Another season of American Idol has brought us another talented local on the show, as Raeford resident Elijah Mccormick is in the Top 26!
The talent has been clear in this one from the audition round, on, as the 21-year-old Mccormick has wowed judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. But it was his inspirational story that was even more powerful.
“High school is when I really fell in love with music,” Mccormick, who is an ophthalmologist technician, told the American Idol judges during his audition. I just kind of got lost in it, you know.”
But Mccormick was involved in a car accident on graduation day in 2019, with the car catching on fire. Mccormick – a Pinecrest graduate – had to essentially start over.
I had to learn to walk again, learn to talk again, you know,” Mccormick told the judges. “The last thing I remember was dropping my friend off at her house. And I was only a mile away from home.”
Elijah’s mom, Teshauana, told the story about how scared she was after getting the phone call. Watch his audition video below, where she tells the story, and you’ll cry right along with us for sure.
After extensive surgeries and lots of recovery, the family wasn’t sure if Mccormick would be able to sing again. But sing again he did.
He admitted that his mother had signed him up for the show before the accident ever happened, which Katy Perry was shocked by. “So you’re just here fulfilling your destiny,” Perry said. “This was always meant to be.”
Here’s a look at the journey for Elijah Mccormick on American Idol so far this year:
Hollywood Week - Platinum Ticket
Elijah was so inspiring that he got voted for a Platinum Ticket to start the Hollywood Week round. He joined three other performers, who were given Platinum Tickets from the judges, in being able to skip the first rounds of elimination in Hollywood Week.
Elijah Mccormick with Matt Wilson and Haven Madison during Hollywood Week on American Idol
