School shooting survivor’s ‘American Idol’ tryout brings tears
SANTA FE, Texas – An emotional audition on “American Idol” by a survivor of a Texas high school shooting prompted tears and criticism of the country’s response to gun violence.
Trey Louis was one of the students at Santa Fe High School in May 2018 when another student fatally shot 10 people on campus.
After his audition, which aired Sunday, Louis told judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan that wanted to participate in the singing competition was because of the shooting.
“Lost a lot of friends. Eight students were killed. Two teachers were killed. It’s just really been negative, man. Santa Fe has had a bad rap here since 2018,” said Louis, who was in an art class finishing a project when the gunman started firing in a room next door.
Perry began to cry, placing her hands over her face and bowing her head. She then lifted her head and yelled, “Our country has (expletive) failed us.”
“Facts,” Louis said.
“You should be singing here because you love music,” Perry said.
Wiping away tears, Richie said: “We have tolerated this for so long, too long. It’s become a norm.”
Louis told KTRK-TV in Houston that the song he chose for his audition, “Stone” by Whiskey Myers, was in honor of his friend Chris Stone, who was one of the students killed.
The mattress salesman, 21, said he didn’t realize he had a talent for singing until about a year ago when he posted a video online of him singing at work. The video went viral, he said.
Just before the judges unanimously voted to send Louis to the next round in Hollywood, Perry said, “I hope that you remind people that we have to change because you know what, I’m scared, too.”
“We’ve got to change and I hope you can just lead. Can you do me that favor?” Perry said.
“For myself, for my school, for you,” Louis said.