SA Teen’s Performance Impresses American Idol Judges, Earns Ticket to Hollywood

During his audition, South African teenager Stefan Benz wowed judges on American Idol with his performance of Brian McKnight’s One Last Cry. Judge Katy Perry was so impressed that she even spoke a few words in Afrikaans, the native language of Benz. Perry asked him how to say “you’re going to Hollywood” in Afrikaans, to which Benz replied, “Jy gaan Hollywood toe!” which Perry repeated excitedly as reported by African Insider.

Benz, who moved from Centurion to the US to pursue his dream, posted a video of his audition on social media. As a result, he received a lot of love and support from South African celebrities such as Siv Ngesi, Ramey Short, and Cornal Hendricks.

“I got the @americanidol #goldenticket. See you in Hollywood!! Thank you everyone for all the love and support. I see all the comments, posts, tags, and my journey is just beginning. Let’s get it!! 🎫✨🎵,” said Benz in a social media post where he posed with his golden ticket.

Benz also mentioned in an interview with IOL that auditioning for American Idol, getting a golden ticket, and advancing to Hollywood Week felt like a significant step in the right direction for his career.

The young South African’s success on American Idol has made him a rising star and allowed him to showcase his talent to a global audience.

Picture: Instagram / @stefanbenzofficial