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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nCarrie Underwood on ‘American Idol’ finale nerves<\/p>\n
More than 20 years after her 2005 win, Carrie Underwood admits Ryan Seacrest’s winner reveal on “American Idol” is uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
Entertain This!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Julia Sienna Santiago of Freehold is laying down the law on \u201cAmerican Idol<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Santiago, a special officer in the Sea Girt Police Department for the last two years, was shown in a police uniform slapping handcuffs on \u201cIdol\u201d 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAm I in trouble?\u201d Bryan asked.<\/p>\n Fellow judge Carrie Underwood cheered Bryan’s brush with the law.<\/p>\n \u201cWatching my dreams unfold right on front of me \u2026 \u201c said Santiago on TikTok, where she shared the clip of the \u201carrest.\u201d<\/p>\n Santiago, who’s identified as Julia Sienna on “Idol,” previously won a \u201cGolden Ticket\u201d 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.<\/p>\n The 20-year old has also sung the National Anthem at multiple events at the Jersey Shore.<\/p>\n On TikTok, her rendition of Sam Smith’s \u201cLay Me Down\u201d went viral with more than 5.5 million views, as did her version of Raye’s \u201cOscar Winning Tears\u201d with 3.6 million views. She’s a belter with a distinctive alto voice.<\/p>\n \u201cNew year, new opportunities!\u201d said Santiago on her social media.<\/p>\n Jake Thistle, a Paramus native and Asbury Park music mainstay, will also have his \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d debut the Monday episode and fans of Bruce Springsteen will be watching<\/a>. Thistle is a regular on Springsteen-related shows in Asbury Park and has even shared the same stage as the Boss.<\/p>\n Jacquie Lee of Colts Neck previously earned a Golden Ticket to Hollywood Week of \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d on the show’s Monday, Jan. 26 season premiere. Lee had a successful run on \u201cThe Voice\u201d in 2013 when she finished second to champ Tessanne Chin on Season 5.<\/p>\n The first round \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d auditions were filmed at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee in November. The school is where 18-year old Jillian Ludwig of Wall<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d airs 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC.<\/p>\n