- - Watch an “American Idol ”Contestant with a Stutter Move Judges During Audition: 'It Doesn't Hold Me Back'

Daniela AvilaJanuary 27, 2026 at 11:30 PM

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A contestant on American Idol moved judges when he revealed he grew up with a stutter — and found a safe place in singing

Jesse Findling auditioned to Benson Boone's "In the Stars"

All three judges gave him a "yes," meaning he's advancing to Hollywood week

Jesse Findling isn't letting adversity stop him from chasing his dreams.

During the Monday, Jan. 26 season premiere of American Idol, the 19-year-old impressed the judges after he revealed he had a stutter — and aced his audition anyway.

"If you haven't noticed, I have a stutter and that's really where my love for singing came," Finding told judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.

"I've had a stutter ever since I was little and it's something that I've struggled with since elementary school. It was something embarrassing for me and it's something that I had a really hard time with," he said.

Jessie Findling

Disney/Eric McCandless

Findling revealed that his stutter made him "feel alone" growing up — but he found solace in singing.

"Singing has always felt freeing for me because when I sing I don't stutter," he said. "When I sing, it was a way for me to express myself in a way where I didn't have to worry about what people think or if somebody would laugh. It was an outlet for me when I was little and it's still an outlet for me now."

"Walking out with a golden ticket would mean that everything that I've struggled with in the past, it's all led me here and I can do whatever I want if I work hard," he continued. "I've come a long way with it and it doesn't hold me back."

For his audition, Findling sang Benson Boone's "In the Stars" — and he ended with the judges giving him a standing ovation.

"I don't think I blinked one time," Bryan, 49, said. "I mean, wow, you're a real singer. Man I'm really proud of you. I love this show because we get to meet kids like you."

Underwood, 42, told the contestant he had a "beautiful" voice and complimented him for his vibrato and tone.

"You were in the song emotionally. You just took us right there with you. It was beautiful," the "Before He Cheats" singer said.

Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan

Disney/Eric McCandless

Then, Richie, 76, assured Finding he doesn't have a "problem."

"Problem? What problem? You don't have a problem. The only thing wrong with you is you have to figure out how you're going to navigate this career," the "Hello" singer said with a smile.

When it came time for the judges to vote, Bryan and Richie were immediate yeses.

"I think you can go very far in this competition," Underwood said. "We just haven't had voices like yours come in through the doors. I'm really excited to give you a big ole yes."

At the end of his audition clip, Findling said he was thinking of his younger self while he was singing.

"The fact that I got this is proof that everything is working out how it should," he concluded.

American Idol episodes will air every Monday after the Jan. 26 premiere at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. See the release schedule here.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”