A Nanaimo teen singer has a golden ticket that gives her a chance to be the next American Idol.

Lauren Spencer-Smith, 16, received unanimous approval from judges following her tryout on an audition episode of the reality TV show American Idol on ABC on Sunday night.

The teen performed a cover of P!nk鈥檚 What About Us? for judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, and the celebrities agreed they wanted her to advance to the next stage of the competition.

Richie called Spencer-Smith gifted well beyond her age and praised her 鈥渁mazing鈥� control.

鈥淎s much as I want to critique, I just think you did a great job,鈥� he said. 鈥淗onest to goodness, you just continue going down that road and you could make something happen on this show.鈥�

Bryan told Spencer-Smith her voice is 鈥渟uper interesting,鈥� with tone that has judges intrigued, and Perry agreed.

鈥淚 think you have so much to work with and I think we can help you carve out who you want to be as an artist, what kind of music you want to do, if you want,鈥� Perry said.

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Also on Sunday鈥檚 episode, Spencer-Smith had a chance to talk about where she鈥檚 from.

鈥淰ancouver Island is not too big of an Island, not that many people,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 a very little girl with a huge dream and that American Idol will help me achieve that dream in so many different ways.鈥�

She said it鈥檚 exciting to be moving on from the audition to the Hollywood portion of the show, and said it was surreal to have had the opportunity to sing for the celebrity judges.

鈥淛ust their mentoring and their wisdom is going to help me shape the artist I want to be and help me become something that I鈥檝e been dreaming of my whole life.鈥�

American Idol airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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