Katy Perry was brought to tears during this week's shocking episode of American Idol.
A terrifying incident transpired during Monday’s broadcast (March 23) of the hit singing competition show when contestant Makayla Brownlee, 17, suffered a seizure onstage. The Kansas native was taking center stage to sing her rendition of Kacey Musgraves’ “Rainbow” when she suddenly became nervous and began convulsing before collapsing offstage, leaving judges Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan struck with worry.
As EMTs were called to the scene, Bryan attempted to see if Brownlee was okay, to which a nervous Perry plead, “Give her a little space.”
It was later revealed by her Brownlee’s father, Mark, that the teen suffers from a rare heart condition called vasovagal syncope. Following the incident, Brownlee, who was diagnosed with the condition in seventh grade, revealed, “It’s a heart condition that causes me to react to stress differently than other people, and it could cause a seizure.”
“She can’t control it. She’s embarrassed, but physically, she’s 100 percent all right,” Mark added. “This opportunity is so important for her. I’d hate to see it inhibited in any way because she’s such a good singer. She works so hard at it.”
In a moment of triumph, Brownlee returned to the stage to the sounds of applause before finishing her performance an hour later, moving the “Dark Horse” songbird to break down in tears.
“Nothing to be embarrassed about, #MakaylaBrownlee. We all handle stress differently❣️ #AmericanIdol,” Perry tweeted in Brownlee’s support. “That was the sweetest performance of ‘Rainbow’ #MakalylaBrownlee. So thrilled you were able to come back and sing for us and give us that perspective we need to be reminded of sometimes ♥️ #AmericanIdol @KaceyMusgraves.”
Photo: YouTube