Lionel Richie was moved to tears on American Idol during the audition of a car accident victim who had to relearn how to talk, walk, and sing.
The famed singer, 73, was obviously touched as Elijah McCormick, 21, told them he’d been singing since he was six years old but had nearly died in a vehicle accident.
Elijah, who claimed he had passed out nine times throughout his rehabilitation, was driving home from his high school graduation in 2019.
He was evacuated to the hospital after the collision and stayed for over three months, undergoing heart surgery and dialysis before starting his rehabilitation.
Lionel brushed away his emotions and was comforted by Katy Perry after Elijah completed playing Bless the Broken Road by country hit band The Rascal Flatts.
Lionel beamed: ‘I was trying to look very dignified but then you just beat me up some more. God brought you back nine times for you to do something amazing.’
He continued: ‘I’m so glad you’re here with us. That was just one of those moments in my life that I will never forget.’
‘God blessed the broken road that brought you here,’ Katy Perry, who joined the panel as a judge in 2018, stated. ‘Do you realise this is the beginning of your story?’
‘My mom signed me up before the accident. She signed me up for American Idol, I had my ID number and everything,’ Elijah revealed.
Soon after, Lionel requested that Elijah bring his mother into the audition room. Lionel and Katy had nothing but positive things to say about her kid when she arrived.
Lionel said: ‘Your son – when he opens his mouth, it’s divine. God brought him back for a reason and a purpose in life. And it starts [right now].’
The three judges agreed and sent Elijah to Hollywood to compete in the remaining rounds of the competition.
Last month, a former American Idol competitor sued the long-running reality programme for ‘wage theft’ and allegations that she was made into a ‘laughing stock’.
Normandy Vamos, 30, who auditioned for the show in 2020, has launched a class action lawsuit against ABC over remuneration.
Source My Celebrity Life.