Published March 18, 2025 12:28pm
Mikaela Baustista, a Filipino-American singer, has successfully passed the audition round of "American Idol" Season 23.
On Instagram, Mikaela celebrated her achievement by posing with her golden ticket.
"Still in shock!" the singer wrote. "I just got the golden ticket to Hollywood!"
"[This is] such an incredible honor!" she added.
She then thanked the judges of "American Idol," including Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie.
Mikaela initially got two "yes" votes from Luke and Lionel and a "no" from Carrie. But after hearing Mikaela's impromptu performance of "The Prayer" with her father, Carrie reversed her vote and converted it to a "yes."
"Can I change my judgment? I would like to strike my previous [no], you have three yesses," Carrie told Mikaela.
"American Idol" Season 23 airs on ABC every Sunday and also streams on Hulu the day after its TV airing. —Hermes Joy Tunac/JCB, GMA Integrated News