Friends advised Jairon Jackson against singing an original song during his American Idol audition because it wasn’t well-known.
The lad from Denver, Colorado, ignored that advice and performed his R&B ballad “So Hard” anyway.
The risk paid off in a golden ticket and high praise from the judges during the Aspen audition episode.
“Very nice, very nice,” Randy Jackson said. “You’re ready for the charts already.”
After Jairon left the room, Randy proclaimed him “the real deal.”
About the only thing Jairon did wrong came after he left the audition room.
He went into a jumping frenzy, nearly tearing his golden ticket in half, then breaking a light on his way out of the building.
The Idol audition went much better than Jairon’s singing debut. The 19-year-0ld talked about that experience in his golden ticket interview.
He was 6 or 7 at the time, and had a solo at his church, Jairon recalled.
“I messed up and said ‘oops, ‘ right into the microphone,” he said with a smile. “Everybody started laughing.”
Here’s hoping things go better for Jairon in Hollywood, where messing up can lead to quick elimination.
Here’s Jairon’s audition if you missed it.
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February 14, 2012
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