We are less than a week away from the American Idol season premiere, and sneak peeks are popping up online. One of the sweetest we’ve seen introduces fans to Jesse Findling. The 19-year-old shared his very unique story with Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood. For as long as he can remember, Jesse has struggled with his speech.
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“I have had a stutter ever since I was little. It’s something that I’ve struggled with since elementary school. That was something embarrassing for me. Something that I really had a hard time with,” he said in a clip shared with US Magazine. “I wouldn’t raise my hand in school, and it was just something that made me feel alone.”
Jesse’s Story Captivated the “American Idol” Judges
The most amazing part of Jesse’s story is that when he sings, his stutter disappears. His tenacity and dedication made the American Idol judges smile.
Luke and Carrie shared how proud they were of Jesse and how much his performance touched their hearts. Lionel sat shocked.
“Problem? What problem? You don’t have a problem,” he said. “The only thing wrong with you is you have to figure out how you’re gonna navigate this career.”
Jesse received his ticket to Hollywood and got to share the huge news with his family.
“When I was singing that song, I was thinking of younger me, who wouldn’t speak in class, who was scared of what people thought of him, and the fact that I got this is just proof that everything’s working out how it should,” he admitted in his confessional interview. “I’m going to Hollywood Week.”
American Idol fans love Jesse just as much as the judges.
“I got chills! Just Amazing, I love him! That’s your next American Idol,” a fan predicted.
American Idol premieres on ABC January 26.
This story’s featured image is by Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
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