Could Roelle become the next American Idol? By the time Idol had wrapped up the first hour of auditions on Monday night (Feb. 9), the panel of judges, including Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, had already come across some serious talent. Throughout the evening, they handed out a handful of golden tickets, sending a promising crop of hopefuls through to the next round of the competition.
One singer, who came at the end of the two-hour episode, though, was Roelle, a 25-year-old vocalist whose audition proved she had more than enough talent to move forward like some of her lucky peers. The bubbly yet seemingly shy singer took the stage and delivered a rousing rendition of “MAYBE.” by Sienna Spiro.
From the very first note, Roelle captivated the judges with her soulful delivery, paying close attention to every lyric. She showcased her stunning vibrato, rich tone, and low alto range, all while maintaining an emotional connection to the song that filled the room.
“I’m kind of at a loss for words because I didn’t really know what to expect,” Underwood said following the performance. “Your tone, I mean, your range—you can feel just so much emotion. It’s incredible. It really is.”
Richie was quick to agree with his fellow judge, praising Roelle’s natural ability and confidence.
“You open your mouth, and it’s just songbird,” Richie said. “I really love the way you navigated a very difficult song and made it yours.”
Bryan echoed those sentiments, noting that Roelle’s interpretation stood out among others who had auditioned with the same track.
“We’ve heard that song quite a few times now, and that was the first time I’ve heard someone give me the right experience with the song,” Bryan shared. “You just really made that song come alive to me, and I’m really looking forward to seeing you explore even more.”
The season 24 hopeful auditioned during the third round at Belmont University, but her journey thus far hasn’t been easy. Hailing from Dorado, Puerto Rico, Roelle took a major leap of faith before ever stepping into the audition room. She packed up her belongings and moved to Death Valley, California—a place often referred to as “the hottest place on earth”—all in pursuit of her music dreams.
“I’ve loved music since I was a little girl,” Roelle said in a pre-recorded package introducing herself to viewers and potential voters. “Back home in Puerto Rico, I really tried every route, every way to be involved in music. But I feel like I never quite fit in that industry.”
Determined not to give up, Roelle explained how she searched for opportunities that would allow her to stay afloat while continuing to chase her passion.
“I just didn’t want to give up my dream,” she said. “I started searching on Google Jobs with Housing USA. … As of right now, I work as a retail associate in the bike shop at Death Valley. My job consists of doing reservations, being the cashier, and telling people about all the sites they can go out and explore in the national park.”
While Roelle currently holds a steady job, she made it clear that this was never meant to be permanent. Instead, it was a stepping stone toward something bigger.
“The plan was to save up money and then head to LA and keep pursuing music,” she explained. “I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. This is like crazy.”
Being so far from home has come with its challenges. Roelle shared that she hadn’t seen her family in over six months, admitting that the distance has been difficult. Fighting back tears, she spoke about how her mother has always encouraged her to follow her dreams, no matter how uncertain the path might seem.
That support became even more evident when Underwood revealed that Roelle’s mother had sent in a heartfelt letter for her daughter.
“It says, ‘God bless you. I want you to know I’ll always be here to support you. Remember what I’ve always told you since you were little. Dreams do come true. Don’t let anything or anyone stop you. I’m here with you in spirit. I love you with all my heart. Love, Mama,’” Underwood read aloud.
What made the moment even more special was the fact that Roelle’s mother, Jenny, wasn’t just with her in spirit, she was waiting in the wings, ready to surprise her daughter. When asked how she felt about seeing her child, Jenny smiled and said, “Very happy. And I don’t know if I’m going to run or not because I’m so excited. Happy.”
Before the emotional reunion, and delivering Roelle her golden ticket, Underwood addressed the room.
“I think we can vote,” she said, “but before we do, in your mom’s note, she said that she is with you in spirit. But she is also with you right now, for real.”
As Jenny walked into the room, Roelle’s jaw dropped, creating a moment that left everyone emotional. To cap off an already unforgettable audition, the judges shouted in unison, “You’re going to Hollywood Week!”