American Idol's season 23 finale day is here, and we can't wait to see who will be crowned the winner!
For the last few months, folks have tuned in to see aspiring singers vie for a chance to make it big in the world of music. Well, now it's up to America to make the big decision, with Jamal Roberts, John Foster and Breanna Nix's fates in their hands. And with judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie delivering feedback after every performance, it's easy to say they are ready to see who will rise to the top as well.
But right before we see who emerges victorious, Breanna revealed an interesting detail about her journey.
According to an interview with Billboard, back in 2024, Breanna was busy posting music videos on TikTok with her husband Austin. Already leaning into her singing idols (like Carrie) for song inspiration with each video she posted online, Breanna decided she'd do something in secret. She submitted an audition tape to American Idol without her family knowing, and she even forgot about it when she received an email reply with an offer to sing for the judges.
“I submitted a video [to Idol] and didn’t tell anyone," she told the outlet. "I forgot about it. Didn’t tell my husband. Didn’t tell anybody. I didn’t think anything was going to come out of it. Two months went by, and I checked my email."
Eventually, Breanna decided to audition for American Idol season 23 with Austin and their son Emerson in tow. She tapped into Carrie's musical catalog for the big moment, and she stunned the judges with her rendition of "Jesus, Take the Wheel."
So, where does Breanna get the strength to give everything she's got into the American Idol competition? As she told the cameras during her audition, her inspiration to do well comes down to one little person in her life.
"I'm doing this because I want Emerson to know that anything is possible," she stated in a clip posted on YouTube. "He's watching his mama go chase after her dreams. I just hope one day that he'll do the same thing."
Aw!
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
