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Gabby Samone lit up the American Idol stage during her time on the beloved reality singing competition. Judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie instantly recognized the 22-year-old’s star power and delivered “yes” votes during auditions. However, just one of the three American Idol judges gave Samone a special pep talk.

Gabby Samone’s viral time on ‘American Idol’

Soulful hits spotlighted Gabby Samone’s time on American Idol. The judges were so moved by her performance of Nina Simone’s “Four Women” that she bypassed the Head-to-Head round entirely and advanced straight to the Top 24. The Baltimore native continued to garner acclaim with songs like Mariah Carey‘s “Hero” and “A Song For You” by Donny Hathaway.

Sadly, Samone’s run ended on Disney Night after performances of “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana and “Home” from The Wiz. While judges praised her vocal clarity and artistry, the votes weren’t enough to carry her into the Top 5. Samone’s journey wasn’t just marked by the judges’ praise, however. Superstars like Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson, and Celine Dion rallied behind the vocalist, offering encouragement and sharing her music on social media.

Gabby Samone received a special pep talk from Lionel Richie

Samone told Showbiz Cheat Sheet that the judges provided “a lot of constructive criticism” throughout her time on American Idol. Lionel Richie gave her and a few other contestants a special “pep talk.”

“After a certain point of the show, [Richie] was like, ‘You have a career, so start acting like it. It’s about hard work from here on out,'” Samone explained. “Even if we get eliminated, ‘You’re still gonna be okay. You’re still a star. Just keep on working.'” The rising talent said that advice — “keep working hard” — is what she took most from the American Idol experience.

“I can’t front and say that it wasn’t intimidating [to hear that I have a career now],” Samone continued. “Because I know the industry is just a lot of work. And I know there’s a lot of sacrifice in it. But I feel like God has put me in this position for a reason, and he will equip me with everything that I need, so I think I’m ready.”

Wearing a green dress, Gabby Samone sings 'How Far I'll Go' during Disney night on 'American Idol' Season 23
Gabby Samone sings ‘How Far I’ll Go’ during Disney night on ‘American Idol’ Season 23 | Christopher Willard/Disney via Getty Images
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Gabby Samone’s most challenging moment on ‘American Idol’

Being eliminated on national television would be difficult for anyone. So, it makes sense that Samone’s most difficult moment was the one before her American Idol exit. The singer shared that the Disney round was the hardest for her. “The songs are so wordy,” she explained. “We didn’t have teleprompters for songs, so we had to know the words. So that for me was challenging … We had to put the work in.”

Samone pulled back the curtain on performing live on the competition show as she shared that “my nerves sometimes will take over.” She continued, “The sweaty palms, the dry mouth, and then everybody staring at you in the crowd. You didn’t really have any privacy to get yourself together while you wait to get called.” Many factors contributed to those anxious moments, but Samone says the nerves grounded her: “It was just a learning experience.”

After her elimination, Samone took to Instagram to thank her fans, writing, “Thank you all so much for the love and support!!! I am soo grateful to have made it this far! I love you all! … THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING!! #TEAMGABBY.”

Fans can look forward to hearing more from Gabby Samone. The rising star is releasing new music later this summer.

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