American Idol: Mississippi Student Gets Through Unanimously with Self-Written Song about Sin Struggles

A high school student from Mississippi amazed American Idol judges with her voice when she sang an original song about struggling with sin.

“The songs I write, they’re about personal things, things I been through, just things that I’ve witnessed,” Jennifer Jeffries, 17, said during the episode on Sunday, March 3. “I write them so people can connect with them and know they’re not alone because a lot happens in your life, a lot of pain but a lot of joy. So I try to capture both.”

Although she told judges that auditioning for American Idol has “been mentioned to me a lot,” she felt unsure if she was “good enough.” She also thought that the video she sent in would not be seen but it was, Church Leaders reports.

Jeffries’ mom, Sheila, had videos of family members singing songs that her daughter wrote when she was nine. Jeffries commended her family for being “so supportive,” saying, “They’re like my backbone.”

Jeffries then performed her original song “Change My Ways” in front of American Idol judges, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan.

“I’ve got a Bible on my desk / With no highlights, creases / Oh, pages are still crisp,” Jeffries began.”

“I have been feeding the flesh,
I have been living in sin.
My mouth’s been running wild,
And I’ve been acting like a wild child,” the song continued.

As the song progresses, Jeffries sings that she is devoted to praising God for the rest of her life: “I’ve finally changed / Lord, make your ways my ways.”

“I’ve got a Bible in my hands / With faded pages / And highlighted paragraphs,” the song concludes.

In response, the judges shared how impressed they were by Jeffries’ voice.

“I was not expecting that voice,” Bryan said, noting that it was the first time the judges heard a voice that was “amazingly unique.”

“What I’m in love with is your uniqueness,” Richie told Jeffries.

Perry pointed out that Jeffries has a “unique grit… it’s so Mississippi.”

Bryan depicted the young singer’s voice as an “indie film soundtrack voice,” while Perry said “It’s so raw.” She added, “I can hear that diamond in the rough-ness.”

The pop star also asked Jeffries if “Jennifer Jeffries” was her real name. When Jeffries answered in the affirmative, Perry said, “Names are not an accident. That is your soul right there, and your soul done named you for stardom.”

She subsequently gave her yes for Jeffries to go to Hollywood, followed by Richie and Bryan.

“I’m at a loss of words right now! I cannot express how thankful i am to be going to HOLLYWOOD!!!! LETS GOOOOO WE GOT THE GOLDEN TICKET,” Jeffries wrote on Instagram Sunday night.

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.

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