KATY Perry was left tearful after American Idol contestant Kya Monae revealed Willie Spence's message to her three days earlier than he died.
Kya had dueted with Willie on American Idol in 2021 and have become shut buddies with the runner-up earlier than his devastating dying in a automotive accident.
She returned to the singing competitors and gave an emotional speech about Willie throughout Sunday's premiere of the brand new season.
Kya and Willie sang Rihanna's hit Keep throughout Hollywood Week on season 19 and remained shut after the competitors.
Willie died aged 23 in a automotive crash in Tennessee in October 2022.
Kya mentioned he had inspired her to return to American Idol and check out once more earlier than his dying.
"Willie at all times informed me, 'It doesn't matter what, you'll at all times be a singer,'" she mentioned, breaking down in tears.
"Three days earlier than he handed, Willie was telling me, 'You must return. You must chase your goals. I'll go together with you to American Idol.'
"He made me need to do it. I actually need to make it additional and most of all, I need to make Willie proud."
Kya informed the judges within the audition room: "He was truly alleged to be right here with me right now for my audition.
"It is simply very exhausting to not have that assist anymore. I do know that he would need me to be right here."
She sang I am Right here, from Broadway musical The Colour Purple, a tune that she and Willie had picked collectively.
Kya's voice cracked with emotion throughout the tune and she or he wiped away tears as she sang.
Katy seemed equally emotional, preventing again tears as she watched the transferring efficiency.
She mentioned, "that is the way you sing via your tears," as she gave the contestant a standing ovation.
The singer added: "It was so related to the ache.
"However we additionally really feel related collectively, since you had been genuine, identical to he was."
Lionel Richie additionally wiped away tears and gave Kya a hug on the finish of her efficiency.
Willie completed American Idol in second place to Chayce Beckham in Might 2021.
On October 12, 2022, it was revealed that Willie died in a automotive accident on Tuesday, October 11.
He misplaced his life after his Jeep Cherokee "left the roadway" and collided with the again of a tractor-trailer that was stopped on the exhausting shoulder.
Each Willie and the driving force of the tractor-trailer, who was 68 years previous, had been sporting seat belts, in accordance with a report from the Tennessee Freeway Patrol and the Marion County health worker.
Because the information of the previous Idol contestant's dying circulated, his fellow alumni took to social media to recollect the younger star's life.
Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee commented on Instagram: "I acquired very tragic information tonight. Candy @williespenceofficial handed away in a automotive accident.
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