Though it has been a television staple for two decades, American Idol is still going strong thanks to standout contestants like West Virginia native Kelsie Dolin. Beginning in 2002, American Idol spent over a decade on Fox, where it birthed such music superstars as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Adam Lambert. It switched over to ABC in 2018, and judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie joined host Ryan Seacrest to scour the nation for singing talent.
So far, the twentieth season of Idol has already seen its fair share of promising talent audition for the judges. The first episode saw the show introduce the new "Platinum ticket," a special pass given to only three contestants that allows them to proceed through one round of Hollywood week. The first episode's Platinum ticket went to country crooner Huntergirl, while week two's Platinum ticket was granted to 17-year-old Kenedi Anderson, who blew the judges away with an emotive Lady Gaga cover.
While she didn't receive a Platinum ticket, 18-year-old Kelsie Dolin was the highlight of the second episode of auditions. From rural Boone County, West Virginia, Kelsie overcame her nervousness to wow the judges with flawless renditions of Kelly Clarkson's "Piece By Piece" and Adele's "When We Were Young." Most impressively, Kelsie's audition was the first time she had ever sung in front of people. Sadly, Kelsie lost her grandmother to COVID-19 but was inspired to audition for Idol when she kept seeing ads for it, believing it to be a sign from her grandmother, who adopted Kelsie and her sister when they were young. Her grandmother had always pushed her to test herself, and Kelsie decided to audition in her honor. Ultimately, her audition got her a ticket to Hollywood and brought the judges to tears. Lionel Richie, overcome with emotion, said her singing "messed [him] up completely," while Luke Bryan was also stirred to the point of tears.
Over the years, Idol has caught some flack for its over-reliance on "sob stories" in the audition process. Often, contestants are introduced to the viewing audience and the judges solely through the context of their suffering, usually with a moody piece of popular music playing over an intro package highlighting a past trauma that has happened to them. What was different about Kelsie Dolin's audition was that the show's handling of her past hardships, namely her grandmother's death and addiction issues in her family, didn't come across as exploitative or simplistic. Rather, Kelsie's backstory served to contextualize her story on the show, which has already proven to be much richer and more complex than some of the more hackneyed and exploitative American Idol auditions.
What makes Kelsie Dolin's audition such a special Idol moment, and one that represents the best of what the long-running show has to offer, is that it was the epitome of what made the show's premise such a special one in the first place. Kelsie is from a very rural part of the country and has no professional singing experience or connections to the industry. However, her talent was able to be displayed for a massive audience and for industry heavyweights who could guide her toward the kind of success that her raw ability warrants. The season is young, but if Kelsie Dolin's audition is any indication, season 20 of Idol is sure to be one for the books.
American Idol airs Sundays on ABC.
Source: American Idol/Twitter