WATCH: Nervous ‘Idol’ Contestant Lyric Mederios Divides Judges With Covers Of Kelsea Ballerini and Carrie Underwood
Lyric loves country music and auditioned for ‘Idol’ with covers of two country hits.
Lyric Mederios; Photo by ABC, American Idol
Lyric Mederios flew 10 hours to audition for American Idol, but did her time pay and efforts pay off?
Lyric, a resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, is the daughter of ‘80s singer Glenn Medeiros. She inherited her love of music from her dad, who had a global smash hit with the song, “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You.”
A self-proclaimed country music lover, Lyric was a ball full of nerves before her audition.
Her mom, Tammy, admitted she was a “shy singer.”
“Lyric hasn’t even eaten, so she’s like nervous,” she explained to Ryan Seacrest.
Wearing a denim jumpsuit, Lyric entered the room with a smile as she told the judges, “Aloha! I have some leis for you. I’m from Hawaii.”
After putting a floral lei around the neck of each of the judges, Lyric chose to perform Kelsea Ballerini’s breakout hit, “Love Me Like You Mean It.”
Tough Lesson
She got a tough lesson from Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, who challenged her to do better.
“Girl, you flew ten hours to be cute and safe?” Perry shouted. “We know you got more than that!”
“I can sing another song for you if you’d like,” Lyric told Perry, to which she replied, “we need it ‘cause as of right now, you’re flying ten hours back.”
“How about some Carrie Underwood?” Lyric asked.
Joined by a pianist, Lyric then performed a cover of Underwood’s chart-topping hit, “Before He Cheats.”
“Come on, louder!” Katy Perry shouted.
A Challenge
“Look this is going to be very challenging for you. Have you ever made an ugly face in your life? Now get it,” Bryan said, encouraging her to stop trying to look so perfect.
Perry and Bryan persuaded Lyric to make an angry face and lean more into the performance.
Katy Perry then exited the judges’ panel and walked toward the contestant to show her how to get angry and more into her performance.
As she continued to sing “Before He Cheats,” Lyric pretended to fight with Perry and Richie shouted, “There you go!”
“One more time!” Perry said. “There it is, there it is.”
“Lyric, you are too pretty for an ugly business,” Luke Bryan joked.
Following her performance, Perry asked Lyric, “Did your daddy ever tell you that it was hard? Cause it’s hard.”
Lyric Mederios’ audition left the judges divided.
“I think the only way you’re going to understand what your potential is, is putting you in a room with some brawlers. So, I guess I have to say ‘yes.’” Richie explained.
Bryan said he believed she needs to cut her teeth in the honky tonks, while Richie replied, “You don’t want to throw her into this suit.”
Golden Ticket
“I don’t think she’s ready, I’m a ‘no,’” Bryan said, making his final decision before asking Perry, “What cha got Katy?”
With the decision on her shoulders, Perry stood up.
“I need you to come up here and slap me across the face as hard as you possibly can. I’m just kidding. I knew you wouldn’t do that, you’re too polite and too sweet or you’re just putting that on and I don’t think that’s exactly you. I have been ‘no’ pretty much this whole time, but there’s something inside of me that’s like ‘I got to give her a shot,’” Perry explained.
Despite a ‘no’ from Luke Bryan, Lyric Mederios earned a golden ticket to advance to Hollywood.
The season 21 premiere of American Idol aired on Sunday (Feb. 19) at 8/7c on ABC. The show is available to stream on HULU.
This season of Idol promises to be a memorable one as it’s a celebration of the show turning 21 (in both years and seasons). Idol judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie return to find the next singing sensation in New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Nashville.
American Idol airs on Sundays at 8/7c on ABC.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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