Gianna Isabella, a 15-year-old from Jackson, N.J., who is also the daughter of '80s freestyle singer Brenda K. Starr, earned herself a golden ticket during Wednesday night's "American Idol" auditions in Philadelphia, Billboard reported. Judge Jennifer Lopez was surprised by a blast from the past and was reunited with Starr during the episode of Fox's hit reality singing competition show.
Gianna walked into the judges' room and introduced herself as Starr's daughter. She asked if Lopez remembered her mom, and Lopez responded, "I know Brenda from back in the day!"
Starr grew up in Manhattan and attended the same dance studio as Lopez, she explained in her on camera interview, and she got emotional when discussing how proud she is of her daughter. Starr is best known for her 1988 hit "I Still Believe."
She gave her daughter a pep talk before her audition, and the teen blew the judges away with her soulful rendition of "House of the Rising Sun," the 1964 hit by British rockers The Animals.
"Good job sweetie, your mommy would be proud," Lopez told Gianna before asking her to invite her mom into the judges' room.
Lopez greeted Starr with a hug, and the women reminisced about their time together at the dance studio. Judge Keith Urban gave Starr his seat so she could stay for the voting, and judge Harry Connick Jr. asked Starr what she thought about her daughter.
"I think she's amazing, she's my best friend," Starr said, getting emotional.
"You're going to make me cry, stop it!" Lopez said.
Connick handed Starr the golden ticket to Hollywood, which she then handed to her daughter.
"She did really good mama," Lopez said, hugging Starr. "She sounded really great. You can tell she's your daughter."
Watch Gianna's full "American Idol" audition clip below.
