Starkville must have something in the water. Jennifer Jeffries a hit on 'American Idol'

Lici Beveridge, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Starkville teen Jennifer Jeffries is on a roll on "American Idol," this week working with mentor, Grammy-nominated artist Jelly Roll, in the Top 24 of Season 22.

The episode was filmed in Hawaii, where several of Jeffries' family members traveled to support the 17-year-old.

She sang Lewis Capaldi's "Bruises," giving a performance that judge Katy Perry said was beginning to show more polish to the diamond of Jeffries' talent.

In her session with Jelly Roll, Jeffries weighed singing "Bruises" or Kodaline's "All I Want." She said she chose "Bruises" because "something about it just felt right."

Jelly Roll mentors Starkville, Miss., teen Jennifer Jeffries, who performs Lewis Capaldi's "Bruises" as a Top 24 contestant on "American Idol" as the show moves to Hawaii. The show airs Sundays and Mondays on ABC.
Jelly Roll mentors Starkville, Miss., teen Jennifer Jeffries, who performs Lewis Capaldi's "Bruises" as a Top 24 contestant on "American Idol" as the show moves to Hawaii. The show airs Sundays and Mondays on ABC.

"You said the right thing," Lionel Richie told Jeffries about her song choice. "And because you felt it, we felt it."

Jelly Roll also was impressed with Jeffries' talent.

"Jennifer Jeffries' voice is magical," he said. "It is so powerful."

What else happened? 'American Idol' recap: Top 24 singers battle it out in Hawaii with special guests Tori Kelly, Iam Tongi

After her performance, Jelly Roll said Mississippians should be losing their minds over her singing.

"When you open your mouth, I hear a lifetime of pain and conviction," Jelly Roll said. "It moves me in a way that I am seldom moved."

The judges also praised Jeffries and her song choice.

"That's the way to stay true to yourself, to your roots," Perry said. "I think you truly are one of the unique voices in the competition."

"You did so amazing with it," Luke Bryan said of choosing a "big, mass, popular, global" hit song. "Keep that interesting stuff going on where you throw surprises at us, but also play to the masses, too, with those big hits."

The Top 24 will be winnowed to the Top 20 next week with episodes airing at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday on ABC or the next day on Hulu.

Interview: Starkville teen Jennifer Jeffries talks about 'American Idol', songwriting

Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge. 

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: American Idol: Jennifer Jeffries stuns with help from Jelly Roll