Grace Kinstler, a McHenry County native in Illinois, was inspired by her late father as she prepared for her performance on Sunday’s season premiere of American Idol. Her song choices were “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, which brought judge Luke Bryan to tears.
“I get brought to tears by stories and backgrounds of what people have been through and their struggles, but this is the first time in four years that just someone singing made me cry,” Bryan told the 20-year-old Kinstler. “I mean, crushed it. So just understand that your dad is very, very proud of you right now, OK? And what a lot to be proud of.”
Kinstler, a graduate of Crystal Lake Central High School and a student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, received praise from the other judges. Katy Perry said she got “full body chills twice”. Lionel Richie said that she has “control of that amazing instrument.”
Bryan made a surprise video call with Kinstler to her family after the audition: “We feel like she’s up there with some of the biggest voices in the history of ‘Idol,’ and we’re so excited to have her in the family.” Kinstler said she felt her dad’s presence during her performances. Her father, Mitch Kinstler, died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in February 2020 at the age of 64, according to a representative from McHenry County.
Kinstler was one of two contestants from the Chicago area to receive a ticket to Hollywood on the first episode of the season. Jason Warrior, a frequent reality TV show actor, also advanced to the next round.
Warrior, 25, is no stranger to singing competitions as he appeared previously on season 11 of The Voice in 2016. He had a bizarre exit after he was voted off the show, security was notified after he confronted judge Meghan Trainor regarding his elimination. “The performance I gave tonight was the performance of my life. When Meghan said there’s already a John Legend, I’m sorry Meghan, but I don’t think John Legend is doing the things that I’m doing,” Warrior said on the show.
He was fighting his tears on Idol after he was questioned about his exit from the show: “I responded out of my emotions because I thought I knew it all. I thought I was all that and a bag of chips, dip and hot sauce. But I wasn’t even close to being there yet, and I had to have that humbling experience, Warrior said.
“So that moment of immaturity, it almost completely destroyed my career. Doors started to close. Door after door, opportunities started to walk away. My mom taught me that you’ve got to keep going, no matter who says no.”
He performed a rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”, which sounded great to the judges, especially Richie. “Jason, very few people can take a Marvin Gaye song and turn it into their song. That was phenomenal. I’m going to ask you to forget all about what’s behind you. You got that?” Richie said. “I’m going to say that was one of the strongest vocals I have ever heard on this show. I’m very proud of you because it took a lot of guts to crawl back into that saddle.”
Warrior responded with, “It feels like a weight is just lifted off of my shoulders, and I can now breathe and move forward in my life. And that’s what I’m looking forward to.” The auditions are continuing on the fourth season of ABC’s “American Idol”, which airs at 7 p.m. central time on Sundays.