Carnie Wilson, known for her musical career with the trio Wilson Phillips, was recently overcome by an unexpected wave of sentiment. She was there when her daughter, Lola Bonfiglio, auditioned for American Idol. Nervous as a mother hen, Wilson was all ears as her little one stepped on stage. Lola, an aspiring singer with a double pedigree in music, performed her original song “Waiting on Myself to Die” and Kacey Musgraves’ “Rainbow,” earning unanimous praise from the judges.
Lola’s audition was a huge success—her clear, booming voice captured the attention of the judges. The real judges—Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan—could not believe their ears. Post-performance, Lola was given valuable constructive criticism from the panel. They unanimously awarded her an audition “yes,” sending her through to the next round of auditions! All 4 judges were amazed by her phenomenal skill level and voted to put Lola in Hollywood week. This moment is a big breakthrough in her early career.
The audition took a delightful turn when Lola performed alongside her family, including her famous mother and the Wilson sisters. Combined, they delivered a tapestry of harmonies with what has become a timeless Wilson Phillips classic “Hold On,” shocking the judges who didn’t know they were there!
“I’m so proud of her, and they asked us to sing, you know, so we came and crashed the party. I don’t think that Lionel and Carrie Underwood and Luke knew we were gonna be there, so that was fun.” – Wilson
There was a lot of excitement in the air, but Wilson took a step back. He remembered the burdens that accompany public life, revealing a truth about our shared human experience. While calling out the glamour with which we often idolize fame, she brought home the fact that there are lives behind the headlines.
“I just want people to understand that it’s not all these happy glitter things. We’re real people with hearts and souls.” – Wilson
Lola’s journey on American Idol serves not only as a testament to her talent but highlights the support and love from her family. Now that Lola is making it through to Hollywood week, she has the dreams and hopes of herself, her family, and this small community on her shoulders.
