Judges felt she performed below her best last night. Sunday’s Top 40 showcase episode in Hawaii featured 19-year-old Trans rendition of How Far I’ll Go from Moana, a 3D computer-animated musical adventure film produced by Walt Disney.
Myra Tran, whose real name Tran Minh Nhu, had showed off her powerful vocal abilities in front of a cheering crowd. Unfortunately, she didn't make it to Top 20. Jugde Luke Bryan said it was a tough song to pull off.
Music legend Lionel Richie said: "We watched you last night and for whatever reason the song you did last night was not 100 percent compared to the competition. Unfortunately, it will not take you to the next phase of this competition."
As Myra burst out in tears, Richie continued, "But we love you very, very much. Don’t let this discourage you, not one bit. We love you to death, okay? I’ll see you back here."
"This is the greatest chance I've ever had. I did not sing good. And now American Idol dream is done," Tran said backstage. She later wrote on her Facebook page that she was very lucky to earn a Top 40 spot.
"One door closes, but another door opens. Each stop is a meaningful milestone for me and this is an unforgettable one," she said.
Earlier this month, Myra Tran had passed the audition round of American Idol, bringing all three judges to their feet and earning massive praise from the likes of Lionel Richie and Katy Perry. Her audition went viral, garnered 16.7 million views on the program’s official Facebook page.
On March 25, she was one of 40 contestants to qualify for the Showcase Round & Final Judgment after a solo performance of Sia’s song Chandelier and team performance of Kelly Clarkson’s hit Stronger in the Hollywood Weeks round.
Myra Tran, who hails from An Giang Province in southern Vietnam, won the 2016 X Factor Vietnam when she was 17. Then she left to study in the U.S., her passion for singing still burning bright.
American Idol is a music talent show founded by Simon Fuller in the U.S. in 2002. The first 15 seasons of the show were aired on Fox channel from 2002 to 2016. Since the last season, it has been aired on ABC channel.
Contestants have to go through the audition rounds, Hollywood Week, Showcase, Top 20, Top 14 and the finals. It is said to be one of the most successful scouting programs in American television history, discovering and promoting many hidden talents.