'American Idol' loves Mississippi. Season 22 welcomes teen songwriter from Starkville
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Jennifer Jeffries has been writing songs for most of her life. Her family has always known about her talent and now the rest of the country can watch as she begins her journey on the newest season of "American Idol."
"I have videos of you all singing her songs she wrote when she was 9," her mother Sheila said to Jennifer's siblings on a taped interview on the show.
Jeffries is the youngest of nine children, she told show host Ryan Seacrest. She said her family has been supportive of her musical talent.
"They're like my backbone," she said.
The 17-year-old from Starkville wowed the judges with her soft yet hauntingly memorable voice and the powerful message she delivered with her song, "Change My Ways."
"I write things so people can connect with them and know they're not alone," Jeffries said. "A lot of things happen in your life — a lot of pain but a lot of joy — so I try to capture that."
Judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan were mesmerized as they listened to Jeffries sing and play the guitar.
"I was not expecting that voice," Bryan said. "It's little indie-film soundtrack voice."
"It's so raw," Perry said.
"What I love is your uniqueness," Richie said.
The three judges unanimously voted to send Jeffries to Hollywood to continue her journey on the show, which is in its 23rd season.
Jeffries' performance follows on the heels of two Mississippi contestants who made it into the Top 5 in 2023 out of thousands of hopefuls nationwide.
Colin Stough, who came in third, and Zachariah Smith, who landed in fifth place, come from Amory, a town about 55 miles from Starkville.
Others from Mississippi have done well on the singing competition and talent show, including Trent Harmon, also from Amory, who won on Season 15.
Stough made a guest appearance on the show to help one contestant with his audition on the season's opening night.
How to watch
"American Idol" airs at 7 p.m. Sundays on ABC or on the ABC app or website.
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This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: American Idol contestant from Starkville MS wows judges
