BEL AIR, Md. — We have another American Idol great in the Baltimore area.
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Emma Kleinberg is from Bel Air. She is an old pro at these singing audition shows, even trying out for Idol when she was 13.
When video cameras were born, dad did what dads do and he hit the record button.
"She saw that there was a video camera and she said let me see it and I said 'No keep singing' because she was on pitch at 5." said her father Allen Kleinberg.
From the Maryland Conservatory of Music, to writing a 5th grade class song, to attending Belmont University in Nashville, music is her life.
And talent didn't come from nowhere, her grandfather performed at the Hippodrome during the days of Vaudeville.
"I was so nervous when I walked in and when I saw them it was such an out of body experience seeing Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryant, sitting at a desk just watching you," said Emma.
Emma went to Louisville to give it one more shot.
"I was so excited to hear what they had to say, but also so nervous what was going to come out of their mouths," said Emma.
Right before she went on, producers started peppering her with questions. Questions about her brother.
You see Emma’s brother suffered a brain injury. He cannot process what is going on. Even after all that, Emma went out there and gave the performance of her life.
"Katy Perry said you are the best we have heard all day, Lionel Richie told her you can't teach that," said her mother.
So here is a family, on one hand cheering their heart of for their little girl, and crying their heart out for their little boy.
"You know it has been hard on her too. It's been hard on her to be away and be in Nashville and us continuing to encourage her to follow her dreams, which is what he would want for her as her biggest fan, still is," said her mother.
And then, Monday comes.
"On one hand I cannot wait for it, but on the other hand I am super nervous for the world to see it, but I am ready and I'm excited," Emma exclaimed.
You’ll see her on American Idol this Monday, March 18, at 8 p.m.
