On every season of American Idol, there is a contestant that makes the audience and judges cry, without fail.
People often have heartbreaking stories to tell and when they are given a platform like auditioning on American Idol, it is the perfect stage. It is sadly true that most people do experience pain before success.
For one contestant on the new season of American Idol, his story was truly a tearjerker.
When Nick Townsend got a chance to speak with the judges, one of the first things he was asked was why he decided to go out. Nick told them that he was doing this all for his brothers.
Nick’s older brother Zack was his best friend growing up since they were only three years apart. Everything Zack did, Nick wanted to do as well. When their younger brother Matt came along, both Nick and Matt idolized Zack.
When he was 18, Zack joined the Air Force and became a crew chief for F16s. Sadly, while Nick was working in Los Angeles, California, he got a phone call from his father that changed his life.
His brother Zack had taken his own life. Nick couldn’t believe it when his father told him that his older brother was gone. After losing his brother, Nick said that he needed to feel something again other than pain, he was so upset.
He got an opportunity to move to Japan to teach children music. Wanting to do something he felt was meaningful for his life, Nick took the job. But while he was in Japan, he got another horrible phone call.
This time, it was about his younger brother, Matt. His brother Matthew had also taken his own life. Now, Nick views moving to Japan as the biggest regret of his life. He wishes he could have been there for his younger brother.
When speaking with the judges before his audition, Nick explained that he knew his brothers would never want him to quit his dream. He is following this journey for them.
For his audition, Nick chose to sing “Let it Go” by James Bay, while also playing the guitar during his performance.
After he was done singing, the judges got a chance to give him a little feedback about what they thought. Lionel Richie said:
“First of all, I applaud you, you climbed up out of that hole. Just know that I am very proud of you. Now, for your voice… there is a wonderful quality in a voice that you can’t study, it is called a ‘natural cry’ and in our business, we call that money.”
What did you think of Nick’s voice? The judges definitely got this one right!
American Idol airs on Sundays and Mondays on ABC. The next episode airs on Monday, April 1, 2019.
You can watch Nick Townsend’s audition in the video below:
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