Mattie Pruitt Cries as ‘American Idol’ Cast Pulls Off Birthday Surprise

Although the Top 24 “American Idol” contestants just appeared on the show’s Hawaii episodes, the cast is back together in Los Angeles, preparing for the next round of competition.

Things are so busy behind the scenes that the youngest contestant of season 23, Mattie Pruitt, figured no one would remember it was her 16th birthday on April 15, 2025. So when members of the cast surprised her backstage, which she shared in a social media video, she was so touched that she crumpled into tears.

“I walked into the dressing room thinking no one was going to do anything for my birthday,” she wrote, “and then some of the contestants and my stepmom surprised me with the sweetest birthday setup ever.”

Mattie Pruitt Says ‘Can’t Believe’ She’s Living Out Her Dreams at 16

In the video Pruitt shared, the teen from Eagleville, Tennessee — “a one-stoplight type of town,” she told WKRN — stopped cold as she walked into her dressing room, stunned to see a “Happy Birthday” sign and multiple cast members yelling and clapping for her. Pruitt was so surprised that she just stood in the doorway as her eyes filled with tears.

When she finally walked into the room, the contestants inside — including Grayson Torrance, MKY, Isaiah Misailegalu, Filo, Penny Samar, Ché, and Kolbi Jordan — started loudly singing the “Happy Birthday” song to her. Holding several red roses someone handed to her, Pruitt wiped away tears as she listened.

“Still can’t believe I’m 16 and living this dream,” she wrote in her post, adding, “thank you for all the love, support, and votes after last night’s performance. My heart is so full.”

Pruitt’s growing fan base loved seeing her get a little love from her “Idol” peers — and hearing, as one person wrote, “The best sung happy birthday ever hahahah”

Mattie Pruitt’s Mom Auditioned For ‘American Idol’ When She Was Pregnant With the Rising Star

On the episode that aired the day before Pruitt’s birthday, on April 14, she had another emotional moment while rehearsing with celebrity mentors Jelly Roll and Josh Groban. After telling them that her mom couldn’t accompany her to Hawaii, she snuck up behind Pruitt to surprise her.

Her mom, who actually auditioned for “American Idol” when she was pregnant with Mattie, couldn’t help but well up with tears of pride and joy as her daughter rehearsed and when she performed for the crowd at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii. Pruitt’s rendition of former “Idol” judge Katy Perry’s hit song “Wide Awake” was a big hit with the judges.

“You’re so good, you’re so good,” Underwood told her. “I’m honored just to kind of be along for the ride here with you, Mattie. When you take a song and you make it your own — I mean that’s an iconic, monster of a song — and you really did, you made it your own.”

Pruitt will learn her fate on “American Idol” when the contestants tape a three-hour “Songs of Faith” special on April 16. The episode — scheduled to air on Easter Sunday, April 20 — will also include the results of who viewers voted into the Top 20.

If the young singer does rise to the top of the heap over the next few weeks, she’d be the youngest winner ever. Jordin Sparks has held that title since 2007, when she won “Idol” at age 17.