Photo: Getty Images
Carrie Underwood switched her vote during a California woman’s American Idol audition.
Mikaela Bautista, 23, delivered a rendition of Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You” when she auditioned for incoming judge and former Idol winner Underwood, plus returning judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.
Underwood told Bautista, a Registered Behavioral Tech from Rancho Cucamonga, California, that she “definitely” has “a lot of potential. I feel like there might have been a couple moments where nerves might have kind of crept in a little bit there, or maybe you’re thinking too hard. But you have a lovely voice. …I would like to hear more emotion in it, more connection.”
Ultimately, Underwood decided, “it’s a ‘no’ for me.”
Richie acknowledged that Underwood’s response was “dead on the money. We need every song you do to connect us to you, but I think you’ve got the voice to do it with.” He and Bryan voted “yes,” sending Bautista through to Hollywood. Bautista’s family joined her in the audition room as she received her golden ticket.
Knowing that Bautista’s father is also a singer, Underwood suggested the father-daughter duo sing together. Bautista and her father, Vhen, delivered a stunning rendition of “The Prayer,” and it was powerful enough to convince Underwood to “strike my previous (judgement).” Bautista advanced to Hollywood with three “yes” votes. Watch that moment here:
