American Idol continues to prove that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as another “nepo baby” auditioned on Sunday night. This time around it was 19-year-old Laura Bonfiglio, daughter of Wilson Phillips member Carnie Wilson and granddaughter of The Beach Boys member Brian Wilson.
Lola entered the room with her dad, Rob Bonfiglio. Rob had his guitar, so Carrie Underwood observed that she came from a musical family. When Carrie asked Lola what she was going to sing, Lola pulled in her mom, Carnie, and her aunt, Wendy Wilson.
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It was then that the American Idol winner realized she was seeing two of the members of Wilson Phillps. Carrie said, “I don’t know how to proceed now.” Bbut Rob did, and he started strumming the music to “Hold On,” and Lola, Carnie and Wendy sang their hit song, harmonizing beautifully.
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“You can tell that that is a thing with families, that everybody is genetically designed to sound good together,” Carrie said.
“A blood blend,” Lola called it.
Then Carrie asked to hear Lola sing by herself so they could get to know a little bit more about her.
“I have my tissues stuffed in my bra,” said Carnie, who did wipe a few tears away during the performance, as she, Rob and Wendy moved to the side, so Lola, a college student, could perform “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves for Carrie, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
“This audition is going to push me,” Lola said. “I am used to singing with my parents and my family. I’m just excited to grow from this experience and push myself.”
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“You’ve got everything you need,” Lionel said. “There are certain points I would give you. When you’re singing the lead, hold the story out longer. It could have been nerves, but you were getting to the end and just cutting it off. Just hold it. Your voice is there. Tell us a story.”
“The tone and the pureness and the quality of your voice, that’s a perfect song for you, but this competition is going to require you to belt, too, and let loose a little bit, filling up the room a little more and using your dynamics. You’ve got a really beautiful voice,” Luke told her.
Then Carrie weighed in. “You’ve got an honesty in your voice and a presence. I want to see you own your talent and everything you have to offer because you have a lot to offer, and it gets me really excited to potentially bear witness to that.”
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Lola responded, “If I’m on this show, I will push myself. That’s why I want to be on American Idol, I want to grow.”
Carrie said, “You have to find your artistry, find your lane, and own it.”
“I take all this to heart,” Lola added. And then the judges voted her a Golden Ticket to Hollywood.
“I am so speechless,” Lola said. “But I am so excited for the journey. No matter how far I get, I’m just excited to push myself and grow.”
And Carnie told her daughter, “Bottom line, you were born to sing.”
American Idol airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Streams next day on Hulu.
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