'American Idol' Season 17 premiere: 3 contestants who wowed judges in the 1st round of auditions

After a long wait, 'American Idol' season 17 finally premiered with its two-hour audition episode. Host Ryan Seacrest and judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie returned for the second year in a row to find the next singing sensation.

On Sunday, when the season's premiere episode aired, we witnessed auditions from the following locations; Louisville, Kentucky; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Los Angeles, California; New York, New York, and Denver, Colorado. Last season the auditions were all about Disney, this year it is all about emotions and the producers didn't shy away from featuring emotional clips of contestants who auditioned this season.

Overall, throughout the two-hour premiere, we witnessed a total of 12 contestants receive a ticket to Hollywood. And the 12 that got the golden ticket to Hollywood, clearly deserved that because they were really good. But among them, there were three contestants who stood out, and here are the top 3 performances of Sunday night's audition, according to me.

Laci Kaye Booth

If you happened to watch the audition of Laci Kaye Booth, you would have noticed she is a diamond in the rough. Before her performance, the series showcased a pre-recorded clip of Booth that was really emotional. In that clip we witnessed Booth talk about how her parents were divorced and how she shared an emotional reunion with her father after many years. Performing her rendition of "Mama Tried" by Merle Haggard, Booth stunned the judges.

Her voice was overall quite unique to listen to compared to other performers. The huskiness in her voice will take her a long way in my opinion because it does not sound like anything you would have heard before. It stands out as authentic. Booth is definitely a contestant to be on the lookout for this season.

Myra Tran 

Myra Tran was one contestant that stunned the judges with her voice, despite her trouble with the language. She proved that anything is possible if you try hard enough. Performing her rendition of Jennifer Hudson's 'One Night Only,' 19-year-old Tran left the judges wanting more. Hailing from Veitnam, Tran appeared on the show to fulfill her dream of performing for the Idol audience. And she surely didn't disappoint.

After hearing her sing, fans and viewers were so proud of her that now she has already become a favorite. Her voice is so beautiful, when you hear it, you will be shocked to realize she has trouble with the language. We can't wait to see Tran perform again. 

Walker Burroughs 

Walker Burroughs was the first contestant to be featured in the premiere, and he did leave a lasting mark. Katy Perry deemed him as Top 10 material. Burroughs is a student from Belmont University. Performing his version of Ben Rector's "Love Like This" on the piano, he won a place in the judges' hearts. Following his performance of "Love Like This", Burroughs went on to perform Lionel Richie's "Hello."

And the judges were nothing but impressed with his performance. He is sure to be among the fan-favorites this season, especially with his mellow voice that would make anyone swoon while hearing him perform. 

Next week 'American Idol' returns for its second episode of the auditions and we can't wait to see the amazing talent they spin out this season. 

'American Idol' airs every Wednesday on ABC. Check your local listings for more information.