Bristow Musician Earns Ticket to Hollywood in American Idol

Photo Courtesy 19 Entertainment

Bristow musician and Chapel Springs Church Vocal Leader, Michaelah Burns, auditioned for Fox’s American Idol and won a golden ticket to Hollywood, the next stage in the competition.

Burns sang an original song titled "This is Goodbye" and played the guitar in her audition and received a ‘yes’ from judges, Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez, and Keith Urban. She will continue on in early February when the competition moves on to Hollywood.

Burns has been singing all her life and has been involved in a multitude of competitions and performances. From high school competitions to competing across the nation, Burns rose to the top and took home many winning titles.

“I’ve been singing since I could; it’s always been my thing and very quickly became my passion. My sophomore year of high school I won ‘Sing! Blue Springs,’ which was an American Idol style singing competition for high schoolers in the area. Later that year, I also won first place in a competition known as ‘KC Super Star.’ I then went on to win first in the nation for Female Vocal Solo in the Assembly of God Fine Arts competition,” she said.

Afterwards, Burns worked to refine her skills and further her singing career, and in doing so, became more than just a singer.

“I began to find my own sound, I challenged myself, worked day and night to stretch myself, and was constantly trying to improve,” she said, “After all of this, I was really able to find myself as an artist rather than just a singer.”

Through singing and song-writing, Burns hopes to reach and help others by singing about serious issues that affect many people.

“For some reason, singing is a way of breaking through the walls we put up. Music attaches itself to your emotions; you can change your entire outlook on something, just by one song,” she said. "This is why I write and sing songs against suicide, depression, a lack of self-worth, feelings of hopelessness and loneliness."

Helping others is something Burns enjoys and her singing abilities have allowed her to reach a greater audience.

“Because it’s music, people listen. It gives me the ability to reach people I don’t even know,” Burns said, “There are things I can say to people through music that they would never even begin to let in if I told them face to face. That’s why I love singing; it’s how I was made to help make a difference.”

At Chapel Springs Church, Burns not only leads worship during services, but also teaches vocal lessons during the week.

“I’ve been blessed with wonderful mentors who have opened my eyes to ministry in music. I get to take what I know and use it to help others reach their goals in singing. I get to see people stretch themselves, learn new things, and watch them become artists. One of my dreams has become helping others reach theirs, and this is the perfect place for me to do that,” she said.

As Burns continues her singing career, she hopes to use her voice and her music to lead people to religion.

“I don’t want to be anyone’s idol. All I want is for people to see Jesus; when I sing, I want people to see through me; I want people to be so blinded by the light that is in me that I fade into the background,” she said.