American Idol: Kellyanne Conway does her own ‘Hollywood shuffle’ to support teenage daughter Claudia
Kellyanne Conway did ‘the Hollywood shuffle’ to support her daughter Claudia on Sunday’s Hollywood Week episode of American Idol.
The 54-year-old former senior counselor to Donald Trump danced onto the screen as her 16-year-old daughter waited her chance to sing.
Before hitting the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Claudia stated that ‘it is okay for you to have different views than the people that you love.’
Hollywood stage: Claudia Conway performed Sunday on American Idol with her mother Kellyanne Conway supporting her from the audience as Hollywood Week kicked off
The teen then teased her mom by reminding her that she called her ‘flat’ during rehearsals.
‘Constructive criticism,’ Kellyanne protested.
Claudia smiled and told her, ‘Stay in politics. I’ll do the music.’
Show host Ryan Seacrest, 46, drew parallels between American Idol and the Conway family business, saying Claudia’s parents were ‘no stranger to voting, something fundamental to the Idol process.’
Special dance: The 54-year-old former senior counselor to Donald Trump danced onto the screen as her 16-year-old daughter waited her chance to sing
Claudia turned up at the show with jet-black hair instead of her usual blonde, and knew she’d already made a splash.
She introduced herself as ‘Claudia Conway. I’m back,’ giggling coquettishly as she described her hair color as ‘a little change.’
‘You mean a transformation,’ replied Katy Perry, 36, giggling.
New look: Claudia turned up at the show with jet-black hair instead of her usual blonde, and knew she’d already made a splash
Total transformation: ‘You mean a transformation,’ replied Katy Perry, 36, after Claudia said she made a ‘little change’ to her look
Claudia said she’d done poorly at her initial Idol audition because she’d been focused on ‘all the noise of people hating on my family online or in social media.’
She’d taken Katy’s advice to try to calm the storm that surrounded her, and was ‘drowning it all out’ to establish her own identity.
The Alpine, New Jersey, native was ‘freaking out’ before she went on, saying she’d never performed on a stage so big.
Big stage: The Alpine, New Jersey, native was ‘freaking out’ before she went on, saying she’d never performed on a stage so big
Claudia, however, had nothing to worry about as she made it through to the next round with her cover of Bishop Briggs’ River, her mom bouncing along in the audience.
The teen covered her mouth in shock as the judges told her she was advancing, and Kellyanne ran up to her offstage and picked her up, trying to swing her around.
‘She thinks I can’t sing,’ Kellyanne joked, warbling Alicia Keys’ Girl On Fire in honor of her daughter.
Mouth covered: The teen covered her mouth in shock as the judges told her she was advancing, and Kellyanne ran up to her offstage and picked her up, trying to swing her around
‘Wait, that was kinda good,’ Claudia noted.
The social-media star was just one of dozens of contestants trying to make it through to the next round with a solo performance in their chosen genre.
Each contestant chose from one of six genres: indie-folk, pop, rock, R&B, soul, or country.
On fire: ‘She thinks I can’t sing,’ Kellyanne joked, warbling Alicia Keys’ Girl On Fire in honor of her daughter
In a new change introduced this year, those who went through would be singing duets with their partners decided by the judges.
The judges themselves opened the show with a cover of The Beatles’ All You Need is Love, backed by the contestants.
The pop genre was then first to kick off, drawing the greatest number of performers.
Pop star: The pop genre was then first to kick off, drawing the greatest number of performers and scrutiny from pop star and judge Katy Perry
Liahona Olayan, 17, from Wahiawa, Hawaii, surprised the judges with a bold cover of Meghan Trainor’s No Excuses, though her brother Ammon Olayan, 18, didn’t make it.
Laila Mach, 15, from New Paltz, New York, got a standing ovation for her take on Clinton Kane’s Fix It To Break It, while Ava August, 15, from Laguna Niguel, California, soared with the White Stripes’ We’re Going To Be Friends.
Anthony Guzman, 27, a warehouse worker from Santa Rosa, California, had tried out in a gimmicky costume, dressed as Thor, but showed real talent on Peggy Lee’s Fever.
Teen talent: Liahona Olayan, 17, from Wahiawa, Hawaii, surprised the judges with a bold cover of Meghan Trainor’s No Excuses
Moving forward: Ava August, 15, from Laguna Niguel, California, soared with the White Stripes’ We’re Going To Be Friends
Andrea Valles, 23, a wedding singer from Houston, did Sam Smith’s Lay Me Down, which had Katy saying, ‘The mic is the wand, and she is the magician.’
Mary Jo Young, 19, a real estate sales associate from Cleveland, was smooth on her version of Harry Styles’ Falling and Luke Bryan, 44, called her ‘a Ferrari.’
Colin Jamieson, 22, a wedding singer from Boxford, Massachusetts, also won Luke’s attention with a ‘special’ take on Kings of Leon’s Sex On Fire.
Standing ovation: Laila Mach, 15, from New Paltz, New York, got a standing ovation for her take on Clinton Kane’s Fix It To Break It
Those not going through included Erika Perry, 26, from Orange County, California, who yelped, ‘Can I start over?’ after messing up and ‘Are you sure?’ after being rejected.
‘I’m trying not to have an actual b**** fit, ’cause I can get really, really angry and sassy real quick,’ Erika said as she walked offstage.
The country genre found a winner in Alex Miller, 17, from Lancaster, Kentucky, who charmed the judges with Keith Allison’s Freeborn Man.
Good effort: Those not going through included Erika Perry, 26, from Orange County, California, who yelped, ‘Can I start over?’ after messing up and ‘Are you sure?’ after being rejected
‘Country just arrived, in my opinion,’ Luke said of the teenager.
Cecil Ray, 20, a machine operator from Cameron, Texas, sang a deeply felt version of Tyler Childers’ Shake The Frost and tried to do well for his infant daughter Emilia Jade.
Young father: Cecil Ray, 20, a machine operator from Cameron, Texas, sang a deeply felt version of Tyler Childers’ Shake The Frost and tried to do well for his infant daughter Emilia Jade
Caleb Kennedy, 16, from South Carolina, sounded like a veteran on his rendition of Chris Stapleton’s Whiskey And You.
Drake McCain, 19, a substitute teacher from Spring City, Tennessee, also drew the judges in with Cody Johnson’s Nothin’ On You.
Chayce Beckham, 24, a heavy machine operator from Apple Valley, California, sang Tyler Childer’s Hard Times and told a haunting story about surviving a drunken car accident.
Mignon, 27, a fitness studio employee from Nashville, belted Lee Brice’s I Drive Your Truck, and went through with the other country singers.
Country singer: Mignon, 27, a fitness studio employee from Nashville, belted Lee Brice’s I Drive Your Truck, and went through with the other country singers
In the soul genre, Atlanta college student Xavier Washington, 22, inspired with gospel-style runs on John Mayer’s Gravity.
‘Let the congregation say, ”Amen!”,’ declared Lionel Richie, 71.
Grace Kinstler, 20, a college student from Chicago, made a fan of Lionel, too, doing a Teena Marie voice on Jazmine Sullivan’s 10 Seconds.
Soul singer: Grace Kinstler, 20, a college student from Chicago, made a fan of Lionel, too, doing a Teena Marie voice on Jazmine Sullivan’s 10 Seconds
Re’h, 27, a member of the Army National Guard from Houston, Texas, went through with Oleta Adams’ Get Here.
For R&B, Willie Spence, 21, a caretaker from Douglas, Georgia, got a standing ovation and lots of love from the judges for his cover of John Legend’s All Of Me.
No other R&B singers went through, including Vahhley, 23, a homeless mom from Brooklyn.
In the indie/folk genre, Katy said the danger for some artists was that they didn’t know ‘completely who they are.’
Killed it: For R&B, Willie Spence, 21, a caretaker from Douglas, Georgia, got a standing ovation and lots of love from the judges for his cover of John Legend’s All Of Me
Murphy, 27, a street musician, stood out as the most memorable not only for his story of busking across the United States and being homeless, but for his take on Jim Croce’s I Got A Name.
‘Music has been a savior to me,’ Murphy told the spellbound judges. ‘Over the last seven years, I’ve traveled this country and I’ve been able to make my way because I’ve been who I am.’
Lionel observed, ‘He’s got so much gift. I’m hoping we’ll have a moment where it breaks out.’
Busking experience: Murphy, 27, a street musician, stood out as the most memorable not only for his story of busking across the United States and being homeless, but for his take on Jim Croce’s I Got A Name
‘Well, the moment is now, Lionel Richie,’ Katy teased, who said she’d ‘tried to connect.’
Murphy was thrilled when he got in, saying, ‘I can’t believe I did it! I thought they’d hate me.’
Christina Daugherty, 28, a teacher from Knoxville, stunned with the Ray Charles song Hit The Road Jack, while Hunter Metts, 22, from Franklin, Tennessee, rocked Billie Eilish’s Everything I Wanted.
Classic song: Christina Daugherty, 28, a teacher from Knoxville, stunned with the Ray Charles song Hit The Road Jack
Graham DeFranco, 27, a pilot from Rockwall, Texas, sang what Lionel called an ‘entertaining’ version of Johnny Cash’s Mama You’ve Been On My Mind.
Cassandra Coleman, 24, a coffee shop manager from Columbia, Tennessee, captivated with Sigrid’s Dynamite, while Wyatt Pike, 19, a college student from Park City, Utah, turned Rihanna’s Stay on its head.
Lizzy O’Very, 20, a voice teacher from Ephriam, Utah, played accordion on Ellie Goulding’s Lights, and EmiSunshine, 16, from Madisonville, Tennessee, wailed on Hozier’s Take Me to Church and both of them were risky, far-out takes.
Next round: EmiSunshine, 16, from Madisonville, Tennessee, wailed on Hozier’s Take Me to Church and advanced to the next round
In the rock genre, Beane, 23, a wedding singer from Boston, performed a joyful, animated version of Elton John’s Benny And The Jets and advanced.
‘He got me,’ said Luke, as Katy observed, ‘Sometimes, it comes in the disguise of Mr. Rogers.’
Casey Bishop, 15, from Estero, Florida, belted out House Of The Rising Sun, and got a standing ovation.
Althea Grace, 21, a musician from Chicago, did well on Maren Morris’ Girl, thinking of her young daughter, who almost died of liver disease as a baby.
Other singers who made it through included Amanda Mena, 18, a horse handler from Boston; Madison Watkins, 25, a hair model from Fayetteville, Arkansas; Alyssa Wray, 18, a college student from Perryville, Kentucky; Jason Warrior, 25, from Chicago; and Zachary D’Onofrio and Alanis Sofia, both of whom are 19-year-old college students from Wesley Chapel, Florida.
American Idol will return next week on ABC.
Horse handler: Amanda Mena, 18, a horse handler from Boston, also was among the singers advancing
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