Backstage at The X Factor USA, 16-year-old Jazzlyn Little looked like she might not make it to the stage at all. The sophomore from Ida Baker High School in Cape Coral, Florida, told the cameras she was freaking out, that her throat was closing and that it felt like someone had opened a huge cage of butterflies in her stomach 😰.
She had never sung in front of 4,000 people before. She had been taking singing seriously for about four years, and she said music was her escape from peer pressure, from trying to fit in and from being judged. Her mom was right there with her, trying to calm her down.
When she reached the judges, Simon asked if she had posted anything online. Jazzlyn admitted she had put up one video and it got around 500 views. She even said people just did not like watching her videos. Simon told her she was not selling herself very well.
Then she announced her song, “I’m Goin’ Down” by Mary J. Blige, and everything changed 🎤. The shy girl who could barely answer questions suddenly sang with a rich, soulful voice that filled the arena. The audience started cheering.
The reactions were huge. One judge told her she had a superstar name and a superstar voice. Nicole Scherzinger admitted she started to cry. Paula Abdul called her a little brilliant gem and a star.
Simon said he would love to see what she is like once she has confidence, and told her he believed she could be a world star 🌟. Four yeses sent Jazzlyn to boot camp, and outside she hugged her family, saying that for the first time she truly felt accepted.
