Wanna cry? Tune in to apparently any episode the final season of American Idol! Wednesday nightâs round of auditions featured Brenda K. Starrâs daughterâwith a lengthy appearance by Brenda herselfâand a performer who accidentally shot and killed his brother when he was eight years old. Jesus.
If youâre not familiar with Brenda K. Starr, sheâs probably best known for her 1987 ballad âI Still Believe,â which was famously covered by Mariah Carey. Starr also used to rehearse at the same dance studios as Jennifer Lopez, we learned last night, which meant they also had a bit of a reunion, as the judges voted her daughter Gianna Isabella throughâbut not before Starr teared up explaining how hard her daughter has worked and how theyâre best friends.
Next letâs move on to John Arthur Greene, who is currently performing in Matilda on Broadway. When he was eight years old, Greene accidentally shot his brother with a gun he didnât realize was loaded while they were playing a game of Cops and Robbers the night of his parentsâ wedding anniversary.
âI held my brother and watched him die. I knew it when I had him in my arms. I knew he was gone, and I knew it was my fault.â Greeneâwho says music is what helped him get through what is frankly about the most tragic experience a human can haveâwas voted through to Hollywood.
And donât forget about last weekâs episode, when the judges surprised contestant Tristan McIntosh with her own mother, who came back from serving overseas to see Tristan get a ticket to Hollywood.
âWhen I walk in the room, I feel like my momâs gonna be there in spirit,â she said, before Harry Connick Jr. read a surprise email from her mom and then OH WAIT WHATâS THAT THEREâS MOM.
Iâm crying again.
