Lionel Richie Has Spiritual Moment Watching Teen Preacher’s Soulful ‘American Idol’ Audition

This week, it was especially fitting that American Idol airs on Sundays. On the March 30 episode of the show, teenage contestant — and aspiring preacher — Canaan James Hill took the judges to church with his audition for the show, leaving Lionel Richie in particular stunned.

Before diving into a soulful rendition of Earnest Pugh’s “I Need Your Glory,” the 17-year-old Dallas native introduced himself by saying he graduated high school early for a special reason. “I’m actually getting into preaching,” he told the “Hello” singer, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan. “So that I can go forth with my gift and do what God has called and chosen me to do.”

Hill then delivered a pitch-perfect, run-filled version of the gospel track, his voice growing more powerful throughout. At one point, Richie had to scoot his chair back from the judge’s table because he was so moved by the singer’s vocals. After Hill nailed a heavenly riff moments later, the “Endless Love” musician fully jumped out of his seat while Bryan mimed getting the chills.

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“Would you do that again?” Richie said, marching straight up to Hill after the song was over and putting a hand on his shoulder. “You are so blessed…. That was something so spectacular, I just can’t even describe what I heard.”

“You have a gift… I’m kind of speechless,” Underwood told Hill, while Bryan marveled, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Not only did the judges give Hill a unanimous “yes,” but Richie also presented him with the final platinum ticket of the season, meaning the hopeful gets to skip straight past the first Hollywood round. The other two contestants to snag a platinum ticket this season were Filo and Kolbi Jordan.

Watch Hill’s glorious Idol audition above.

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