Charlotte TikTok star gives emotional ‘American Idol’ audition. Is she going to Hollywood?

A Charlotte-area social media star is headed to “American Idol’s” Hollywood Week after an emotional audition on Sunday night’s show.

Bethany Teague, a Gastonia native and preschool teacher, started posting videos to TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic, WSOC reported.

“For a long time, I had this really bad insecurity about myself that I wasn’t like what people wanted to see, I didn’t look the way that society pictured me as an artist, or I wasn’t skinny enough, or I wasn’t this, and I always picked myself apart,” Teague told WSOC. “And one day during COVID, I was like, I’m so tired of staying in my house. I have nobody to talk to.”

Since then, Teague has amassed nearly 150,000 followers on the platform, with her covers of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and Miley Cyrus’ “When I Look At You” garnering nearly 3 million views.

How did her audition go?

Before she sang “Piece by Piece” by Kelly Clarkson, Teague revealed to the judges that her grandmother adopted her when she was five years old.

Her mother passed away in 2017 after giving birth to her sister. “Where’s your father?” judge Katy Perry asked. “I don’t have one,” Teague replied.

“My family is the world to me,” Teague said with tears in her eyes. “The ones that I have — they’re amazing.”

The judges also wiped tears from their eyes as Teague sang and spoke about her family.

“I can tell why that song is so important,” judge Katy Perry said. “I think you should turn that pain into purpose.”

“I think she just validated exactly what a hit record is supposed to be,” judge Lionel Richie said. “That was very moving, and you delivered the heck out of it.”

Teague celebrated with her family after receiving a “yes” from all three judges — and a ticket to Hollywood.

Teague will join Charlotte native Blake Proehl in Hollywood, along with four other singers from the Tarheel State.

How to watch ‘American Idol’

The next episode of “American Idol,” the first episode of Hollywood Week, will air on Sunday, March 31 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Meet the 6 NC singers who advanced to ‘American Idol’ Hollywood Week

Charlotte native Blake Proehl auditioned on ‘American Idol.’ Did he make it to Hollywood?