Bethel 16-year-old gets golden ticket during American Idol audition

BETHEL, Conn. (WTNH) – A yes from Katy Perry and a standing ovation from Lionel Richie, and 16-year-old Olivia Hirsch is off to Hollywood to compete on American Idol!

The singer- who goes by Carmen Olivia- said she auditioned in front of the famous judges in Nashville after a casting agent found her on TikTok .

“It’s always been a really big passion of mine,” Olivia said. “I’m 16. I’m a junior in high school and I auditioned for American Idol this season.”

The Bethel teen’s cover of “Oscar Winning Tears” by Raye earned her two yeses, as well as a no from Luke Bryan- who said he thought she was too young.

“It’s definitely been in my opinion a positive to be so young and doing music because I think it will just help me get better as I go on,” Olivia said.

Olivia said during her performance, her nerves were high, but so are her goals.

“It was really scary but honestly I blanked out because there was so much adrenaline so I just remember in the moment they brought my mom in and they told me yes but I didn’t really hear them,” Olivia said. “It didn’t register so I was just standing there and I was like oh, and then they said you’re going to Hollywood and I was like oh!”

The 16-year-old was born and raised in Bethel and is excited to represent Connecticut on the hit show. She said she’s even being recognized in public after one episode!

Now, she is currently working on new music. Olivia said she wants other teenage girls to find her lyrics relatable.

“I usually just write stuff about struggles. I have a song about eating disorders and I have a lot of songs about breakups and love and stuff,” Olivia said. “It just helps when you have somebody you can kind of relate too and people being public about it in songs and stuff and on social media being public about issues kind of makes it easier to talk about.

Carmen Olivia will be performing live shows in the next couple months in Connecticut and New York. For more information on her music click here .

A Waterbury resident is also on her way to Hollywood after singing “Toxic” by Brittany Spears and “She Used to be Mine” by Sara Bareilles in her audition, which included a mouth trumpet performance.

You can catch both of these Connecticut stars on American Idol for Hollywood week this Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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