American Idol contestant McKenna Breinholt was surprised by her birth parents during her audition for the season premiere of the prestigious singing competition series.
Breinholt, a 25-year-old singer from Gilbert, Arizona, told “American Idol” judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie that she was adopted and later learned that her birth mother He said he learned that she was a singer named Amy Ross Lopez. church leaders report. At age 21, Breinholt tried to find her birth mother, but learned that Lopez had died in October 2013 from complications from lupus.
“i got you” [out] I was adopted as soon as I could figure it out,” Breinholt explained. “My mom struggled for several years to get pregnant, but she finally decided to put her up for adoption.”
“I have the best family in the world,” she continued. “They always supported me.”
She also learned that her birth mother was a singer who performed locally in Bisbee, Arizona, just a few hours away from Gilbert. “I immediately knew where my ears were coming from, where the voice was coming from. Everything clicked,” Breinholt said.
Last summer, Breinholt was able to contact her birth family and learned that they all sing.
“My birth parents have been looking for me for probably the last eight years,” she told the judge. “It was great to know that there was another family that knew and loved me the same way.”
She also said she planned to meet some of her biological family members in the next few weeks after speaking with them via FaceTime.
Breinholt performed Zach Williams and Dolly Parton’s “There Was Jesus” and received praise from the American Idol judges.
Judge Katy Perry called the performance “beautiful,” and judge Lionel Richie said, “I love the gorgeous storytelling, the smoky voice, and that little scream that just goes straight through.”
Perry then asked Breinholt if he would like to invite the adoptive family into the room to hear the judge’s verdict on the audition. But what Breinholt didn’t realize was that when she opened the door to let her adoptive family in, her biological family was also there, and she burst into tears.
Perry then asked Breinholt if he knew his birth mother’s song and if he could play it for everyone. Mr. Breinholt answered in the affirmative and sang his mother’s song while sitting by the piano.
Breinholt’s biological grandmother, visibly emotional, was seen singing with her granddaughter and later said it was like she was seeing the ghost of her deceased daughter.
“Music is connection. Music is emotion. Music is heart. You are not alone in searching for your biological family,” Perry said.
“Thousands of viewers are saying, ‘Me too,'” Perry continued. “It’s great to see everyone together and it’s so great that your mom and dad are watching this and being so open and loving and supportive about this,” she said. “I think there was a great loss in your birth family, and I think it’s healing for you to sing like that.”
“You have no idea,” one member of Breinholt’s biological family responded.
As for the verdict, all three judges gave Breinholt a “yes” and told her, “You’re going to Hollywood.”
in post At X, Williams posted a reaction video of herself and Parton watching Breinholt’s rendition on American Idol.
I was working with you the other day, @Dolly Parton And we watched an audition performance of our song “There Was Jesus” by McKenna Breinholt. @American Idol. It was his first time seeing Dolly, and he filmed his reaction. pic.twitter.com/3JJJhcRmh1
– Zach Williams (@zachwilliams) February 8, 2024
“It’s amazing to see God continue to use this song!” We are praying for McKenna and her family this season,” Williams told church leaders.
December, Breinholt I have written On Instagram, she wrote, “This season has brought me so much closer to Christ. I pray that everyone finds some peace this holiday season. Especially my family in my hometown, who have been through these difficult days. I am.”
View this post on Instagram
“My heart breaks for those who lost loved ones today,” she continued.
“I am so grateful to have faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” she said. “I strongly believe that families are eternal and that we will see our loved ones again. If we rely on God, He will carry us.”
Photo credit: American Idol via YouTube
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributor to Christian Headlines and host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast dedicated to sound doctrine and Biblical truth. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Alliance Theological Seminary.
