In the latest episode of American Idol season 5 (the show’s overall 20th season), judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie were unexpectedly brought to tears by contestant Sam Finelli.
Before the show wrapped up on Sunday night, folks met the 28-year-old singer from Peachtree Corners, Georgia, who opened up about having high-functioning autism. Sam revealed that after he was diagnosed as a child, he struggled to connect with people and turned to music as a coping mechanism. Since then, Sam’s passion for music has also only grown, and he's now ready to chase his dreams.
After performing the Kacey Musgraves country ballad “Rainbow,” Sam received a standing ovation from all three American Idol judges and each one shared how emotional they felt. “We are so proud of you,” Lionel said. “Sam, you were born enough … Katy, you want to just kind of take charge here? Because I’m about to just break down and start crying. Sorry.”
After Katy was seen wiping away tears during Sam’s audition, she expressed that he couldn’t have picked a more “perfect song.” The “Dark Horse” singer offered encouraging words to the aspiring artist. “All that you have to do is let go of all that fear and that negativity and always sing from your heart,” she said. “That’s exactly what you did just then and we felt that.”
Luke echoed the words of his fellow American Idol costars and thanked Sam for giving him a memorable “experience.” Though the country music icon didn’t have many words, Sam’s impact was evident when Luke had to take a second to compose himself before giving his decision (watch at the 7:34 mark).
Unsurprisingly, Lionel, Katy and Luke gave Sam a collective yes, and he received a golden ticket to Hollywood. American Idol fans watching from home on YouTube were also ecstatic to see him move on to the next round.
“Please tell me I’m not the only one who is crying watching this audition 😭. He meant all the words of the song, and sang it so good,” one person wrote. “Own it Sam!!!! [You’re] amazing never forget that. I had tears in my eyes the whole time. I felt your energy and it was AMAZING! You got this. I’m a huge fan ALREADY I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHERE YOU GO 💖💖 Good luck I hope you win! 😊,” another added. “I could watch this a million times and get goosebumps every time!” a different fan said.
What’s more, members of the autism community showed an outpour of support for Sam in the comments section. “This performance got me emotional and I loved his voice and as someone else with autism his story really hit close to home,” a follower commented. “From this special education teacher, show them what you are made of…I believe in you Sam! You are a reflection of what so many of us have known for years!!” someone else wrote. “As the father of two amazing boys on Autism spectrum as well as the founder of a school for kids with Autism, I applaud you, Sam. Very proud of you - thank you for showing us a rainbow. God Bless,” another said.
We can’t wait to see more of Sam soon!
Selena is the entertainment and news editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers the latest on TV, movies and celebrities. In addition to writing and editing entertainment news, she also spotlights the Hispanic and Latinx community through her work. She is a graduate of CUNY Hunter College with a B.A. in journalism and creative writing.
