‘American Idol’ Contestant Ash Ruder Joined By Her Father For Audition That Leaves Everyone In Tears

Grab the tissues because Ash Ruder’s American Idol audition will have you in tears. The North Carolina native took to…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

March 7, 2021

9:17 pm

Luke Bryan, Ash Ruder and Father

Grab the tissues because Ash Ruder’s American Idol audition will have you in tears.

The North Carolina native took to the Idol audition room with an original song that she penned for her father, who got sober two years ago after a long battle with addiction. Armed with an acoustic guitar and her dad by her side, Ruder performed the emotional “Bryan’s Song” as her father, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie looked on.

Ruder’s dad, who was hearing the song for the first time ever, was overcome with emotions over her gut-wrenching performance. As she sang, the judges also got teary-eyed.

“Dad congrats…Through all this, you’ve raised a very talented young lady,” Bryan said. “I’m interested to hear other dynamics of your voice but your vibrato is really done really really nice.”

“You can sing,” Richie added. “You’ve found the only subject that does not go out of style: love. And your dad was hanging on to every fiber he could to stand up straight and not fall over. I saw you struggling but to be able to make mistakes, your daughter witnessed your mistakes and she writes a song that says I forgive you for your mistakes. I think it was a great performance and you did well.”

“It was so beautiful to witness this almost healing that went on and if you can continue to bring that same connectedness of feelings, it’s a yes from me,” Perry said.

“It’s a yes, yes,” Bryan said.

“You’re going to Hollywood,” the Idol judges said collectively.

Click above to re-live Ash Ruder’s emotional American Idol audition.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.