WATCH: American Idol Contestant Khloe Grace Performs Heartbreaking Tribute to Late 13-Year Old Aubreigh Wyatt, ‘Forever 13’

January 27, 2026 12:56 pm GMT

As music fans, we all know how a particular song or album has the ability to meet us where we're at in life, resonate with us, and help to lift us out of difficult moments.

On last night's premiere of American Idol Season 24, 15-year-old Khloe Grace delivered a timely reminder of the healing potency of music, by performing her heartbreaking tribute to the late Aubreigh Wyatt, a 13-year-old girl who took her life in 2023.

The audition began in an unorthodox way, with Aubreigh's mother, Heather, stepping out in front of the judges to introduce Khloe's performance and add some context to the song, “I am not a contestant. My name is Heather Wyatt. I'm here to introduce Khloe. Khloe is a young girl who about a year ago wrote and performed a song in honour of my daughter Aubreigh, who we lost to suicide in 2023”.

When Khloe emerged from the wings, she was visibly moved, with this marking the first time she had met Heather, who expressed her gratitude to the young singer-songwriter.

What makes Khloe's touching homage to Aubreigh, ‘Forever 13’, all the more inspiring and emotionally charged is the fact that Khloe and Aubreigh never crossed paths.

During a pre-recorded interview, Heather recalls her reaction to ‘Forever 13’, “I first heard Khloe's song about a year ago, and I immediately cried. It was beautiful. It was what Aubreigh had gone through...Aubreigh is my forever 13-year-old daughter. She was bright, beautiful, talented, and she endured years of bullying, social media pressures, and took her life September 4th, 2023. It was very unexpected”.

Khloe underlines that, despite not knowing Aubreigh before her passing, her story struck a chord with her, and she felt compelled to write ‘Forever 13’ in the hope that it might help someone else going through similar things, “Something kept telling me to write that song, and I did...I just felt it so much in my heart to write this song”.

Carrie Underwood, who sits on the American Idol judging panel alongside fellow country star Luke Bryan and pop icon Lionel Richie, echoed Khloe's heartfelt sentiments, “Music is very powerful and it can help let someone know they're not alone”.

The song itself, which Khloe had released on streaming platforms in November 2024 after sharing an acoustic performance of it on social media, is heart-rending and hopeful in equal measure. Khloe begins by reflecting on the tragedy of Aubreigh's story, and how the pain was caused by bullies simply looking to “feel satisfied”.

Then, the Florida native showcases an extraordinary level of empathy by putting herself in the shoes of Aubreigh's mother, Heather, who is watching just a few feet away.

Khloe warmly croons, “I’ve never felt that kind of pain, but I can imagine how it feels / To be a mom and lose her daughter, it must feel so surreal / Like how could she be gone, she blames herself for doing wrong / But I hope that she knows it ain’t her fault”.

Richie was the first to respond to the stunning performance, gushing, “I’m just so moved...That’s a gift right there. That’s God looking back at you. It is just a very moving moment”.

Through tears, Underwood added, “I feel like the maturity that you possess is quite incredible. The way you had your heart broken for someone you didn’t even know...and basically say that something positive is going to come out of it. To potentially even think about all the people that hear that and see you, and hear this story and maybe decide to change their mind about something...It’s pretty incredible”.

Bryan made it clear that Khloe would be progressing to the next round, as well as underlining that the country prodigy has a bright future, “The fact that she wrote about what you were going through, not knowing you, shows a potential in you as a singer and a songwriter and someone that can really do a lot of good in this world”.

As Khloe exchanged hugs with the judges, she confided that Underwood was a key influence, “You’ve been one of my biggest inspirations since I was seven years old”, with Underwood replying, “Well, now who’s the inspiration? You’re pretty incredible”.

The powerful performance earned Khloe a coveted golden ticket, which sends her straight through to Hollywood Week. During this season of American Idol, Hollywood Week will take place in Nashville for the first time, as part of a Music City Takeover.

Through ‘Forever 13’, Khloe offers some much-needed perspective and a sense of conviction that, if everyone can be a little kinder and a little more accepting of others, we can work towards a world in which suicide does not become the only option.

The up-and-coming artist has put into words and melodies what many struggle to express through day-to-day conversations, highlighting once again the power of music to instigate and inspire real change, as well as offering comfort and solace.

American Idol airs on ABC every Monday at 8/7c, with each episode available to stream on Hulu the following day.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. There is also a chat service available via 988lifeline.org. If you’re in the UK, you can call the Samaritans 24/7, 365 days a year on 116 123. If you're outside of the US or UK, local resources can be found at findahelpline.com.

For the full lyrics so far to Khloe Grace's ‘Forever 13’, see below:

“She was only 13, had some big dreams, and you took them all away

She had her whole life ahead of her, and you watched her drift away

You never thought that what you said could mess up some else’s head

But maybe you’ll think now that she’s gone

A young girl had to lose her life so that you can feel somewhat satisfied

In this sick and twisted world, you wouldn’t think that a few young girls

Could do any harm, but look where we are

Now she’s dancing up in Heaven with no tears, no worry, no weight on her shoulders today

I’ve never felt that kind of pain, but I can imagine how it feels

To be a mom and lose her daughter, it must feel so surreal

Like how could she be gone, she blames herself for doing wrong