‘It’s Just Beautiful’: LI Teen Makes ‘Idol’ Top 20

KO OLINA, HI. — Massapequa native Jesse Findling has cleared another hurdle in his race for “American Idol” glory, surviving a cut Monday night that trimmed the field to just 20 contestants after the competition show’s “Ohana Round.”

Singing at the Aulani Resort in Ko Olina, HI, Findling took a page out of one of his own idols, performing Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” and getting rave reviews on the broadcast.

It was the second time in as many weeks that the Massapequa teen managed to wow the judges on ABC, with former "Idol" winner Carrie Underwood offering effusive praise.

“It’s honest, and it’s real, and it’s believable, and it’s just beautiful,” “Idol” judge Carrie Underwood said.

In January, Findling told Patch that Sheeran had been an inspiration to him.

“Ed Sheeran, his story was always inspiring, he had a stutter when he was young,” Findling said. “He’s been super open about that, so to have an inspiration who dealt with the same thing that I did when I was young, being able to look up to somebody like that, was awesome. And I hope I can be that for young people who have stutters and speech impediments at home, watching me.”

Monday night, Findling called the “Idol” run, “the craziest experience of [his] life,” noting that, “now it is up to America’s vote.”

Findling will continue his run on “American Idol” next week with another performance in Hawai’i, in an episode featuring country music star Brad Paisley and singer-actor Keke Palmer, Disney announced. The top 20 will sing across the next two episodes of the program, with Palmer serving as a guest panel judge on both.