Bedford County native receives 'American Idol' golden ticket to Hollywood

BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — There are several Virginians on this season of American Idol, and we're tracking all of them.

Bedford County native Mark Osborne went before the judges on Sunday's episode.

Osborne walked away with the ticket so many are hoping for. His audition started as a birthday present.

"My mom asked me to do it for her birthday, and you can't turn your mom down when she asks you to audition for American Idol on her birthday," Osborne explained.

Osborne said it was "nerve-racking" to deliver that promise.

"That's my famous line. It was very intimidating," Osborne said. "A once in a lifetime experience and something I'll never forget or really remember because I blacked out when I went in there. I was so nervous."

But Osborne made good on his mom's birthday wish and met an Idol of his own.

"Meeting Lionel Richie, that part was awesome because he's a legend," Osborne said. "That's another birthday present for mom too because I got to say I met Lionel Richie. She loves Lionel Richie."

Getting that golden ticket is not a bad present either.

Another Virginian made waves at the American Idol auditions.

At 17-year-old Kenedi Anderson's audion, she received a platinum ticket to Hollywood.

RELATED: Virginia singer leaves American Idol judges in awe

That allows the Crozet teenager to skip the first round in Hollywood Week.

A 20-year-old Liberty University student, Luke Taylor, is also one to watch. His audition of "Ring of Fire" also got him a golden ticket.

The Virginia connections don't stop there. The University of Lynchburg said 2016 graduate Danny Czerkawski made it through the American Idol screening rounds.

RELATED: Former University of Lynchburg student-athlete auditions for ABC's 'American Idol'

They sent him to Nashville for in-person auditions but it has not made it to the silver screen yet.

American Idol has not responded to inquiries on whether Czerkawski's audition will be aired on the show.