Claudia Conway reformulates her narrative – using her own voice to navigate the turbulent waters of online infamy.
The first official “American Idol” contest of the troubled teenager TikTok came with her own cheering team for one woman: her mother, former Trump administration spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway.
Claudia seemed to have taken the previous advice of Judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie to silence all the “negativity around her” so that she could focus on her vocal potential – and what she she wanted to get out of her suddenly high existence.
The 16-year-old, with curly hair, told viewers on Sunday that she feels it is “the most important thing in the world” to establish her own identity – through music. With her proud mother, who cheered her up, she then continued to give up a passionate rendition of “River” by Bishop Briggs during her Genre Challenge show for Hollywood Week.
A trio of judges approved – and moved Claudia to the next round, while her mother picked up burnt ham slowly, like any other crazy-proud parent in the audience.
The revelatory performance of the New Jersey high school student came after it was reported that ABC was in “crisis mode” in front of the profile TikTok teenager, attracting attention from other competitors. Rumors spread after her initial appearance was categorized as “exploitative” as she appeared to capitalize on her serious fights with 54-year-old mother Kellyanne, which included a police investigation after a nude photo of her daughter. was posted on social networks in January.
However, the famous social media star reached the second round after a tough audition in February, in which she wore a weak bandana and shook a devastating interpretation of Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain”. Judge Katy Perry immediately interrupted Conway’s first attempt, telling him to slip out of his shiny stilettos and try another tone.
“You need to calm the storm around you,” Perry warned at the time, “because if you sing like you want to read social media comments afterwards, you’ll ever be a TikTok star.”
Claudia continued to redeem herself with an interpretation of Adele’s “When We Were Young,” proudly moving her father – 57-year-old anti-Trump lawyer George Conway – to tears in time. what he was listening to right in front of the auditorium. “He likes music,” he said, choking in February. “I’m glad to see her here doing this.”
But Mom showed up for her daughter in Sunday’s episode, offering unsolicited singing advice (“that was a little flat”) that Claudia politely refused with a series of eye rolls before her mother suffocated her in celebratory hugs. post-performance.
Kellyanne – who appears to have a multi-million dollar book business in the works – even threw a few bars from Alicia Keys’ 2012 “Girl on Fire” anthem to cheer up her little girl.
