An “American Idol” hopeful got a second chance, thanks to her father and judge Carrie Underwood’s change of heart.
During the March 16 episode of “American Idol,” Underwood changed her vote from a no to a yes for contestant Mikaela Bautista after Bautista performed a stirring duet with her father.
Bautista initially auditioned by taking on Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love for You,” which received praise, but still left Underwood a little unsure.
“(You) definitely have a lot of potential,” the Grammy winner, who won “American Idol” in 2005, said after the audition.
“I felt like there might have been a couple of 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’m trying to figure out if we, you know, can overcome the nerves and whatnot.”
Fellow judge Luke Bryan said Bautista was “solid on all levels,” while Lionel Richie praised her for having “amazing control.” Underwood wasn’t sold, though.
“I would like to hear more emotion in it, more connection. It’s a no for me,” the “Before He Cheats” singer said before Bryan and Richie voted yes, guaranteeing Bautista a trip to Hollywood for the next round.
Things soon changed, however, when Bautista’s family rushed to her side. Richie asked to meet her dad, Vhen, who can also sing. Underwood said she’d be interested in hearing father and daughter do a duet, so they teamed up on Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli’s “The Prayer.”
The impromptu performance wowed the judges, with Richie joking that Vhan is also going to Hollywood. Underwood was especially impressed that Bautista could push aside any nerves in that moment.
“You weren’t thinking about it. You were just singing,” she said.
The duet prompted Underwood to nix her previous vote.
“Can I change my judgment? I would like to strike my previous (vote) and you have three yeses,” she said, sending her family into a frenzy while they hugged Bautista.
Fans who watched the clip on YouTube loved the moment with Bautista and her father.
“Thirty seconds into her singing with her dad I started crying!! So beautiful!! Thank you!! Bravo!!” one person gushed.
“Mikaela has a graceful delivery and really shines in that duet. Dad deserves a golden ticket too,” someone else commented.
“That duet with her dad was beautiful,” another person wrote.