Luke Bryan pretended to pass out after being left lost for words by a model who auditioned on Sunday’s episode of American Idol.
The 42-year-old country star already had called Katie Belle, 19, the ‘Gisele of Georgia’ and was then teased for nervously avoiding eye contact.
Fellow judge Katy Perry, 34, also seemed enamored, comparing the hopeful to Megan Fox and reciting her own lyrics: ‘I kissed a girl and I liked it.’
Golden ticket: Katie Belle left judge Luke Bryan speechless as she auditioned on Sunday’s episode of American Idol
After getting three yeses, Katie shook hands with the judges – with Luke collapsing at the first touch of her hand, knocking over his chair.
‘I touched her. Just a touch of the hand,’ he finally said after getting up, saying her appearance on the show was ‘a damn situation right there.’
‘Is there a defibrillator on-site?’ he asked with a smile.
Katy earlier joked that the hopeful cast a ‘magical spell’ on Luke who could not look at her – with the judge proving it when asked for his critique.
High praise: The 42-year-old country star called the singer the ‘Gisele of Georgia’ in reference to top model Gisele Bundchen
Magical spell: The singer was teased for casting a ‘magical spell’ over Luke
Model looks: The country star looked away as Katie auditioned
‘I tell ya… I’m a yes,’ he finally said, laughing at being lost for words and with Lionel Richie, 69, saying the best review was Luke stumbling over his words.
‘Let’s just bring her to Los Angeles. She’s gonna be a star in some way and it would just be nice to know that we helped do that,’ Katy said of the contestant who sang Jennifer Hudson’s version of Golden Slumbers.
‘You’re destined for this world. You’re going to Hollywood and you’re gonna be booked,’ Katy declared.
Man down: Lionel Richie looked after Luke who collapsed to the floor after touching Katie
Passed out: Luke fell to the floor after making contact with the singer
Good times: Katie laughed as Luke was at a loss of words
Luke also had a physical response to another contestant – stopping Ashley Hess, 27, so the judges could all move to sit right in front of her at the piano.
‘I think you could win this whole thing,’ Katy insisted after her performance of Norah Jones’ Don’t Know Why.
‘You could win this competition!’ she repeated to the contestant who pursued her musical dreams after becoming a dental hygienist. ‘Wake up!’
Close up: Katy Perry, Lionel and Luke moved to get a closer look at Ashley Hess
Sweet voice: Ashley nailed her rendition of the Norah Jones song Don’t Know Why
Bold statement: Katy told the former dental hygienist that she could win the competition
Teacher and former 90 Day Fiancé star Evelyn Cormier, 19, also wowed with her take on Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game, with Katy insisting: ‘Literally, one of my favorite voices I’ve ever heard in my life. You are my favorite voice.’
‘I think when you have a really amazing band behind you it’s going to be something crazy,’ Luke agreed.
Giving the third yes, Lionel told her: ‘I’m thrilled that we have you. It’s something we want to show off.’
Reality star: 90 Day Fiancé star Evelyn Cormier, 19, also wowed with her take on Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game
Going strong: David Vazquez Zermeno congratulated his wife Evelyn after she received a ticket to Hollywood
The latest round of auditions once again had the judges fighting back tears at the moving stories of some contestants.
They all gasped when the episode’s final performer, Lauren Engle, revealed she was already a widow at just 27.
She told how husband Garrett, who proposed on her 22nd birthday, died when they were both in a ‘terrible car accident’ where another driver ran a red light.
Young widow: Lauren Engle shared her moving story of becoming a wide at age 27
‘Next thing I knew I woke up in the hospital,’ she said. ‘Garrett didn’t survive. Split second – just gone.
‘I never thought being 27 years old I’d be a widow.’
The judges were clearly moved as she brought her late husband’s brother on to take his place backing her on guitar for Compass, a song she wrote about her marriage.
Family affair: The singer brought her late husband’s brother to take his place on guitar
‘I can’t imagine singing that – or writing that – or even going through any of what you’ve been through,’ Katy told her.
‘You are just such a beautiful testimony to have been through all that still standing.’
As she gave her yes, Katy said: ‘This one’s for you and for Garrett.’
Life mission: Lionel told Lauren that her life mission was to enjoy the ride
Lionel then left her in tears when he told her: ‘You have a mission for the rest of your life – to be you. Enjoy the ride. He’s right here.’
Holding her golden ticket, Lauren told host Ryan Seacrest: ‘It’s for my boy. I wish he was here…’
She then looked at the camera and told him: ‘I love you and I miss you.’
Hollywood bound: Lauren looked at the camera and addressed her late husband
‘Garrett was always my compass in life,’ she explained. ‘He instilled going after your dreams your passions whatever you wanted – don’t ever give up.
I finally feel I can go to this next step of the journey because I wanted to do it for him. I feel like he was there the whole time.’
They were also moved by Colby Swift, 19, who was 10 when his mother drove away from the house – smiling at him as she left – and never returned.
She had told them she was getting ice cream, with Colby saying: ‘I guess the line was long because I haven’t seen her in nine years.’
Parental separation: Colby Swift, 19, talked about how his mother left for ice cream when he was age 10 and never came back
After his ‘nervous’ version of I Cast No Stones by Cody Jinks, Luke said: ‘I don’t know if a kid has ever walked in here and been more me at 19.’
‘Were you good looking back then?’ Colby quipped, with Luke laughing and admitting: ‘I would’ve said something like that, too.’
Luke teased him that he was sending him home, leaving a long pause as he told him: ‘I don’t think I’m gonna be able to let ya … let ya leave us.’
Funny guy: The teenager also shared his sense of humor with the judges
He got three yeses, with Katy warning that he ‘needs a lot of work.’
‘Ah man, I’m loving you,’ said Lionel, adding he was ‘in awe.’
A happy story also moved the judges – with college student Elizabeth Gaba, 19, coming to the audition with mom Carole as well as her egg donor, Amy.
Happy story: College student Elizabeth Gaba, 19, came to the audition with mom Carole as well as her egg donor, Amy
After tracking down Amy, Gaba also discovered a freak coincidence – they had both performed in the same college a capella group, SoCal VoCals.
After the judges heard that story, they encouraged Amy to come out – with her even joining Gaba for a duet, leaving Katy wiping away tears and trying to leave a message for her own mom, whose voicebox was full.
‘I want two mamas!’ Luke said, while Lionel told them: ‘The three of you is absolutely a testament to just plain love.’
Special duet: Egg donor Amy joined Gaba for a duet after it was learned they both performed in the same college a capella group, SoCal VoCals
Tears flowing: Katy wiped away tears watching the duet by Amy and Gaba
Dalton Elliott, meanwhile, was warned by Katy that his emotion had left him looking like ‘a beet.’
‘I’m just gonna be honest with you, you’re probably not gonna be watching that on television,’ she teased of his expression from ‘straining’ too much.
Dalton, 26, told how having three-year-old son Nash made him ‘go out and get a real job and do the dad thing and not be a musician in a bar at 3am.’
Over straining: Dalton Elliott was warned by Katy about ‘straining’ too much
But it inspired his moving performance of Lee Brice’s Boy, with Lionel telling him: ‘There are singers, and then there are storytellers. You were telling that story like a master.’
His family rushed in to celebrate his three yeses, with Dalton saying: ‘When I saw my son’s face light up it was one of the best moments of my life. I knew that his dad had made him proud today.’
The night saw a lot of successful returns, with Kay Kay, 18; Tippy Balady, 17; Isaac Streetman, 18, and Payton Taylor, 22, all shown coming back and this time getting through.
The judges: Lionel, Katy and Luke also saw a lot of successful returns as former contestants tried again this season
‘We might have thrown them off last year, but they are back to take it home,’ Lionel said.
By far the most defiant return was made by high school student Alyssa Raghu, 16, who made the top 24 last year and insisted she had worked on ‘every critique’ they made.
‘You told me I had to figure out who I was,’ she told the judges.
Special sauce: Alyssa Raghu, 16, was back after finishing in the top 24 last year
‘I know I’m Alyssa Ragu – and I’m a pop star. That’s what it is.’
‘I got chills when you said that,’ admitted Katy, who guessed it was ‘White Sauce’ – the nickname she gave her for her name sounding like Ragu sauce – singing as Luke and Lionel initially hid her face.
‘It’s really great to see the bird come back to the nest for a moment,’ Lionel told her, admitting he was ‘a little teary-eyed’ while Luke got goosebumps.
Eyes covered: Lionel and Luke shielded the singer from Katy who guessed it was ‘White Sauce’
Much improvement: Alyssa took the critiques to heart and showed much improvement
Strong encouragement: Katy urged Alyssa to ‘Win it this time!’
‘I’m here to win, man. I really, really am,’ she told them after getting three yeses for her version of VV Brown’s Shark In The Water.
Bartender Jessica Whitely, 26, had auditioned seven years ago – and seemed convinced she was through this time when she was told her voice coach ‘needs to move to LA.’
Instead, she again got a no from all three, with Luke telling her: ‘But you are American Idol’s most improved.’
Nice try: Jessica Whitely, 26, was back after auditioning seven years ago
Most improved: The singer failed to advance again but the judges noted her progress
They were more impressed by the coach who helped her improve so much, with Katy saying she could ‘definitely have a career in Hollywood.’
After geriatric nurse Jacob Moran, 24, sang Ariana Grande’s Into You, Katy joked: ‘If I didn’t have all my hairs lasered off they’d be standing up.’
Luke then compared him to Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, insisting: ‘You are there with him. And that is amazing. You’re making my eyes well-up.
Cover song: Jacob Moran sang a rendition of Into You by Ariana Grande
‘Your life is about to change,’ he predicted, with Katy also telling him: ‘We can help you transform into an Idol.’
After Jacob left with his ticket – calling it ‘the best day of my life!’ – Katy told her fellow judges: ‘Let’s make him a star.’
Peach Martine, 16, came in seeming so perfect – bragging about being a straight-A student with plans to be class valedictorian – that the judges joked about her being a robot, with Katy even pretending to check her back for switches.
Next round: The geriatric nurse earned a ticket to Hollywood with three yes votes
It almost proved her downfall, however, with Katy giving a no after warning: ‘It doesn’t feel like you’re having fun – it feels like you are trying to ace the test. This is rock’n’roll. This is pop music. This is about feeling. It’s about heart, it’s about connection.’
Peach – who performed The Cranberries’ Zombie and then her own song at the piano – still got through with yeses from Luke and Lionel, insisting later: ‘I’m going to show Katy that when I sing my own music I am a rock star.’
The auditions were filmed in October, with Katy being surprised on her 34th birthday with a horse-and-cart ride as well as balloons, cupcakes and cotton candy, which Luke joked was one of her ‘major food groups.’
High achiever: Peach Martine, 16, came in seeming so perfect that Katy thought she was a robot
Just checking: Katy checked to make sure that Peach wasn’t a robot
Birthday girl: The pop star was shown celebrating her birthday with cotton candy
Dolly Parton also sent a video message, singing Happy Birthday and ending by changing the words to her famous lyrics, I Will Always Love You.
‘Cotton Candy for breakfast and Dolly Parton sang Happy Birthday to me – what else do you want?’ asked Katy, who was also handed a bright pink baseball bat to swing at a piñata.
She also had a less exciting surprise – breaking a molar while eating nuts, proudly showing her fellow judges the tooth which she kept in a bag.
‘I’ll put it under my pillow and maybe I’ll get a quarter,’ she joked.
American Idol will return Monday with the final auditions before Hollywood Week.
Video message: Dolly Parton also sent a video message to Katy and sang Happy Birthday to her