HOLLISTER, Calif.- Hollister native Jesaiah Baer is headed to Hollywood with big dreams. On Wednesday night, Jesaiah was featured on American Idol after she tried out at the Long Beach auditions in September. We sat down with Jesaiah while the episode aired and found out all about her experience.
Jazz, rock and her family. 16-year-old Jesaiah Baer said her three inspirations have gotten her past the first and second rounds of auditions in this season of American Idol.
"I'm just grateful that I'm here right now. I'm past the first level for the celebrity auditions. I'm grateful for that cause that's a huge accomplishment for me," said Jesaiah Baer.
A big accomplishment that didn't come without some drama. The fire alarm went off during her audition on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. But Jesaiah said she's been singing since she was five in local performances all over the Central Coast and she's used to thinking on her feet.
"I just love music, everything's about music," Jesaiah said.
Now she's a junior at San Benito High in Hollister and also sings with her band Smith Alley. But national television? A dream she's had planned out for a long time. Jesaiah said if she can do "Valley Teen Idol", she's ready for the real thing.
"If I can do San Ramon Idol, maybe I can do American Idol and here I am!" Jesaiah said.
She said meeting people from all over the country is exciting and inspiring.
"You're in a line with a lot of people and they're all going there to do one thing and accomplish one goal and that's to win the competition," Jesaiah said.
Jesaiah seeing Mariah, Nikki, Randy and Keith in person was surreal.
"I'm a little nervous. I think, I'm gonna have to step up my game because apparently there's going to be a lot more girls in this competition this year," Jesaiah said.
The episode where Jesaiah heads to Hollywood for her next audition in front of the American Idol judges aires in just 2 weeks.
