SEBASTIAN — Many thousands of people drove near and far to sing in front of the American Idol judges this season. After weeding through hundreds and hundreds of auditions, only 30 contestants will remain after this week. Sebastian native Kristen O’Connor is one of them.
O’Connor is a graduate of Sebastian River High School and the University of Central Florida nursing school.
Though she has been employed as a nurse, she will be trading the florescent lights of the hospital for the spotlight on the American Idol stage as competition heats up and gets down to the nitty gritty.
O’Connor has described the stage as a place where she feels at home, but the journey of American Idol, as one filled with emotional ups and downs.
“[Hollywood] week, was the most intense week of my entire life,” O’Connor said on the show.
Though she was admittedly wary of her group performance, O’Connor told the judges she thought her individual performances were strong.
For her final appearance on stage prior to advancing to the Top 30, O’Connor sang Katy Perry’s “Unconditional” and, according to the judges’ reactions, she nailed it.
With only 15 females and 15 males left in the competition after tomorrow, America will watch as week after week, O’Connor and her fellow contestants sing for the title of the next American Idol.
American Idol airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays, beginning at 8 p.m. EST.