Season 21 of “American Idol” recently kicked off and featured an appearance from Grammy Award-winning singer Lauren Daigle, who surprised a Christian contestant auditioning in Las Vegas. Twenty-year-old Douglasville, Georgia, native Megan Danielle became a Christian singer after her grandfather died. Danielle said her grandfather asked her to use her talents to honor God. During her introduction video, she discussed the importance of her relationship with her grandfather.

Danielle, a waitress at a restaurant with her mother, said, “In my childhood, I would always spend most of my time at the shop with my grandpa. My grandpa passed about a year ago, and he was the most important person in my life.” Danielle was in a band that played at different venues and bars when she was 18. However, she said she didn’t like playing in bars because she felt she had to act like someone she wasn’t, so people would like what they heard.

She said, “There was one show I had one night, and my papa was there, and he pulled me to the side and said, ‘what are you doing baby? This isn’t what you’re supposed to be doing.’ He looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘how can you sing for God and sing for this?’ And then I finally decided to totally switch to Christian music.” After her introduction video, Danielle joined judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan to start her audition. Off-stage, host Ryan Seacrest shared that Daigle had a show in Vegas and would surprise Danielle.

Daigle competed in two seasons of “American Idol” but was eliminated. However, her music has been used numerous times in the hit singing competition in recent years. As Danielle auditioned before the judges singing Daigle’s five-times platinum single “You Say,” Daigle watched through the doorway before joining in. Danielle was stunned that one of her inspirations was there. The two continued the audition together.

Judge Katy Perry grew up as a Christian singer before transitioning to pop music and was visibly emotional. When she saw Daigle, her jaw dropped. Perry shouted, “Oh my gosh! Only on American Idol! Insane.” Daigle told Danielle that her story reminded her of her relationship with her grandfather. Danielle replied, “Thank you, I love you. I feel like this is not even happening. I’m like, thank you, God.”

Perry asked if the two could sing their duet again because she wanted to feel “the spirit.” Perry said, “Lauren, I just got to say, that is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen an artist do. She continued, “You got that grit in your voice. It’s so authentic, and you’re doing right by yourself, and you’re doing right by Grandpa Chuck.” Daigle shared that her grandfather’s name was Chuck as well.

Perry said, “Well, you know God has a sense of humor every once in a while.” The judges voted Danielle to the next round, and Daigle was happy to have witnessed it all. What a beautiful way for Megan Danielle to honor her late grandfather.