Many American Idol contestants have inspiring back stories, but Shayy’s in particular was especially emotional on Wednesday (March 6th).
Shayy told judges that she has been legally blind for a little over a year, after suffering from hydrocephalus and tumor in her brain. She then dove into a powerful cover of Andra Day’s “Rise Up,” which immediately brought the judges to tears, especially Lionel Richie.
“You have wrecked me,” he told her, red faced from crying. “Lionel you look like you’re walking your daughter down the aisle,” Luke Bryan commented, before telling Shayy, “You have what we cannot teach. We cannot teach letting the music flow straight from the soul, and that’s what you did.”
As expected, the judges made the unanimous decision to send Shayy to the Hollywood round. Watch her audition below.
