Katy Perry calls 'American Idol' contestant a 'walking miracle'

There have been a lot of tear-jerking, emotional moments on American Idol this season, and the final auditions Sunday night were no exception.

15-year-old Brianna Collichio was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth and given a life expectancy of 36 years. The night before Brianna was originally booked to audition for Idol, she collapsed from an infection and had to undergo emergency surgery. Fortunately, due to Brianna's sister's viral TikTok of her singing, the audition was rescheduled, and Brianna was able to sing her heart out which, subsequently, gave all three judges the feels.

Standing in front of Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, a recovered and resilient Brianna explained that while cystic fibrosis usually causes lung scarring that makes singing impossible, she can still belt it out with even a tinge of raspiness, and she proved that readily with her triumphant rendition of Alessia Cara’s empowerment anthem “Scars to Your Beautiful.”

“I have faith. If I didn’t have faith, I wouldn’t be right now,” Brianna stated.

The judges had faith too, with Lionel praising the “texture” and “high end” of Brianna’s voice and Katy called her a “walking miracle.”

Viewers at home were also emotional over Brianna's story Sunday night, and took to Twitter to praise the contestant. One person tweeted: "Brianna Collichio looks so tiny with such a big voice. This was beautiful, pure, touching."

Judge Luke Bryan also took to Twitter, writing: "The obstacles these kids overcome to audition blow me away season after season. #BriannaCollichio is no exception!"

In the end, it was no surprise that Brianna received three yeses and a golden ticket to Hollywood.

Video Transcript

- (SINGING) There's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark, you should know you're beautiful just the way you are.

- There have been a lot of tear jerking, emotional moments on "American Idol" this season, and the final auditions Sunday night were no exception. 15-year-old Brianna Collichio was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth and given a life expectancy of 36 years. The night before Brianna was originally booked to audition for "Idol", she collapsed from an infection and had to undergo emergency surgery. Fortunately, due to Brianna's sister's viral TikTok of her singing, the audition was rescheduled and Brianna was able to sing her heart out, which subsequently gave all three judges the feels.

- Oh my gosh. That's you?

- Yeah.

- From the hospital bed.

- (SINGING) [INAUDIBLE] There's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark.

- Whoo!

- Oh come on.

- Viewers at home were also emotional over Brianna's story Sunday night and took to Twitter to praise the contestant. Like this person who tweeted, Brianna Collichio looks so tiny with such a big voice. This was beautiful, pure, touching. Judge Luke Bryan also took to Twitter writing, the obstacles these kids overcome to audition blow me away season after season. Brianna Collichio is no exception.

So in the end, it was no surprise that Brianna received three yeses and a golden ticket to Hollywood.

- Wow. I mean, you're the walking miracle.

- That's what my mom calls me.

- Really?

- Yeah.

- Very good.

- Exactly.

- And you give people hope, and people need a lot of hope right now.

[MUSIC PLAYING]