Mitchell's Logan Culhane punches Golden Ticket to American Idol's Hollywood Week

Mar. 26—MITCHELL — By the time Logan Culhane finally got to perform in person in front of the three American Idol judges late last year, she made up her mind that she was thrilled just to get the chance to be there.

It turned out even better than she expected.

Program judges and music superstars Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie all gave her the thumbs up and selected her as one of the show's contestants to receive a Golden Ticket, paving her way to the next stage of the broadcast talent contest, known as Hollywood Week.

"It really is surreal. I had such high hopes going in with the celebrity judges, because I knew that no matter what happened, I was getting asked to do something really incredible. Whatever happens here, I can say I auditioned in front of Katy Perry and Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie," Culhane told the Mitchell Republic. "And then I got the Golden Ticket, and it felt like the cherry on top. It was like, oh my goodness!"

After an early round of Zoom audition performances last year for the show's producers, Culhane shared a room with the three judges back in October, but secrecy requirements meant she is only now able to talk about some of what transpired during those few minutes.

Culhane was able to select her own song for that audition, and she chose the same song she had performed for the producers over Zoom. That song was "Creep," a 1992 single by the English band Radiohead, known for its grungy, feedback-saturated tones and an ending that features soaring vocals.

She had been practicing the song for months, using a piano accompaniment to bring her own spin to a song known for its edgy guitar sounds.

"I wanted to sing something that meant something, but even just the idea of pushing the boundary of what was a song that's normally performed for an audition on Idol. When you hear the song, you know how it's originally done — the guitar, and it's alternative and grungy. I wanted to play around with the expectation of what people thought I could sing and what I thought I could do," Culhane said. "I was so confident in that performance, and I love singing it. I knew that this is absolutely what I wanted to sing for them, and it obviously paid off."

The performance garnered high marks from the judges, who gave her a standing ovation following her performance. Bryan teased her that he did not make a habit of critiquing singers who are better than he is, and Perry offered her advice to enhance her already significant storytelling skills through song.

Richie told Logan's mother that she "had given birth to an angel," echoing the prominent lyric "just like an angel" from her audition song.

"It made everyone's day. Lionel Richie thinks I'm an angel!" Culhane laughed.

Culhane still can't reveal too much about what happens next, so viewers will need to tune in this coming Sunday and Monday to see if they can catch a glimpse of her. There are 149 other contestants who received a Golden Ticket, so Culhane will need to be in top form to continue her run through the gauntlet.

It's been a thrilling experience so far, Culhane said, and she is deeply grateful for the support she has received from friends, family and the Mitchell community. She said she is thankful that they can share in her experience of a lifetime, no matter how it turns out.

"The support of the community just means the world to me. I'd never thought I'd be able to feel a group of people banding together so fast for me. I will always appreciate the community and feeling of safety that I get from Mitchell," Culhane said. "I've been really careful to make sure I'm not rushing ahead or missing out on any of the small moments. That just makes the big surprises even more gratifying. First, I'm just happy to be there, and then I'm happy to be walking out of there with that ticket."

Hollywood Week airs Sunday, March 31 and Monday, April 1. This season's American Idol finale will air on April 14.