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A British Eurovision singer has tried his luck across the pond on the hit American show American Idol.
Hartlepool-born singer Michael Rice competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 for the UK, but finished last with just 16 points.
However, five years later, Michael, 26, is still chasing his dream: he auditioned for American Idol last October, and his amazing test aired in the US last month.
Michael wowed judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan with his performance of Kelly Clarkson’s smash hit. Thank you in a moving tribute to his late father.
British Eurovision singer Michael Rice has tried his luck across the pond on the hit American show American Idol.
Hartlepool-born singer Michael competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 for the UK, but finished last with just 11 points (pictured at Eurovision)
The audition left the judges in tears as they all gave Michael a standing ovation before approaching him for a group hug.
A teary-eyed Lionel told the singer that ‘It was the most emotional and generous performance he had heard in his six years as a judge on the hit show.
The incredible performance meant Michael advanced to the show’s Hollywood Week which aired in the US over the weekend.
She achieved what was billed as “one of the biggest cuts” in the show’s history after performing Adele’s Turning Tables.
Michael, who also previously appeared on All Together Now and BBC One’s The
‘Good for him. He’s great and a lovely guy x’
She has also gone viral with clips of her first audition racking up over a million viewers on TikTok.
speaking to Teesside live Recently, Michael gushed that the whole experience was “mental”, and said he had always wanted to audition for the US show.
However, five years later, Michael, 26, is still chasing his dream: he auditioned for American Idol last October, and his amazing test aired in the US last month.
Michael wowed judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan with his performance of Kelly Clarkson’s smash hit Because Of You in a touching tribute to his late father.
The audition left the judges in tears as they all gave Michael a standing ovation before coming up to hug him.
An emotional Lionel told the singer that “it was the most emotional and generous performance” he had heard in his six years as a judge on the hit show.
Michael previously appeared on All Together Now and BBC One’s The X Factor in 2014 (pictured on The X Factor)
From his previous experiences on TV talent shows in the UK, Michael admitted that “this felt 10 times bigger.”
‘As soon as Lionel Richie started talking, I thought, are you laughing? It was an incredible experience”.
Michael dedicated his performance of Because Of You to his late father Sean, from whom he was separated until he was a teenager.
They reconnected when he was 17, but his father died suddenly of a heart attack shortly after. “I’ve always loved and played that song, and it reminds me of him,” Michael said.