The Story Behind A Westchester Teen's Tender American Idol Moment

POUND RIDGE, NY — Earning a "Platinum Ticket" to Hollywood for the American Idol competition would be a dream come true for any fledgling singer, but for 15-year-old Fox Lane High School sophomore Kaylin Hedges, it's what happened moments earlier that was truly momentous.

On last Sunday's episode (Season 6, Episode 2) of American Idol, Hedges auditioned for judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan. The emotional segment was filled with surprises, including the judges arranging a visit from her father, Sgt. First Class Jeffrey Hedges, who has been deployed overseas and was not expected home until 2024.

And, spoiler alert, the Pound Ridge teen earned her audition town's sole Platinum Ticket, giving her a leg up as the storied singing competition moves to Hollywood.

Though she admits country music isn't her forte, the young singer-songwriter told Patch that the song she chose for her audition, "I'm Already There," by Lonestar spoke to her in a deeply personal way.

"I was driving in the car with my mom — well, she was driving because I'm not old enough to drive — and this song comes on," Hedges explained. "And I think, this is the song for my audition. It was almost like it was about my life. I didn't pick it because I thought it would be the best way to showcase my singing, but because of the emotional connection."

It turns out her instincts were spot on, and her choice of music built to an emotional moment shared by millions at home.

Hedges said that an episode of American Idol she saw when she was just 3 years old helped create the transformative opportunity.

"I was watching on TV and I said to my mom and dad, 'I can sing better than them, because I sing with my heart,'" Hedges recounted. "I don't think anyone sings any better than anyone else anymore, but I still sing with my heart."

Perhaps it was because the song she chose was so close to her heart, but it is clear from her performance that her 3-year-old self would have been proud.

In a video segment that aired before her audition, Hedges said, "I've loved music ever since I was tiny. I used to sing at all the county fairs. And from that I started discovering, 'Oh, I really like this.' My parents took notice of that, and they started to notice how many opportunities there were in places like New York, and they were like, 'How do we get there?' And then my dad came home one day and was like, 'I got a way that we can get there but that means I have to deploy.'"

Hedges explained that although her dad's selflessness led her down a path that might realize her dreams, the sacrifice hasn't been easy on the family.

"It was really scary because he had to deploy to dangerous places in order for me to be able to pursue music in New York, where I got to do all these school musicals and plays and stuff, but he did it and we got there," Hedges added. "I don't get to see my dad very often, physically, in person. He's had to miss a lot of things. He has missed my birthday nine years in a row. It can be hard, but it's OK. He's coming back next year. So, it'll be okay. It'll be good."

For the teen performer, living up to her parents' example has been an inspiration.

"Getting a golden ticket, it would just kind of solidify all the sacrifices weren't for nothing — it would mean a lot," Hedges said before her audition. "Crossing all my fingers and toes."

Hailey Hedges told her daughter right before the audition, "If he could be here right now, he would be so proud of you."

She then added, "You got this."

When Perry asked Hedges who her greatest inspiration was, she nervously giggled and replied, "My dad. He's in the military so he's stationed overseas. He's in the Army. He inspires me so much. I love him. I miss him. I am actually going to sing a song that's to him, 'I'm Already There,' by Lonestar. It's just a song that explains everything that has happened with us being so far away and stuff. I just relate to it a lot."

You can watch her performance below:

During her performance, the judges all smiled and Perry even stood up with an encouraging hand gesture.

After her performance, all three judges stood up while applauding and offering rave reviews. Hedges seemed overwhelmed by their reaction.

"Fifteen," Richie said. "I don't believe it."

Perry said, "That big old voice and that small body."

"She's got a big voice," Bryan said, "You did a great job. To be 15 and to be navigating like you are. To navigate your falsettos. I got a little scared because you were using falsetto a lot and I was like, 'Oh my God, she's not going to be able to go big — oh, she just went big. She's got a big voice.'"

Before the judges voted, Perry told Hedges that she had a video message from her father and asked her to come closer to an iPad to see it.

"It's your dad. I miss and love you very much," Sgt. Hedges said in the video message. "I wanted to tell you that I have nothing but pride and admiration for you. I know I've missed many holidays, birthdays and major life events for you, but I just want you to know that no matter where I am, I'm already there. So, take a look around."

"I'm already there. Take a look around," was actually a lyric in the Lonestar song that Hedges had just performed.

"That's insane," Kaylin said, clearly overcome by emotion. "I didn't know he did that."

The judges then encouraged Hedges to actually take a look around and she did. When she saw her dad standing right behind her, she said "Oh my God! Stop!" and ran right into his arms.

Meanwhile, Kaylin's mom, Hailey Hedges was backstage with Ryan Seacrest. She wondered what was going on out there and what all the screaming was all about.

When Hedges said that she thought something had been up when she heard her mom whispering a lot, the judges then told her that her mom didn't know. The teen quickly went backstage to bring her mom out and then she was also surprised to see her husband.

Richie exclaimed, "We did it twice!"

And there was one more surprise in store.

"We've decided to take this up another notch," Perry said. "Everybody's been walking out with a Gold Ticket, but there's one Platinum Ticket. Only one person in each city gets the Platinum Ticket and we've decided that you're getting the Platinum Ticket. That Platinum Ticket means you're going to Hollywood, and you get to sit it out for the first round."

This was only the second platinum ticket awarded this season.

"You're 15 years old and singing like Streisand," Richie told Hedges.

Perry then told Sgt. Hedges, "I hope I raised my daughter so that she speaks like that about me."

"I'm overwhelmed," he replied. "It's amazing to see."

Afterwards, Hailey Hedges told Seacrest, "I'm so overwhelmed. I'm just trying not to cry."

The air date of Kaylin Hedges' next step in her American Idol journey hasn't been released yet. In the meantime, you can catch the rising Hudson Valley star as Wednesday Addams in Fox Lane's upcoming Spring Musical, now in rehearsals.

American Idol airs on Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Previously aired episodes can be watched on Hulu or FuboTV.