't wreck us enough, he confesses that he gets emotional, envisioning
11:33 his father harmonizing alongside him.
11:35 We could watch this repeatedly and cry just as hard every time.
11:40 "Don't be afraid, it's my turn to chase the monsters away."
11:48 Is there another American Idol audition that sang its way into your heart?
11:51 Let us know in the comments.
11:53 "You have wrecked me."
11:54 Do you agree with our picks?
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