X Factor and Eurovision alum Michael Rice covers Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Because of You’ and dedicates to late father
During his American Idol audition, Michael Rice, from Hartlepool England, shared about his very difficult childhood.
His dad wasn’t around when he was young, he told judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan in a new preview from Sunday’s episode. And then when Michael was 17, just after they’d rekindled their relationship, his dad passed away.
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Not many people get out of the small coastal town where he grew up, Michael shared. “It’s a hard life,” he admitted. “My mom’s worked so hard putting a roof over our heads growing up,” Michael stated revealing she was only 17 when she had him. His dad had a drug addiction and “wasn’t around,” Michael said. That is, until they reunited when the singer was 17. But sadly, not long after that, his father died after a heart attack, “related to the drugs.”
Michael dedicated Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Because of You’ to his late father
Still, in the short time Michael got to know his Dad, he shared that he was proud of his son for singing. Michael chose to perform “Because of You” by Kelly Clarkson for the judges. “The song means so much to me,” Michael said. “It reminds me of my Dad. I hope I do him proud.” He wished his dad was still alive to see him now.
After Michael poured his heart into his performance, displaying a powerful tenor voice, the panel gave him a standing ovation and a huge group hug. “That was the most emotional and giving cry you had,” said Lionel. “And when you hit ‘because of you’ I couldn’t hold anything back.” Luke added, “You acted like somebody who flew from a long way away to come here and prove to the world what you have. You just sang your a** off.”
“We have a lot of people who come in here and tell us things that are really horrible and tragic,” said Katy. “But rarely do they then follow it up with telling their story through a song that someone else wrote like they wrote it themselves.” She continued, “I watched you die, I heard you cry.” She went on to note his “big ole voice and…beautiful personality.”
All three judges say yes to Hollywood, of course.
At 16, Michael competed on the X Factor UK, followed by winning ‘All Together Now’ and representing the UK on Eurovision
Michael’s reunion with his father may have been prompted by his appearance on another television talent show. He competed on The X Factor UK season 11 at 16. But the show cut him during the Bootcamp round. Additionally, he competed on All Together Now season 1 in 2018 and WON the competition. Next, in 2019, he represented the UK in Eurovision where he finished in last place with his song “Bigger Than Us,” which has over 6.7 million streams on Spotify.
American Idol airs on ABC Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT and streams next day on Hulu.
