Watch the 'American Idol' Platinum Ticket Audition That Lionel Richie Calls 'Divine Guidance'
Now American Idol is sharing the audition that earned the 23-year-old Egyptian-born singer the honor.
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Filo, who is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific, performed Otis Redding's 'Try a Little Tenderness,' while his mother Haidi, who wants him to get a medical degree even if he wins Idol, stood outside with Ryan crying for happiness.
Filo began his music career playing Shrek in his eighth-grade musical. He's come a long way since.
'Yes, indeed. We've been waiting for you. What took you so long to get here,' Lionel asked Filo. 'That was amazing.'
'Born to sing,' Luke said, and was interrupted by Carrie, saying, 'You ain't going to be no doctor. Tell mama she was wrong…no don't say that. She's just looking out for you. Three notes in, in my brain, I just thought 'Holy, Shrek,' just wow! That was really fantastic.'
Then Luke picked up what he was trying to say earlier, 'You're definitely going to go far in this, in my opinion. Definitely Top 20. Maybe Top 10. It's perfect in my opinion.'
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And Lionel added, 'I am just so happy that the universe has directed you to the three of us at American Idol. That's divine guidance right there.'
'I am so excited for you,' Carrie said, and then cast her vote. 'It's a yes from me.' Both Luke and Lionel also chimed in with yeses.
'You deserved it, you work very, very hard,' Haidi told her son when they were reunited. 'We never, never expect this, so thank God for this gift.'
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As mentioned, that audition was filmed prior to New Year's Eve but we also have a look at the New Year's Rockin' Eve segment where Ryan and Carrie upgraded Filo from Gold to Platinum.
'Every season, the judges get to do something special for three outstanding hopefuls who give spectacular auditions. The judges can upgrade a Golden Ticket to a coveted Platinum Ticket, which allows that person to skip the first week of Hollywood Week.'
Then Carrie made the presentation to Filo, who was shocked.
"Oh, my God! What?" Filo exclaimed. "What just happened? This is insane!"
American Idol airs Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Streams next day on Hulu.
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