Loudoun County Student Earns Spot In Hollywood On American Idol

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A Loudoun County teen has punched her ticket to Hollywood on American Idol.

Lillian Hackett, a 17-year-old Lovettsville resident and student at Loudoun County's Woodgrove High School, advanced in the singer competition after auditions in Nashville. As Woodgrove High School's student publication The Woodgrove Outlander reported, Hackett got to audition in late 2023. It started with a virtual audition on Zoom. Then she got the chance to perform in front of American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry.

Hackett performed her original song "Tennessee" during the audition, earning her the golden ticket to continue her American Idol journey.

"I think there's just something real artistic about you that I like," Bryan told Hackett in the audition video.

According to her website, Hackett is a singer-songwriter with a focus on New Americana music and draws inspiration from Patsy Cline, Gillian Welch and Bob Dylan. She released the song "Tennessee" as a single on March 15.

Hackett has performed at local places like wineries, breweries, farmers markets, barn dances and Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, according to The Woodgrove Outlander. She will be performing again at Tally Ho Theater with Low Water Bridge Band on Saturday, April 6.