American Idol Judges Send North Sider to Hollywood

A 2009 Lane Tech College Prep High School graduate who recently sang for President Barack Obama is now headed west, thanks to a unanimous ruling by all four American Idol judges.

The Idol audition—it took place in Chicago— for Kiara Lanier, 21, aired on national television last week. Lively and gregarious, the young singer chatted with show host Ryan Seacrest about how excited she was to perform for U.S. President Barack Obama during his birthday celebration this past August.

"It was awesome," she told him, adding that she wasn't as nervous as she thought she'd be because of how comfortable she was with the classic song selections. "... I got to shake his hand; we sang happy birthday to him." 

Judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson all applauded Lanier's audition performance; impressed by her voice control while singing Simon & Garfunkel's, Bridge Over Troubled Water.

• Catch Lanier's audition by watching the accompanying YouTube video.

In her time at Lane Tech, Lanier performed with the school's Jazz Ensemble, published her work in the its literary magazine and was a member of the Slam Team. She also performed one of her literary works at Louder Than a Bomb, an annual poetry slam held in the city.