Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Carmen Lorell Martin, 20, El Dorado Hills, Calif., performed “Thought It Was Love” by Ty Myers She showed off a nice tone and lovely lilt to her voice. She also unanimously advanced to the next phase of the competition as one of her relatives looked on.

Here’s more about Carmen:

* She’s Carmen Lorell Martin, a singer-songwriter from El Dorado Hills, Calif., and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

* She was accompanied to her audition by her aunt, Britani Bateman from Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

* The segment aired on the Monday, Feb. 2 episode. Carmen even sang a bit of a duet with Britani, who has a musical background, but is way past Idol eligibility in terms of age.

* Back to Carmen: She doesn’t appear to have release music, but her Facebook is packed with originals.

* She’s posted three of those to TikTok in the last year, including a song called “So Simply” that she said she wrote a few years ago, but remains one of her favorites. Check it out below.

* Carmen went on her first mission assignment with her church in 2024-2025 a the Santo Rosa / Sacramenton California LDS Mission and has written a song about the experience.

* Among the other originals she posted in 2025 is a song called “Give You Grace.” Writes Carmen: “I wrote this song about a time in my life when I would sit on the Orem Utah temple grounds before it was open. I went there seeking the Lords guidance in my life. He led me to a righteous path.”

Carmen on social media:
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
YouTube

@matthewholiday25 SS KID #original #singersongwriter #music #guitar ♬ original sound – MatthewHoliday25