ABC's American Idol returned on Sunday evening with a Top 24 performance vying for America's vote for the first time. Contestant Mike Parker has endured an emotional idol journey so far and his experience during this phase was no different.
After auditioning for the show with a cover of Deena Carter's "Strawberry Wine", Parker continued to pursue country music and admitted that Luke Bryan told her that she was a country singer, who made her way to her country. He set it on fire to survive.
Parker emotionally explained how Idol mentor Jimmy Allen inspired her career and was thrilled at the opportunity to meet her.
The Virginia native's song choice was Jimmy Allen's "Best Shot".
"That song... I was the first black country artist to have a No. 1 debut single," Allen told her. "It's too dope for you to sing that song right now."
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The pair connected with their experiences as Allen told her, "To hear you say I'm an inspiration just proves that it's all worth it."
"He made me feel there was a place for me in country music," Parker said.
As Allen watched from the front row, Parker confidently made his way around the stage, saying the moment was "another dream" that came true for him.
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Allen was overcome with emotion after the performance.
“Thank you for telling me what Charlie Pride meant to me is more than I could have asked for, so thank you,” Allen said with tears rolling down his cheek. "And thank you for continuing to do what I, Charlie, Mickey [Gayton], Ken [Brown], and Darius [Rucker] want to see in this style of music. So thank you."
The judges of Idol also praised Mike Parker's performance.
Luke Bryan said, "I don't have to judge, thanks for that." "I have to sit back and really see what we're telling you to totally start coming over. Then to see that he's motivating you and you guys meet. I mean, stage But what a wonderful moment you had. I could enjoy your birth as an artist."
“I flashed back and forth between what you were experiencing and what I experienced. One of those people in my life showed up, it was Kenny Rogers," Lionel Richie recalled. "I was in the audience, he was on stage singing my song and so I kept watching you two talk, and I said 'There's his Kenny.' You know, because you were in the mindset and that guy you loved says it all."
"Mike, I really think this experience helped you come through. In the end, I think you're off because it was all the things we were saying throughout the season... all the ingredients in that song. I agree with Luke too, it's all coming together," Perry said.