3 SC residents appeared on the latest ‘American Idol.’ Here’s how they did
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Three South Carolina residents appeared on “American Idol” Sunday night and all three are going to Hollywood.
Mariah Faith, Warren Peay and Ophrah Kablan were each highly praised by judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Brian.
Faith, who opened the show, talked about her stepfather, Big B, who encouraged her singing through the years. She said he died in 2019.
“He went to pick up sister and never came home again,” she said. He died of a heart attack..
Perry stopped her during her first song “Whenever You Come Around” and told her she was “playing it safe. Go get it.”
Faith sang instead, “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” a Bonnie Raitt song.
The judges responded “We do.”
Perry said, “You are a star. You really are.”
Richie said he thought they were seeing the tip of the iceberg as far as her talent goes.
“Your potential could take you all the way,” he said.
They also arranged for her to open a concert the next night by last year’s Idol winner Noah Thompson and runner up HunterGirl.
“It was the best night of my life,” said Faith, who is from Conway.
Peay talked about growing up in Bamberg, a town “where everybody talks about leaving but nobody does.” He is a worship leader for Colston Branch Baptist Church and several clips of him performing were shown, including the pastor saying, “God bless this young man.”
He also works as an appliance repairman.
He sang “To the Table,” a Christian song, and accompanied himself on the guitar.
“That was bad ass,” Perry said.
She said when he came out he looked the part of a country singer and she was happy to see he sounded the part.
“You’re authentic,” she said.
Richie predicted he’d be in the top 10.
Kablan, a nail technician from Clio, sang the Aretha Franklin song. “Baby I Love You” with such feeling the judges jumped to their feet and started singing as if it was a gospel meeting.
She went through to Hollywood easily.
American Idol appears on ABC at 8 p.m. on Sundays. The Hollywood shows begin April 3.
