_{By McKinsleigh Smith}

Last week, Utah native Kaibrienne “KB” Richins wowed the judges of American Idol to punch her ticket to Hollywood. Standing in front of famed musicians Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan would rattle most performers, yet Richins stood strong and delivered a unique rendition of Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” that showed off her vocal prowess.

Each of the judges complemented the performance, with comments highlighting her unique singing style, demeanor, and potential for growth. In the end, all three gave Richens their ‘yes’, and presented her with the golden ticket for Hollywood.

Despite coming from “the middle of nowhere” and facing complications from Hashimoto’s disease since childhood, the 20-year-old- Henefer native has found strength and solace though both music and her family. Her father, Justin Jewell Richens, expressed full confidence in his daughter’s abilities as he waited to find out the results and joyfully embraced her once she returned with the good news. The pair have been recording and posting singing-related videos online for several years now, and to make it all the way to American Idol is a dream come true.

You can watch Kaibrienne Richins’s performance and story below! Make sure to follow Kaibrienne Richins on Instagram and watch her journey on American Idol, Sundays at 8pm EST (6pm MST) on ABC and on-demand on Hulu.