At just 18 years old, Saylor has been through so much. Her dad used to be her best friend and one of her biggest supporters when it came to her passion for music – he helped her go viral at 10 years old by sharing a video of her singing an Ariana Grande song.

Then, in an instant, her life drastically changed when her dad left their family to marry another woman. Losing such an important person in her life devastated Saylor, but she still found the strength to carry on. Now, she’s proving to herself that she can pursue her dream without her dad by auditioning for “American Idol.”

Fittingly, she chose “All I Want” by Kodaline, a song all about loss. Saylor’s powerful-yet-gentle voice was perfect for this song, but getting the lyrics out wasn’t always possible. Her voice would crack as she held back tears, prompting her to apologize. She was undoubtedly worried that the judges wouldn’t move her on to Hollywood because she wasn’t perfect, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

When Saylor became overwhelmed with emotions, she kept going. And in doing so, she gave the kind of vulnerable performance that can have an even bigger impact than ones that are considered flawless. “When you’re on stage never just say, ‘I can’t do it,’” Lionel Richie told her. “Because you can.”

Watch Saylor’s emotional audition below, and don’t forget to share.