He’s a Strong Islander.
For most contestants, “American Idol” auditions are nerve-wracking, but for Jesse Findling, who’s struggled with stuttering his entire life, it felt particularly intense.
“There was so much stress and pressure, and I knew my stuttering might get worse in that situation. It was pretty terrifying,” the 20-year-old college student from Massapequa shared.
“But I figured I had to show courage… I understood that going into that room wasn’t just about my stutter; it was about my singing,” he added.
Findling, who successfully auditioned and is set to appear in the season 24 premiere of the ABC show on January 26, has a remarkable talent. Interestingly, his stutter tends to vanish when he sings.
“There’s a real science to it. Singing activates different parts of the brain,” he explained.
Years of speech therapy left him feeling self-conscious in class, and he hopes to inspire others facing similar challenges.
“I wanted to be that person who might encourage a kid to pursue something big or maybe even raise their hand during class,” he said.
The junior at SUNY Binghamton learned in September that he would have the chance to audition for “Idol” judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood.
“My roommate probably got annoyed with me always singing. It was tough,” Findling, who is enrolled in the musical theater program, mentioned.
He skipped classes to travel to Nashville with his family for the November auditions, where he performed “In the Stars” by former “Idol” contestant Benson Boone. “I often sing this song with my younger brother, who also stutters,” he said.
“I want to be a good role model for him, knowing how challenging it was for me as a kid. I keep him in mind when I perform,” he remarked in his audition video, which has already garnered 24 million views and is going viral.
The judges were taken aback by his soulful vocals, applauding him with a standing ovation. Underwood described his performance as “beautiful,” while Bryan noted, “I don’t think he even blinked an eye.”
“Seeing everyone rise to their feet was surreal. I knew I could sing, but that overwhelming response was unexpected,” he reflected.
Richie acknowledged Findling’s stutter when he mentioned it to the judge, who replied, “What’s the issue? You don’t have a problem.” He encouraged Findling to focus on navigating his career.
Findling later expressed how comforting Richie was, stating, “It felt great. He had this calming presence that was really reassuring.”
The judges’ praise shifted Findling’s viewpoint. “I left that room as a different person. I now believe in my abilities as a singer,” he stated.
Before they voted to advance him to Hollywood Week, they took a moment to highlight his family—parents, younger sister, and brother from Brooklyn.
“I had no idea they would be called out,” he said. “It’s significant for them too, as they’re new to this. Including them in my journey made the day even more meaningful for me.”
Currently majoring in biology, Findling’s future plans may be evolving now that his singing talent is getting noticed.
“Before ‘American Idol,’ I was considering a career as a physician’s assistant or in pharmaceutical sales. But things feel different now,” he admitted. “I’ve always dreamed of being a singer.”
