You may need your tissues for this one.
American Idol has had some touching auditions over the years, but a audition on Thursday’s episode may take the cake.
Fifteen-year-old Tristan McIntosh, auditioned for the show at the Little Rock, Arkansas audition. The 10th grader from Nashville talked about how big of a moment this was for her and how her mom couldn’t be there because she’s a Major in the Army and got called to serve in the Middle East.
“It’s been weird with her not here because she’s basically the reason I’m the musician I am today,” Tristan said. “I just want to make my mom proud, she sacrificed so much, I just feel like I owe it to her.”
The teen then wowed judges with an emotional performance of “Why Baby Why” by Mickey Guyton.
“I see in you, something very very special,” said judge, Jennifer Lopez, even comparing her to Alicia Keys.
Lopez said “I think you made your mom, so proud today. I can’t wait until she sees this.”
Little did everyone know, that would be sooner than they expected.
Judge Harry Connick Jr. read a letter from Tristan’s mother wishing her good luck on her audition.
“You’ve always called me your big hero, but today you are by big hero,” the letter said in part.
If that wasn’t special enough, at the end of the letter, Tristan’s mom came out and surprised her daughter at the audition.
Tristan immediately burst into happy tears as she embraced her mother.”Do you think I would miss this for the world?” her mother said.
The emotional video has over 23 million view in less than 24 hours on American Idol’s Facebook page.
In case you were wondering, Tristan did get a golden ticket to Hollywood.
“She might win,” Lopez said.” I’m just saying. I said it first.”
