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Editor\u2019s Note \u2014 As part of our countdown to 2025, WYDaily is revisiting its most-read and favorite stories of the year. Reporter Megan Roche said growing up, \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d was one of her favorite TV shows, so when she heard about a local musician making an appearance on the show, she had to track her down and learn more about what it was like being on the show.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n NEW KENT \u2014 New Kent\u2019s Grayson Torrence is gearing up for a trip to Hollywood after securing a golden ticket during a recent episode of \u201cAmerican Idol.\u201d<\/p>\n Torrence, who grew up loving the show, knew she would audition one day.<\/p>\n \u201cI was, like, a year old and I remember sitting in front of the TV just singing along without words really, just screaming to the people singing on TV. It was ever since then that we always tuned in for \u201cAmerican Idol.\u201d We always specifically made sure that we weren\u2019t doing anything or weren\u2019t working so we could sit in front of the TV and watch it,\u201d Torrence said.<\/p>\n A bundle of nerves, Torrence recalls she was physically shaking before she entered the audition room. As she came face to face with judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie, those original nerves went away.<\/p>\n \u201cRight when I walked in that room with the judges, it was like the flip of a switch. I completely stopped shaking, I feel like it wasn\u2019t even me in there talking to the judges, I feel like it was God kind of speaking through me and doing everything for me, because I was terrified,\u201d Torrence recalls.<\/p>\n During her audition, Torrence sang a rendition of Christina Aguilera\u2019s \u201cFall in Line.\u201d With bated breath, she awaited comments from the three judges.<\/p>\n \u201cPersonally, I wasn\u2019t expecting to get a yes. I don\u2019t know why but I just wasn\u2019t. I couldn\u2019t believe that it could happen. It just felt very much like a dream that I was going to wake up from. When Luke said it was his favorite audition of the day, I thought I didn\u2019t hear him correctly at all. All of their words were so kind and so sweet and when I actually got those three yeses, the first two was insane and when Lionel said yes, I was just not expecting three, let alone one. I felt like all of my dreams like came true,\u201d Torrence said.<\/p>\n After securing her golden ticket to Hollywood, Torrence had time to reflect on the competition moving forward.<\/p>\n \u201cI really want to show my personality and who I am as a person in general because I was so nervous the first initial audition that I didn\u2019t really get to give them the full Grayson. I hope I can put myself into my performances and into everything about Hollywood Week because I feel like they would enjoy it. I\u2019m very weird but in the very best way possible,\u201d Torrence said.<\/p>\n