The show must go on, and go on it did for “American Idol” contestant Nate Walker.
Following his performance during Sunday night’s episode, the West Mifflin native said he lost his voice and ended up with a pounding headache and stomach pain.
He was rushed to the hospital, but he returned to sing Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind” in an episode that aired Monday.
Obviously, his voice hadn’t recovered and his range was limited.
“His singing was all over the place,” judge Katy Perry said.
“I could’ve done better,” Walker said afterward. “I just had to fight through it.”
He also had to fight through his part in the group round, singing Billy Joel’s “The Longest Time” with fellow contestants Logan Johnson, Gazzie White and Ruthie Craft.
Walker struggled through his verse, delivering only 20 seconds of what should have been a 45-second performance.
After conferring, the judges told him he needed to sing his entire part — as judge Luke Bryan put it, “in fairness to the others.”
“Sing for your life,” Perry advised, which he did — though again, not very well.
Maybe persistence was its own reward in the end, as the entire group was sent through to the next round.
“I feel very lucky to be here right now,” Walker said later. “I’m just so grateful that they let me through.”
Way to pull through @_Serenate. It pained me AGAIN to make you sing some more, but YOU ?? DID ?? THAT ?? AND ?? WE'RE ?? PROUD ?? #AmericanIdol
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) March 26, 2019
