Sunday night TV: A Boca Raton teen gets her chance to be the next 'American Idol'

A Boca Raton 16-year-old is living out her teenage dream on "American Idol." Victoria Johnson’s audition in front of celebrity judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan will air Sunday night on ABC-TV.

“I couldn’t believe that it was real. I was like, ‘Am I really even here?’ I don’t think it registered that I was there about to go in front of Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Those are huge names,” Johnson said of her thoughts before entering the audition room.

The spunky popstar-in-the-making says her voice gets compared to Christina Aguilera and Tate McRae and her performance is reminiscent of Britney Spears. For her audition in front of the judging panel, she chose to sing "No Excuses" by Meghan Trainor.

“I have a happy personality, and I didn’t want to do a super-sad song,” she said of her selection.

Boca teen still isn't sure how 'American Idol' discovered her

Johnson’s "American Idol" journey came out of the blue. She was in an Uber while on vacation with her family when she received an email from a producer asking if she’d be interested in competing on the show this season.

“I thought it was a scam at first, but it was very real,” she recalled.

She’s not quite sure exactly how producers discovered her talent, but Johnson has been posting videos of herself performing on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram for years. She said when she was 10 years old, she created a YouTube video singing Katy Perry’s song "Rise."

“I remember I took my mom’s big sunglasses and filmed a music video to it. It’s really cute to look back on,” she said. “I saw Katy Perry when I was in first grade. That was one of the first concerts I ever went to. I am a huge fan of Katy Perry.”

Johnson sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America" at sporting events for the Miami Dolphins, Miami Marlins, Miami Heat, Jacksonville Jaguars and Savannah Bananas. Last March, she won the $500 grand prize at "South Florida’s Kids Got Talent" during Tri-Rail’s 13th annual Rail Fun Day, so talent scouts could have found her in a variety of places.

“I think music is a gift. I want to share the gift of music,” the singer-songwriter said. “Music makes me happy. I love performing.”

'American Idol' contestant also writes music and plays piano, guitar and bass

Johnson also bares her soul by writing original songs and is instrumental, playing piano by ear, as well as guitar, and bass. She doesn’t come from a musical family — her mom played sports growing up and her younger sister is a competitive dancer — but her great-grandmother also played music by ear, so she perhaps inherited that natural talent from her.

Leading up to her audition in front of the celebrity panel in Nashville, Johnson did a series of auditions over Zoom with "American Idol" producers. To show her vocal and stylistic range that includes pop, soul, and R&B, she sang Aretha Franklin’s "I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)" and Lesley Gore’s "You Don’t Own Me."

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Johnson hopes to follow in the footsteps of her top three favorite iconic Idols — Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jennifer Hudson — who all competed on the show before she was even born.

“I think she’s one of the greatest vocalists of our current generation,” Johnson said of Hudson. “She’s an EGOT winner, so she does everything, which I think is really cool. I admire and look up to being able to do theater and pop and soul. I’ve always watched 'American Idol' growing up. I think it’s one of the best, if not the best show ever, and it creates a platform for artists.”

Johnson’s life doesn’t completely revolve around music. The high school junior attends Florida Atlantic University High School’s dual enrollment program, so she will graduate with her high school diploma and bachelor’s degree simultaneously. She participates in her high school’s mock trial club and competitive theater group. She doesn’t only aspire to be the next Britney or Christina, but also perhaps Olivia Benson from "Law & Order: SVU."

“I love studying crimes and the law system and why criminals do what they do,” she said of declaring criminal investigative law as her major.

Depending on where Idol takes her, she may decide to pursue a second bachelor’s degree to get the complete college experience of living in the dorms. She has her sights set on UCLA or the University of Southern California, so she can continue to pursue music while in college.

Johnson already has experience in Los Angeles. Her vocal coach is based out there. She takes lessons over Zoom, but travels for in-person sessions during the summer when school is not in session.

Victoria Johnson plans to watch Sunday's 'American Idol' show at Delray Marketplace

Johnson has been sworn to secrecy, keeping the result of her "Idol" audition from friends and family, besides her mom who accompanied her to Nashville. She’s excited to gather with her family and friends Sunday at Batch Gastropub in Delray Marketplace to watch the episode.

Contestants who receive a golden ticket advance to Hollywood Week. The remaining contestants are then flown to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, for the final round of auditions and eliminations. Once the three judges select the finalists, contestants return to Los Angeles to compete weekly in front of a live studio audience on live television. Voting is then open to viewers.

Johnson is not the first local to compete on "Idol." She joins Sam “KAYKO” Kelly-Cohen this season, who has roots in Delray Beach and Fort Lauderdale. West Palm Beach’s Allegra Miles made the top 14 in 2022 and Riviera Beach native Willie Spence was the runner-up in 2021. Spence died in a car crash in Tennessee at the age of 23 in October 2022.

To see if Johnson gets a golden ticket to Hollywood, tune in to "American Idol" at 8 p.m. Sunday on ABC.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca Raton's Victoria Johnson gets shot to be the next 'American Idol'