Julia Sienna Santiago of Freehold is laying down the law on “American Idol.”
Santiago, a special officer in the Sea Girt Police Department for the last two years, was shown in a police uniform slapping handcuffs on “Idol” judge Luke Bryan at the end of the Feb. 9 episode. It was a teaser for the Monday, Feb. 16 episode, on which Santiago will audition for a Golden Ticket to the show’s Hollywood Week.
“Am I in trouble?” Bryan asked.
Fellow judge Carrie Underwood cheered Bryan’s brush with the law.
“Watching my dreams unfold right on front of me … “ said Santiago on TikTok, where she shared the clip of the “arrest.”
Julia Sienna Santiago, a graduate of Howell High School’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, on the Feb. 16 2026 episode of “American Idol.”
Santiago, who’s identified as Julia Sienna on “Idol,” previously won a “Golden Ticket” in the 2023 Freehold Idol competition; participated in the Rock It! Academy and was nominated for Outstanding Female Lead in a Musical at the Basie Awards at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank; and studied in the summer intensives program at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn.
The 20-year old has also sung the National Anthem at multiple events at the Jersey Shore.
On TikTok, her rendition of Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down” went viral with more than 5.5 million views, as did her version of Raye’s “Oscar Winning Tears” with 3.6 million views. She’s a belter with a distinctive alto voice.
“New year, new opportunities!” said Santiago on her social media.
Jake Thistle, a Paramus native and Asbury Park music mainstay, will also have his “American Idol” debut the Monday episode and fans of Bruce Springsteen will be watching. Thistle is a regular on Springsteen-related shows in Asbury Park and has even shared the same stage as the Boss.
Jake Thistle of Paramus and the Asbury Park music scene in the final week of auditions on the Feb. 16, 2026 episode of “American Idol.”
Jacquie Lee of Colts Neck previously earned a Golden Ticket to Hollywood Week of “American Idol” on the show’s Monday, Jan. 26 season premiere. Lee had a successful run on “The Voice” in 2013 when she finished second to champ Tessanne Chin on Season 5.
The first round “American Idol” auditions were filmed at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee in November. The school is where 18-year old Jillian Ludwig of Wall was studying music when she was killed by a stray bullet near the campus in 2023. Jillian was a student and teacher at the Lakehouse Music Academy in Asbury Park and she founded the Play It Forward initiative in the area, which raised funds for music education for area students of need.
“American Idol” airs 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: This Jersey Shore cop is arresting judges on ‘American Idol’
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