Tiffanne LeMay faced "American Idol" judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan Thursday.
This beauty just advanced to the next round of @AmericanIdol - she’ll perform TODAY for celeb judges @LionelRichie, @katyperry and @LukeBryanOnline pic.twitter.com/0LyjiTNgnM
— Jackie Kostek (@JackieKostek) November 8, 2018
By 7 a.m., 13 Vegas Idol winner LeMay was lined up and waiting alongside silver ticket winners from across the country.
PHOTOS: Singers compete in 13 Vegas Idol
Like LeMay, these contestants won their regional idol competitions and have a streamlined audition process today, getting the chance to bypass producer rounds and head straight to a panel of executive producers.
Later in the day, LeMay was in the holding room, where all silver ticket winners who advanced from the audition with the executive producers this morning are getting ready for their audition with the celebrity judges.
“I remember her name and she’s got tons of personality. I really like her so I’m glad she’s back.”
That’s Patrick Lynn, the senior supervising producer for American Idol. He remembers LeMay from the first time she auditioned for the show back in 2015, making it the top 48. When she went in for her first audition today, she said the executive producers remembered her too.
“It’s really cool to be recognized like that,”
Her song choice? “The Best Part” by Daniel Caesar and H.E.R.
“They loved it...”
Then it’s time to get LeMay in front of the celebrity judges, which to her means one thing.
“Of course, Lionel Richie. I’m like, ugh. I get to see my man today.”
LeMay says she and her mom have quite the crushes on the celebrity judge and she plans to make it known.
“I’m going to share of how my mother loves him and how I’m very disappointed in her for not taking her shot when she could have. I’ll also tell him how much I love him and how I will be loving him from now on.”
So at this point, a lot of these contestants have been waiting for several hours now to be able to audition for the celebrities and they’re really just trying to keep their attitudes up, their energy levels up as they continue to wait for their big audition.
Country singer Bailey Moore earned her silver ticket in southwest Missouri. She says she's feels ready for the day.
"I just take a deep breath and prepare myself for any questions."
Soul singer Kennedy Hurst beat out around 100 other contestants in Minneapolis to be here. She says she prepared for Thursday the same way she prepares for any audition.
"Prayer, always prayer first when I woke up this morning."
It wasn't just contestants in line this morning though. One singer from the Bay Area had her whole family in town. Her mom says whether or not Mars makes it to Hollywood, they're here for the experience.
"It's an experience she'll be happy if she gives her best. We'll leave the rest to the judges."
13 Vegas Idol's LeMay spent most of her time in line listening to the songs she's prepared for her audition, including Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'" and "American Boy" by Estelle and Kanye West. She says Thursday is all about keeping maintaining her energy.
"I know today's going to be a long day so I'm trying to just keep the energy going. Of course not use too much right off the bat but I'm excited to give it a go. I'm ready to keep it going."
