“American Idol” contestant Trew the Star, a 24-year-old singer from Montgomery, Alabama, received a standing ovation from judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood after delivering a touching tribute to his late mother, Shantil, during Week 3 of auditions.
Trew, whose real name is Trevon Williams, revealed he leaned on music and “American Idol” as a source of comfort. “My first memory of music, is me and my mom actually used to watch ‘American Idol,’” Trew said during his tearful package. “That was my first memory of loving music.”
“Growing up was tough. My mom was on drugs,” Trew went on to explain. “There were a lot of times we didn’t have water on [or] lights on. I had to take care of my little siblings. My mama had a hard life. And truthfully, my mom went through the same thing I had to go through.”
Despite those challenges, Trew said that things began to change when his family stepped in to help.
“My mom got clean, and she was actually really trying to change and make things better,” he said. “I had just started to understand. I had just started to forgive her for a lot of things that we went through as kids. It was hard. It was very hard.”
Trew concluded, “for me, it’s more than auditioning. It’s just about my family, showing them that you can do anything that you put your mind to.”
For his audition, Trew delivered a beautiful rendition of Sam Cooke’s “Nothing Can Change This Love.”
DisneyFollowing his performance, Richie stood up and hugged Trew before offering his praise. “We’re proud of you, son,” Richie said. “You did well. I love that.”
Underwood added, “You have a commanding voice, but I think my favorite part was your delivery. It was completely intentional, and it wasn’t trying to barrel over the song and show us all your big notes. You were just delivering a story to us, and it was very believable.”
Bryan told Trew, “it was the first time in three days I’ve had full-body chills the whole time. And I thought it was just so real and genuine. I just cheer for you. I want to see your family have a blast with all this.”
Trew’s family joined him in the audition room to witness him receive a golden ticket after three “yes” votes.
“It’s really been a blessing,” Trew said. “It’s really just been an honor to be here with my family. I think they’re just really proud of me, and I know my mom is watching.”During the February 9 episode, the judges heard a loud noise coming from outside the audition room. When they went outside, they were met with a school bus parked outside with contestant Noah Orion, lead singer for Wall of Sound, standing on the roof with the rest of his band.
“In front of you is the greatest rock ‘n’ roll audition you have seen in the history of ‘American Idol,’” Orion told the judges. “I know you like rock ‘n’ roll, Miss Carrie. All right, ‘Ace of Spades’ coming in hot, baby.”Orion also received a golden ticket to Hollywood Week.