Jennifer Jeffries received a unanimous yes from American Idol judges during her audition last week. With a unique and soulful voice, the 17-year-old from Starkville performed an original song entitled “Change My Ways.”
“When they called my name and I walked into the room with Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, I just couldn’t believe it. I thought, is this real? I was nervous to perform an original song; it was risky, but I’m so glad I did,” Jeffries shared.
“My song is like a testimony story. One day, I was just sitting in my room, and I looked over at my desk. The first words were, ‘I’ve got a Bible on my desk, with no highlights, creases, and pages that are still crisp.’ I thought I had not done my best at putting God at the center of my life. I need to do better, and then, I just kept writing.”
Jeffries is the youngest of nine children, and music runs in the family.
“Everyone plays piano or guitar. Some of us took lessons, others learned by ear, and we all learned from each other,” Jeffries continued. “My siblings have been my biggest cheerleaders. They’ve gone from watching me perform in the living room as a young girl to watching me on TV. They’re so excited for me.”
Being from the Birthplace of America’s Music, Jeffries shared her love of Mississippi and its influence on her as a musician.
“Mississippi is a great place to grow up as a musician. It’s a great place to grow up, even if you’re not. We have so many fantastic artists from Mississippi,” she said.
One recent artist who has inspired and influenced the American Idol contestant is Colin Stough. Stough, from Gattman, made it to the top three last season.
“Seeing another artist from a small town in Mississippi like that inspired me and made me think maybe I could do that too,” Jeffries said.
Auditioning for American Idol has always been on Jeffries’s mind, but she shared that she lacked the courage to do it.
“I kept asking myself, could I do this? I really want to do this,” she said. “Then this past July, on a church mission trip to Virginia, we were singing in the church house, and this lady turned around and said, ‘I don’t know who you are, but you need to go on American Idol.’ I felt like that was my sign.”
“My confidence and faith have grown so much through this process. The judges and their feedback have been incredible, and honestly, I’m still in shock. I’m very thankful for this opportunity”
Jeffries is undoubtedly a diamond in the rough, with a voice and a name made for stardom.
“I don’t think I fully understood the impact music can have on people until now,” Jeffries concluded.
With a golden ticket and an original song that has resonated with countless listeners, Mississippi’s Jennifer Jeffries is already a star.
