Keyla Richardson, a 29-year-old single mother, gospel singer, and music teacher from Pensacola, Florida, delivered one of the most powerful and emotional auditions of the American Idol Season 24 premiere, earning glowing praise from judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan.
Before taking the stage, Richardson shared the motivation behind her unwavering pursuit of music—her young son, Drew. A music teacher for six years, Richardson explained that she often sees herself in the children she teaches: gifted kids who just need someone to believe in them, the same belief she once struggled to find for herself.
“When those kids walk into my classroom, I see myself,” Richardson told Idol producers. “I grew up singing in church, but I always felt like I wasn’t good enough. I had to make up my mind that I could do this. My son means everything to me. He’s all I have. He’s my best friend.”
Standing proudly beside her, Drew returned the love with a heartfelt message. “It’s just been me and her for most of my life,” he said. “She’s the best mom in the world. She deserves everything.” Richardson, visibly emotional, replied, “You’re the reason I’m here today and why Mommy’s going to keep going. Because of him, I’ll never give up.”
Once inside the audition room, Richardson opened up to the judges about her long road in music and her determination to keep pushing forward. She also shared that this wasn’t her first time chasing a big dream. In 2019, she competed on Season 9 of BET’s Sunday Best, finishing in the top four. She later earned a No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart with her single “So Good” and appeared in the 2022 film Due Season alongside Vivica A. Fox.
For her American Idol audition, Richardson chose an emotional, stripped-down cover of P!nk’s “Glitter in the Air.” Backed only by piano and dressed in a black-and-gray leather ensemble, she delivered soaring, powerhouse vocals that filled the room.
“Dang!” Underwood said with a smile, offering gentle advice about allowing the song to breathe. Lionel Richie praised Richardson’s impressive range, noting that her voice could “blow the roof off” the room when used with restraint.
Luke Bryan asked to hear part of the chorus again—and this time, the performance brought him to tears. As Richardson sang with renewed confidence, her son was invited into the room to witness the moment.
“Did you hear your mom?” Underwood asked Drew. “You know we love her.”
“You see what your mama made me do?” Bryan said, wiping away tears. “When you sang with that confidence, you stopped everybody in their tracks.”
Richardson earned three unanimous yeses and a golden ticket to Hollywood Week, which will take place in Nashville this season. When Underwood asked Drew if he could sing, he shyly replied yes and offered to perform “God Only Knows,” prompting Richardson to beam with pride.
After Richardson left the room, Bryan summed up the moment perfectly: “That may have been one of my favorite moments I’ve ever had on this show.”
American Idol Season 24 premiered Monday, Jan. 26, on ABC, with new episodes airing every Monday at 8/7c and streaming the next day on Hulu.