'American Idol': Katy Perry gives second chance to stripper mom Fire who wants 'to do this for daughter'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Katy Perry defies the rules for a stripper whose daughter deserves a better existence. During the March 19 tryout show of 'American Idol', one performer won something judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie rarely hand out -- a second chance.
The 22-year-old competitor, who goes by the stage moniker Fire, opened up about her difficulties on 'American Idol'. She said that her mother battled with substance addiction and was "put into state custody" at an early age. She presented herself as a dancer, and when Katy asked what kind of dancing she did, she murmured that she was a stripper. Despite her tough childhood, Fire, who attended her audition with her adorable 4-year-old daughter, said becoming a mother herself at the age of 18 has been a source of tremendous pleasure in her life. “The world’s not designed for single moms to be successful, so I did what I had to do," she noted. "I need to do better. I need to get away from dancing. I need to do this for me. I need to do this for my daughter,” she added.
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Fire performed Bruno Mars' 'Talking to the Moon', prompting Katy to teach her to deliver full vocals on the upper, falsetto sections. "I just think you need to be pushed," Lionel explained, adding, "The more you discover, you won’t even think about being nervous."
Luke said he enjoyed Fire's story but wished she would perform more. "I wanted your voice to be more," he explained, adding, "You’ve lived in such complicated backgrounds and scenarios, maybe this show, and we as judges, could push you and encourage you to really go for it. Vocally, though, it wasn’t as good as I was hoping."
Katy said she "nailed" the vocal practice the judge put her through, but that "there wasn't enough fire" in her performance altogether.
Katy wants to see the 'Fire' in her
Katy said yes to fire, but Luke and Lionel said no. As if the audition couldn't get any sadder, Fire's 4-year-old rushed over and grabbed a golden ticket from the rack, bringing it to her sobbing mother to cheer her up. After Fire calmly instructed her daughter to return the ticket, Katy approached her and offered something the judges rarely do after giving their final votes -- she invited Fire to see the judges again in Nashville in a month for another audition.
"That’s where you’re gonna show us what the fire is, OK?" Katy stated, adding, "I know you didn’t name yourself that for nothing."
Fire conveyed her determination to the cameras while crying. "I’m not just somebody that’s just been through a lot of stuff," she explained, adding, "I’m working hard. And I need it. I need to change my life. I don’t want it. I need it. I’m going to put in everything I got."
'American Idol' Season 21 airs every Sunday at 8 pm ET on ABC.
