American Idol‘s Kai the Singer is opening up about the power of perseverance.
In a PEOPLE exclusive clip of Monday’s episode, the 19-year-old singer shows viewers just how far she’s come from her hometown of Kingstree, South Carolina.
“Everybody says nothing comes out of Kingstree,” she says. But determined to make a name for herself (and with the monetary help of her local church), Kai was able to audition in front of judgesKaty Perry,Luke BryanandLionel Richieand earn herself a ticket to Hollywood.
“When my church raised funds for me to get to the first audition, I was lost for words,” she shares. “They’re amazing people.”
Kai shares in the clip, “This right here is my first time doing everything. It’s my first time being on a plane, it felt like a roller coaster. First time riding the escalade. The guy had to literally pump me to get on the escalade. I was terrified.”
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“It’s an escalator,” the cameraman corrects her.
“Oh! It’s an escalator?!” she laughs.
Upon arriving in Hollywood, Kai saw the “amazing” Hollywood sign, which she admittedly “didn’t expect to ever see” in her life.
But she isn’t going to let the glitz and glamour of Hollywood distract her from her goals.
“My strategy is to challenge myself and stay on it, and not let up, because I have too many people counting on me,” says Kai.
Speaking about her family’s financial troubles during her audition, she confessed, “My whole childhood, we were in and out of shelters and hotels, we were even homeless once and living in the car. It still is tough financially. There’s eight people in the house right now, and only two of my brothers have beds, and it’s like a bunk bed.”
American Idolairs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with five additional Monday night episodes airing now.
source: people.com
