Christian singer/songwriter Lauren Daigle made a special appearance tonight on the season premiere of American Idol. While contestant Megan Danielle auditioned in Las Vegas with Daigle’s song, “You Say,” Daigle paid a surprise visit and appearance on the show.
Daigle happened to be in Vegas for another show and was prompted by host Ryan Seacrest to come for a visit and meet a contestant performing Daigle’s son, hoping to get an invite to Hollywood for the next round.
The judges appeared shocked to see Daigle pay a visit – Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Katy Perry, who serves as a judge for the show said that was one of the coolest things she’s ever seen an artist do on the show.
Contestant Megan Danielle shared the story of her own decision to focus exclusively on Christian music, and her commitment to perform a Christian worship song on national TV was rewarded with a visit from Daigle.
“When I was 18, I had a band and we were singing at all different types of bars and venues. I didn’t like performing at bars because I felt like I had to act like someone I wasn’t just so the people would like what they were hearing. There was one show I had one night and my papa was there and he pulled me to the side and said ‘what are you doing baby? This isn’t what you’re supposed to be doing.’ He looked at me dead in the eye and said ‘how can you sing for God and sing for this?’ and then I finally decided to totally switch to Christian music.”
Now Danielle is trying to make her way on the show and in the Christian music industry, receiving an invite to the next round of the show in Hollywood. Daigle herself was a contestant on the show herself in 2012 before making it big in the Christian music industry. Daigle tried out for Idol in 2010 and 2012 but was cut before the final 24 contestants in 2010, and she did not make it to Hollywood in 2011. She made it to the Hollywood round in 2012 but was cut in the first round in Vegas. With this visit, things certainly came full circle for Daigle. After her appearance on American Idol, Daigle went on to defy the odds and win four American Music Awards, six Billboard Music Awards, eleven GMA Dove Awards and two Grammy Awards.