If Jessica Phillips’ story on the Portland audition episode of American Idol reminded you of Chris Medina, you’re not alone.
Watching Chris’ story on Season 10, about how his fiance had been severely injured in a tragic car crash, spoke to Jessica in a way most Idol viewers can’t imagine.
That’s because she found herself in much the same situation, after her boyfriend of five years, D’Angelo Perry, suffered a major stroke.
When he came to in the hospital, he didn’t know who she was, Jessica told Idol. He lost his speech, something she’s helping him regain. He lost his ability to work.
She’s become a caregiver for him, much as Chris Medina became a caregiver for Juliana Ramos.
“It (Chris’ story) really spoke to my heart and everything I was going with,” Jessica said.
Now, like Chris, she’s Hollywood bound on American Idol. She earned a golden ticket by performing Faith Hill’s “Again” in a touching closing segment to the Portland auditions.
In her golden ticket interview, Jessica says her boyfriend’s stroke put her music career on hold. She and D’Angelo saw Idol as a way to “kick it back into gear.”
Pre-Idol, Jessica performed as Miss Jaye, a hip-hop, R&B and soul performer.
Head to her YouTube channel and you can hear her covering “Birthday Sex” and songs by such artists as Drake, Lil’ Wayne and Jay-Z.
Head to her inactive MySpace page and you can hear five other songs she recorded as Miss Jaye.
I’d post some of the videos below, but most come with parental advisories, so I’ll let you decide whether to follow the links.
Jessica says she thinks she’s gotten stronger in the past year because of what she’s had to deal with. And that, she said, has prepared her for Idol Season 11.
“I’ve been doing music since I was 7,” she says. “It’s the only constant thing in my life. It’s the only constant thing I can see going into the future with.
“I know with the trials and tribulations of the last year, I have the strength and perseverance to handle it (American Idol.)”
If you missed her audition, here it is.
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