... all start for you?

Absolutely.

Well, I grew up in a family full of faith.

Um, and so my parents would send me to church with my grandparents all the time, and so I was, uh, around my grandparents all the time, and they were very heavily involved in the church.

And so, um, at four years old I remember seeing the choir stand and being like, "What is that? I need to get up in that.

I need to be a part of that 'cause there's a microphone up there.

Y'all singing, you got your little robes on and stuff." I was like, "Wow." Um, and I just loved everything about church.

What's it like navigating that now for you?

Yeah,

absolutely.

I mean, just to give you a little bit of behind the scenes of how this process even came to be, American Idol producers have been reaching out over the last three, four years.

And I kept saying, no, I was just like, I'm not, Not really interested.

I'm not against it, but I'm just not really interested.

I was, you know, settling into my surrender towards the Lord.

And I thought at the time that that was, you know, leading worship and it was.

you laid things at his feet and watched them come to fruition.

Mm.

"I don't understand it." It's so intricate, and it's so cool, and it was very intriguing.

And as she, you know, grew in her artistry and as I'm experiencing artistry for the first time, I was like, "If I could be like any artist, it would be like Tori Kelly," I truly believe.

Because she's so highly respected for her faith.

... what would you say?

Oh my goodness.

I would say thank you.

Thank you so much.