SHINNSTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A West Virginia woman is advancing on national television after a successful audition on American Idol.
Livy, a 22-year-old server from Shinnston, earned unanimous approval from the show’s judges during her audition, combining a high-energy introduction with a powerful vocal performance.
Livy works at Texas Roadhouse, where she often sings to customers celebrating birthdays — an experience she said helped launch her singing journey.
Before performing, Livy greeted the judges with Texas Roadhouse rolls, cinnamon butter and peanuts, leaning into her server role while introducing herself musically.
“How are we doing today? My name’s Livy, and welcome to Texas Roadhouse. I’ll be serving you. Can I get y’all start with some drinks? We got some Coke products, sweet tea. And Luke, we got that one margarita, two margarita, three margarita, but no shots,” she sang. “Today for the judges, I’m bringing the energy. I’m bringing the rolls, and I’m bringing my personality for ’em.”
She later explained how singing at work led to unexpected online attention. “The main place [that] I sing would have to be my job. We do a thing called give us a Texas-sized yee-haw for the birthdays. So I started singing ‘Happy Birthday,’ and people were posting me on TikTok. Things were boiling up.”
Livy, whose real name is Olivia Spino, also joked with judge Luke Bryan about her mother’s admiration for him.
“Luke, I think my mom’s about to have a heart attack. If she sees you, she thinks you’re the sexiest man alive. She said on the way up here, she said, ‘Is Luke married?’ I said, ‘Yes, Mom, he’s married.’ She said, ‘He ain’t going to be married by the time I get in there.’ You better get prepared. That little Italian woman’s about to come get ya.”
For her audition, Livy performed a cover of Love Wins by Carrie Underwood. Afterward, the judges offered feedback, encouraging her to ease back vocally to highlight emotion.
“Might be a little bit. You have such a big instrument, and I feel like sometimes if you start off out of the gate going a hundred miles an hour, there’s nowhere left to go,” Underwood said.
After Livy sang again with a softer delivery, Underwood praised the change, saying, “That was so much more emotional. Oh my gosh. Hello. That was really nice. My vote is yes. Thank you. I’m excited to see what you do next. And please show us all the sides. Your softer side, your powerful side. Yes, for me.”
Bryan followed with his own approval, telling her, “You’re a good enough singer to not have to push so hard, really focus on capturing the emotion like you did on that second go-around. I’m a yes.”
Judge Lionel Richie also voted in her favor, joking about the food before delivering his decision. “I’m full,” Richie said. “I’m sorry. It is an absolute yes for me. And let me tell you something, and I mean this from the heart. You are a sweetheart. And if you just calm down and put that voice out there, you’ve got something magical.”
With three “yes” votes, the Shinnston native earned a golden ticket to Hollywood Week.
Afterward, Livy reflected on the moment, including her mother’s chance to meet Bryan.
“Mama Maria. She got the chance to meet Luke, and I think Luke was a little scared,” she said. “I worked my butt off for this. Like Carrie Underwood, Gabby Barrett, and all these people have held this ticket… Now it’s my turn. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m ready to show the world what I can do and let’s wonder, baby. Let’s do it. We’re going to Hollywood Week. Let’s give them a big old Texas-sized yee-haw.”
