There was no lack of talent or tears during the second week of auditions for season 23 on “American Idol.” The two-hour episode on March 16, 2025, was jam-packed with unique and gifted hopefuls, from singing airport pianist Josh King to Egyptian-born R&B singer Filo, who won the judges’ second platinum ticket.
But the singers who made Carrie Underwood the most emotional during the episode were a little too young to audition for the show. Host Ryan Seacrest surprised the series’ newest judge (and season four winner) with a special performance by the PS22 Chorus — 13 years after she visited them at their elementary school on New York’s Staten Island.
Carrie Underwood Got Choked Up Trying to Sing With PS22 Chorus
While the judges were in New York for auditions, “Idol” producers secretly brought in longtime choir director Gregg Breinberg and his PS22 Chorus, which consists of more than 60 fifth graders from The Graniteville School, known as PS22 in the New York City public school system.
Breinberg has attracted many superstars to visit their class over the years, from Andy Grammer to Charlie Puth. In 2013, Underwood visited the kids in Breinberg’s class to sing her hit song “So Small” with them. In a throwback clip producers aired on the March 16 episode, Underwood told him, “You know what, I wish I had had a music teacher like you.”
Underwood was shocked when Seacrest told her, “Well, we’ve brought Gregg and the current choir from PS22 to see you once again, and they’re going to perform for you this time.”
The children’s choir began to sing “So Small” as Underwood walked outside to watch them, immediately moved as they sang the lyrics, “What you got if you ain’t got love, the kind that you just want to give away. It’s okay to open up, go ahead and let the light shine through. I know it’s hard on a rainy day, You wanna shut the world out and just be left alone, but don’t run out on your faith.”
At a pause in the music, Underwood interjected, “Oh my gosh, it’s so beautiful!” Breinberg then asked the superstar, “You want to join on the chorus like we did, uh, 13 years ago?”
Underwood sang two lines with them, but then had to stop and wipe her tears as the kids finished the song. Breinberg smiled and said, “Brings back good memories, huh?”
“I’m sorry, they got me,” Underwood replied, dabbing her eyes, and he replied, “Cry away! It’s alright!”
She then turned to the kids and, clasping her hands, told them, “Thank you. Oh my gosh, you guys just gave me the biggest gift.
‘American Idol’ Viewers Touched by Carrie Underwood Getting So Emotional With PS22 Kids
Seacrest then walked out next to Underwood and told the choir of kids, “It’s important to dream, right? It’s important to think about big, great things that can happen in your life. And you can accomplish those things! You can do that when you dream about them and think about it.”
“You did it,” he said, turning to Underwood, and she replied, “I did it!”
Viewers were clearly just as touched as Underwood, commenting on social media videos of the sweet moment. One person wrote on YouTube, “Awwww so sweet and touching ! This made me get the chills ! Such sweet kids and Carrie is as amazing now as ever ! So love her!”
Another wrote on Instagram, “And, Carrie said she wasn’t a cryer! 😂😂😂”
The season 23 premiere, which aired on March 9, included a behind-the-scenes conversation between Underwood and fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, during which she insisted that she’s not usually brought to tears.
“I’m not a crier,” she told them after crumbling into tears during an audition. “For the record, I’m not a crier.”
Bryan told her, “Hey, I thought I wasn’t a crier 8 years ago when we started this, but this show will turn you into a crier!”
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Carrie Underwood Cries as PS22 Children’s Choir Surprises Her on ‘American Idol’