On Sunday, “American Idol” contestant Ronda Felton performed the “Dreamgirls”’ “One Night Only,” and it was such a beautiful performance that the “I Call It Love” singer, Lionel Richie, couldn’t hold back his emotions.
Before the performance, Felton recounted her difficult childhood, which included the pain of growing up homeless, moving between shelters, cars and couches alongside her mother, Juretha Jones.
As the 19-year-old recalled her experience, she was moved to tears and offered a tissue by Richie. However, tables soon turned when Felton started singing, as it was Richie who now needed a tissue.
Making A Way
Felton sang the previously performed song by Jennifer Hudson in a soulful tune that brought the roof of the house down.
After the rendition, Richie was candid, and he told the young lady that she managed to do what no one else could that night, and that was “touch him to the point of making him cry.”
The “Hello” singer added that when life happens, we try to get a solution and find a way out, and God will provide a proverbial crack in the wall, a way to get through the challenge.
Road To Stardom
Using the analogy, Richie announced that Felton just got her “crack” in the wall. With a unanimous “Yes” from the other judges, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry. Richie then announced that Felton is on her way to Hollywood. Excited, Felton rushed outside to hug her mother.
Richie couldn’t hold back his tears once again as Felton’s mom also began to cry and started singing “Zoom” by the Commodores to celebrate the moment.
The former Commodore then recited the lyrics to the mom’s song before breaking into a sing-along.
Taking A Moment’s Pause
After the moment passed, Richie disclosed the sentimental meaning behind the song he helped write in 1977.
He shared that he never thought he’d have to explain how he wrote the song. He also mentioned that he was distraught when he was writing the music as he had no direction.
He continued that hearing the song gave Felton and her mother hope when they were going through the most challenging part of their lives is the greatest gift he has ever received.
Richie’s Controversial Relationship
Richie recently went viral on Twitter as fans went into a tizzy when they calculated the age difference between him and his girlfriend, Lisa Parigi.
The photo of the couple cuddling caught users’ attention online as Richie was 71, and Parigi, a lifestyle blogger is in her 30s.
As expected, online users had many opinions about the age differences, although they have allegedly been together since 2014. One user wrote, “40 years age gap, as she was 0 and he was 40 lol?.”