On Sunday’s episode, judges Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan listened to Trey Louis, a 21-year-old mattress salesman and aspiring singer from Texas, sing a rendition of Whiskey Myers’ 2016 track “Stone.”
Nevertheless it was his backstory that was actually noteworthy.
“I’m from Santa Fe, Texas. In Might 2018, a gunman walked into my college,” Louis stated. “I used to be in Artwork Room 1. He shot up Artwork Room 2 earlier than he made his strategy to Artwork Room 1. I misplaced numerous buddies. Eight college students had been killed. Two academics had been killed. It’s simply actually been adverse. Santa Fe’s had a foul rep since 2018.”
“Our nation has f**king failed us! This isn’t OK,” Perry stated. “You have to be singing right here since you love music, not since you needed to undergo that f**king bulls**t. You don’t should lose eight buddies. I hope that you simply remind people who we’ve got to alter. As a result of I’m scared, too.”
Richie was additionally visibly affected, telling Louis, “We now have tolerated this for therefore lengthy. Too lengthy. It’s develop into a norm.”
Perry then continued, “We’ve bought to alter. And I hope you may simply lead,” earlier than all three judges despatched Louis off to Hollywood for the subsequent spherical.