'American Idol' Season 18 Episode 5: Meet Demi Rae who blew the roof off by grooving Noah Cyrus' 'Mad at You'

Performing her rendition of Noah Cyrus' 'Mad About You', Demi blew the roof off leaving the judges stunned with her voice
Demi Rae (ABC/Scott Patrick Green)
Demi Rae (ABC/Scott Patrick Green)

Demi Rae Moreno just made her younger self very proud!

Season 18 of 'American Idol' returned for its final round of auditions on Sunday night, and we witnessed a slew of contestants line up hoping to get a golden ticket to Hollywood. While there were a number of contestants who received a golden ticket advancing to the next round, only a few stood out beside them all. One amongst those few contestants was Demi Rae Moreno, who might've been the best audition of the night.

Hailing from San Jose, California, the 26-year-old shared a book with the judges that she wrote when she was just nine-years-old, wishing to hopefully one day appear in 'American Idol'. She shared how her father was in and out of jail but turned a new leaf when she turned 15. 

Performing her rendition of Noah Cyrus' 'Mad About You', Demi blew the roof off leaving the judges stunned with her voice. Her performance was confident and impeccable with an amazing range. 



 

After her performance, Katy asked Demi if she has ever performed professionally, to which she replied 'no', because she is really insecure that she doesn't look like the other girls. 

The judges were shocked by her answer. Lionel shared, "If this is how you sing scared to death and with no confidence, I can’t imagine what you’ll be when you realize, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got this. Because that’s what you’re going to need from this point.”

Without a doubt, Demi received three yeses from the judges and advanced to the next round in Hollywood. In 2008, Demi also won the San Jose Idol competition where she received vocal lessons and a cash prize. Demi is currently a teacher at the Kiddie Academy of Morgan Hill. 

Taking to Twitter after her performance, fans affirm that she was the best contestant of the night to audition. "Demi Rae Moreno is absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!! I’m OVERCOME with Joy that she has made it to Hollywood! What a GORGEOUS voice she has!" a fan wrote. 

"Wow! The best performance tonight! Best of luck to you, Demi Rae," a fan shared, While another said, "DEMI RAE, FINALLY a good singer and NOT a sob story! Girl has pipes, and my vote #AmericanIdol."

'American Idol' Season 18 airs every Monday and Tuesday night on ABC. Check your local listings for more information.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Mariska Hargitay’s reported ‘SVU’ paycheck includes acting and producing, while her estimated wealth reflects a career spanning more than four decades.
2026-11-12T20:43:49.000Z
'Marshals' Season 2 introduces a Texas cowgirl who joins Kayce Dutton at East Camp to help establish an equine therapy program.
2026-11-12T20:24:16.000Z
‘School Spirits’ Season 4 brings back Jennifer Tilly as Deborah Hunter-Price and Milo Manheim as Wally Clark while expanding its cast with four new additions
2026-11-12T20:05:26.000Z
Paul Wesley and Sara Canning reunite for Netflix’s college sports romance ‘Icebreaker,’ years after starring together in ‘The Vampire Diaries.’
2026-11-12T19:40:49.000Z
Peacock’s ‘The Good Daughter’ finale answers questions about the school shooting, Huck’s past and the buried secrets dividing Sam and Charlie’s family.
2026-11-12T16:29:59.000Z
‘Chicago Fire’ star Taylor Kinney shares the date for the franchise’s next crossover, which will bring all three NBC dramas together
2026-11-12T08:52:55.000Z
James Reynolds reveals his Parkinson’s diagnosis and explains why ‘Days of Our Lives’ is bringing it into Abe Carver’s storyline
2026-11-12T08:23:38.000Z
Charlie Vickers and his ‘The Rings of Power’ co-stars hint at Sauron’s next move and the Season 3 moments that left even the cast struggling for words
2026-11-12T07:50:09.000Z
Nearly three decades after their 1997 horror film, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ryan Phillippe are sharing the screen again, this time in the ‘9-1-1’ franchise
2026-11-12T06:55:17.000Z
The Hulu spinoff follows nine MomTok creators in California, with Jen Affleck as the lone original star
2026-11-12T05:10:11.000Z