The first platinum ticket recipient on American Idol season 20 was HunterGirl, who wowed judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie with her incredible rendition of "Riot" by Rascal Flatts. The judges were so thrilled after her performance that Luke ran a victory lap around her. Katy said that her voice "cuts through" and is "authentic."
Luke wrote "Top 10" on his paper and called her a "new age Miranda Lambert." AI's Luke said that HunterGirl was his favorite female country voice that he has heard in five years. Lionel happily joined in the enthusiasm as the judges gave her a golden ticket, and later agreed that she was the best that they had heard in all of the years that they have been judges on the show.
Later in the episode, Luke invited HunterGirl to perform on stage at his bar, Luke's 32 Bridge, in downtown Nashville. As HunterGirl sang "Bluebird" by Miranda Lambert, the judges surprised her by joining her on stage to present her with the first platinum ticket of the season. Introduced in honor of season 20, the platinum ticket allows the recipient to bypass the first round of Hollywood Week, which is a grueling and challenging part of the American Idol competition. Only three platinum tickets will be awarded this season, so this was a very special achievement for HunterGirl.
American Idol's HunterGirl Is 23 Years Old
According to her official website, HunterGirl is a 23-year-old music therapist who is originally from Gruetli-Laager, Tennessee, whose passion for music began at the young age of three when she began performing in her grandfather's church. HunterGirl, whose real name is Hunter Wolkonowski, started writing songs when she was only 9 years old. When she was 11, she and her family moved to Winchester, Tennessee, where she performed at her local church. She also competed in an array of singing competitions. In 2014, when American Idol celeb HunterGirl was 15, she won the Texaco Country Showdown.
American Idol's HunterGirl Attended Music Business School
After HunterGirl graduated from high school, she moved to Nashville and began playing gigs in various downtown venues, while also earning her college degree at Middle TN State University's Music Business School. While in college, HunterGirl won several songwriting contests, including "Nash Next." She also won the Nashville Songwriter Association International two years in a row. She has opened at the Kansas Country Stampede and other music events, for headlining performers such as Old Dominion, Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels, and Sara Evans.
American Idol's HunterGirl Helps Military Veterans
HunterGirl comes from a long tradition of military service and respects veterans. She works as a music therapist with many veteran's organizations, such as Freedom Sings USA, Operation Song, Middle Tennessee State University, Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veteran Center, and Soldier’s Child, to help transform veterans' stories into songs. On the American Idol competition, HunterGirl said that this work helps veterans to deal with PTSD and is a "therapeutic process." This is admirable work that shows HunterGirl's dedication to helping others through her musical talent.
American Idol's HunterGirl Has Released A Single
In 2018, HunterGirl released the single, "We're Not in Kansas Anymore" on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. Fans can find links to her music on her @huntergirlmusic Instagram and @huntergirlmusic Twitter pages. She is also active on Facebook and TikTok. Life is good for HunterGirl, the first recipient of the American Idol season 20 platinum ticket. Already a much-deserved frontrunner to win the whole competition, she is definitely the one to watch so far. HunterGirl has given so much of her time and care to others through her job as a music therapist for veterans. She deserves a chance to bring her music to a much larger audience. This American Idol star might just be the next winner.
American Idol airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.