‘American Idol’ Sneak Peek Highlights an Audition Hopeful Who Overcomes a Stutter

Jesse Findling with his parents.
Photo credit: Disney/Eric McCandless

The new season of American Idol begins next week and judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood have already picked their favorites who are heading to Hollywood Week.

According to Parade magazine, among them is inspiring 19-year-old college student Jesse Findling, whose lifelong stutter vanishes when he sings. His audition performance of “In The Stars” by Benson Boone, earned him a rare “Golden Ticket” to American Idol’s Hollywood Week.

Jesse has been singing since he was little with his brother and sister using karaoke tracks. He also performed in the choir in school.

“I’ve had a stutter ever since I was little. And it’s something that I’ve struggled with since elementary school,” he told Parade. “It was something embarrassing for me. It was something I really had a hard time with. I wouldn’t raise my hand in school, and it was just something that made me feel alone and something that I felt like I had to hide, so it was definitely hard. Singing has always felt freeing for me because when I sing, I don’t stutter. When I sang, it was a way for me to express myself in a way where I didn’t have to worry about being embarrassed about what people would think or that somebody would laugh. It was an outlet for me when I was little, and it’s still an outlet for me now.”

When he finished singing, Luke told him, “I don’t think I blinked one time. Wow! You’re a real singer, man. I’m really proud of you. I love this show because we can meet kids like you.”

And Carrie added, “Your voice is beautiful. You have a beautiful vibrato, a beautiful tone. We could understand everything you were singing. You were in the song emotionally, which just took us right there with you.”

“Problem, what problem? You don’t have a problem. Nothing wrong with you. The only thing you’ve got to figure out is how you’re going to navigate this career,” Lionel said, according to Parade.

After making it through to Hollywood Week, Jesse said, “When I was singing that song, I was thinking of younger me who wouldn’t speak in class, who was scared of what people thought of him. The fact that I got this, it’s just proof that everything’s working out how it should.”

American Idol premieres its new season on Monday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Streams next day on Hulu.

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Posted Jan. 23, 2026

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