In a poignant moment during her American Idol audition, McKenna Breinholt, a 25-year-old from Gilbert, Arizona, shared her deeply personal adoption journey and the recent revelation of her birth mother’s identity. McKenna’s birth mother, Amy Ross Lopez, a talented singer who had passed away, remained a mystery until that pivotal moment.
Moved by McKenna’s heartfelt story, the judges were captivated by her rendition of “There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton. The emotional performance struck a chord with everyone in the room, leaving an indelible impression on the judges.
Following her powerful performance, judge Katy Perry orchestrated a heartwarming surprise for McKenna, inviting her entire family into the audition room. What unfolded next was a breathtaking reunion as McKenna embraced not only her adopted family but also her long-lost birth family, whom she was meeting for the very first time. The room was filled with tears of joy as the emotional encounter unfolded, leaving judge Lionel Richie in disbelief at the unexpected turn of events.
In a tender moment, Katy Perry inquired if McKenna was familiar with any of her birth mother’s songs. Without hesitation, McKenna chose to honor her mother’s memory by performing “Tumbleweed,” a poignant melody penned by Amy Ross Lopez. As McKenna’s newly reunited family gathered around her, her grandmother was struck by the uncanny resemblance between McKenna’s voice and that of her late mother, likening it to hearing “a ghost” from the past.