Alexis Jones and Brandon McLean, both Lumbee, recorded themselves 30 minutes before their audition in front of judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. It’s about 20 degrees near Lake Coeur d’Alene in northern Idaho. They just finished rehearsing along with filming and doing other side hustles. You can see their nerves and excitement in the 56-second back and forth, pump-up video on Facebook.
“We’re about to sing in front of the judges. Oh my god. This is it,” said McLean. “Girl, I’m so ready. I’m excited.”
“The energy is amazing,” said Jones, who is also a self-taught makeup artist. “This is what we’ve been praying and dreaming for for a long time. And it’s happening.”
“I had to fight,” said McLean.
Both are contestants on Season 2 of American Idol, a reality singing TV series hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Many consider this season 17, however it is season 2 because the first 15 seasons showed on Fox. Now the show is on ABC.
Their Facebook profiles and fan pages show promotion of their journeys individually and as a team as they auditioned together. In one photo, Jones is singing and McLean is playing the piano.
Jones’s publicist said her audition “will not be featured in the first few episodes, however.” That includes tonight’s premiere. So Indian Country, you will have to come back come back each time to see when the duo performs and if they win the golden ticket.
At the 5 minute and 5 second mark of the preview video, you can see the team side by side and McLean celebrating.
Wondering what Jones sounds like? Here’s a preview.
The show returns tonight at 8:00 p.m. EST. on ABC with a premiere show. A new show will air Wednesday, March 6 at 8:00 p.m. EST.
The first four weeks of the show will be auditions, each show will be two hours long airing every Sunday and Monday.
The top 50 will compete on April 1. The top 24, which will be divided into two groups, will battle on April 7 and 8, and April 14 and 15.
Viewers can vote and advance the artists during the live performances in each week in April. So set your DVR and/or reminder starting tonight until the final show on May 20. The full schedule can be viewed below.
You can follow their journeys closely on Facebook: Alexis Raena and Brandon J. McLean/Kyng Bea.
AMERICAN IDOL FULL SCHEDULE (tentative), according to Gold Derby:
Sunday, March 3 – Auditions
Wednesday, March 6 – Auditions
Sunday, March 10 – Auditions
Sunday, March 17 – Auditions
Monday, March 18 – Auditions
Sunday, March 24 – Hollywood Week
Monday, March 25 – Hollywood Week
Sunday, March 31 – Top 50
Monday, April 1 – Top 20
Sunday, April 7 – Top 20: Group 1
Monday, April 8 – Top 20: Group 2
Sunday, April 14 – Top 14
Monday, April 15 – Top 14 results
Sunday, April 21 – Top 10
Sunday, April 28 – Top 8
Sunday, May 5 – Top 6
Sunday, May 12 – Top 4
Sunday, May 19 – Finale
Monday, May 20 – Results
Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Diné, is a reporter/producer for Indian Country Today in Washington, D.C. Follow her on Twitter:@jourdanbb. Email: jbennett-begaye@indiancountrytoday.com