One of the final contestants to go through to Hollywood on Sunday night’s American Idol was 23-year-old Amber Fiedler, who performed while she was 38 weeks pregnant.
She revealed during her audition that she was placing her baby in an open adoption, which stunned Idol judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.
Fiedler, a server from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, opened up about why she’s giving up her baby in a video package about her life.
Impressive Amber: American Idol contestant Amber Fiedler wowed the judges on Sunday’s final auditions show, to which she arrived 38 weeks pregnant
Katy: ‘Do you have a name picked out?’ judge Katy Perry, 35, had asked Amber, a server from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, when she entered the room
Fiedler explained that her mother was, ‘a user most of my life,’ adding that her grandma raised her.
‘The last few years I was going out and drinking a bunch. I was getting caught up in life. With this pregnancy, I’ve learned who I was as a person,’ Fiedler added.
‘I’ve had time to sit and think, and looking at the big picture of life, there’s days where I don’t even have $20 in my pocket. If I’m not ready to be a mom, why would I put her through that, you know?’ she added.
Hard time: In a video package, Amber explained that she’d had a hard time growing up, as her mother had been a substance abuser most of her life, and her grandmother raised her
She added that she has chosen a family for her baby, who will have the ability to, ‘give her everything she wants,’ because she knew she wouldn’t be able to, which lead to her getting choked up a bit.
Fiedler added that she hopes her daughter will eventually: ‘understand I am trying to choose the best for her.’
The video package included shots of Fiedler with her mother, Shamara, who has been clean for four years.
Choked up: She added that she has chosen a family for her baby, who will have the ability to, ‘give her everything she wants,’ because she knew she wouldn’t be able to, which lead to her getting choked up a bit
Understand: Fiedler added that she hopes her daughter will eventually, ‘understand I am trying to choose the best for her’
Mother and daughter: The video package included shots of Fiedler with her mother, Shamara, who has been, ‘clean for four years’
She added that having the baby gave her: ‘time to think and reflect on my life,’ adding that, ‘the baby, she saved me. She really did.’
Fiedler told the judges that it was going to be an open adoption, meaning that the child will ‘know’ her while she’s growing up.
She went on to sing Etta James’ Trust in Me, which impressed all three judges thoroughly.
Saved: She added that having the baby gave her, ‘time to think and reflect on my life,’ adding that, ‘the baby, she saved me. She really did’
Impressed: She went on to sing Etta James’ Trust in Me, which impressed all three judges thoroughly
After Amber finished singing, the judges applauded, with Luke Bryan, 43, pointing out that she’d performed flawlessly even ‘with a foot in her ribs.’
‘You definitely have a very big shot of going very far if you want to,’ Katy said, worried that Hollywood Week started a week after Amber’s due date. ‘You may be late, you may be early.’
‘Yeah, I’m just like, ‘If it’s meant to be, it’s all just gonna work out,’ Amber replied.
Her shot: ‘You definitely have a very big shot of going very far if you want to,’ Katy said, worried that Hollywood Week started a week after Amber’s due date. ‘You may be late, you may be early.’
Luke joked that his fellow judge Lionel Richie, 70, ‘would like to put his name in the hat for godfather.’
All three judges voted to send Amber through, leading Katy to crow, ‘You’re going to Hollywood!’ before adding, ‘Don’t run too fast!’ as Amber raced to grab her ticket.
‘Slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, mom,’ Lionel warned.
Godfather: Luke joked that his fellow judge Lionel Richie, 70, ‘would like to put his name in the hat for godfather’
Slow: ‘Slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, mom,’ Lionel warned
‘Maybe you’re not ready to be a mom, but you are ready to be an American Idol,’ Katy cracked.
‘Do you hear that, baby?’ Amber said to her baby, before running off the set, as Luke yelled, ‘Quit running!’
American Idol’s Hollywood Week kicks off Monday March 16 on ABC.
Ready: ‘Maybe you’re not ready to be a mom, but you are ready to be an American Idol,’ Katy cracked
Baby: ‘Do you hear that, baby?’ Amber said to her baby, before running off the set, as Luke yelled, ‘Quit running!’