Watch former Miss Georgia winner channel Kelly Clarkson in ‘American Idol’ audition
Minutes after belting out her final notes, Betty Maxwell heard the magic words: “You’re going to Hollywood.”
The Georgia native and former Miss America was ecstatic after walking away with the first golden ticket of the “American Idol” auditions in Nashville, which aired on Sunday, March 6.
Her cover of “Idol” alum Kelly Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This” earned her a resounding “yes” from judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
“I’ve been singing since like the age of 3, and it’s always been one of my deepest passions,” she said in a pre-taped segment that aired during the show. “My biggest dream would be to be the voice of a Disney princess.”
Maxwell, who grew up in Warner Robins, was crowned Miss Georgia in 2015 before going on to win Miss America in 2016, according to her online profile. The Mercer University graduate is trained in classical opera, but she’s perhaps best known for her impersonations of classic Disney characters, including Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” and Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.”
Showcasing her country roots, Maxwell also performed a cover of Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel” for the judges, which seemed to solidify their decision to send her to Hollywood.
“You don’t sing like a pageant girl. You sing like a real singer,” Luke Bryan said after her audition. “There’s a lot to work with.”
The next round of “American Idol” auditions will air Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 8:52 AM with the headline "Watch former Miss Georgia winner channel Kelly Clarkson in ‘American Idol’ audition."