That night during a live episode at 7 p.m. on ABC, she'll perform a Disney song from a character that has a personal connection to her.

"I'm going to do 'Moana How Far I'll Go,' " she said Thursday in a call from Los Angeles. "In the story, (Moana) talks about stepping away from her village to go out and take on a journey across this huge ocean. It's so risky, and her family didn't want her to do it. But she knew if she did it, it could have great benefit for her, her family and her entire village. She knew it was necessary. It needed to be done."

There's a reason Lady K identifies with Moana, which happens to be her favorite Disney character. She said her personal ocean is the stage and the music that flows from it. Her village is her family and friends back in Montgomery and where she lives in Tuskegee. 

"It's my story," Lady K said. "I literally watched that movie two days before I auditioned for Idol. I knew instantly that I wanted to be that girl... I took the risk and jumped out there, and now I'm doing what I've wanted to do."

Disney has also released songs to come from the rest of Idol's Top 10 on Sunday: Christian Guardino – “Circle of Life” from The Lion King; Emyrson Flora – “Carried Me with You” from Onward; Fritz Hager – “Go the Distance” from Hercules; HunterGirl – “I See the Light” from Tangled; Jay Copeland – “Remember Me” from Coco; Leah Marlene – “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2; Mike Parker – “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan; Nicolina Bozzo – “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid; Noah Thompson – “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story.

They aren't safe Sunday. The live episode will again use instant voting, and more people will be cut that night, Lady K said. 

Voting will take place using the American Idol app, online at idolvote.abc.com, and by texting the contestant number to 21523. Each method allows a person 10 votes — a total of 30. 

One big change starting Sunday is that Lady K will have a new contestant number to text in for voting. As of Thursday, she didn't know what that new number would be.

Along with urging people to vote Sunday, Lady K also encouraged them to follow their own dreams. 

"I definitely want to encourage them to step out of their element and not be fearful because their dream seems bigger than them," Lady K said. "That's the dream that you need to pursue."

Lady K earns a Disney adventure 

While there have been a lot of incredible opportunities for Lady K with American Idol so far on Season 20, this week she fulfilled a dream she's had all her life — a chance to play in Disneyland.

"It was amazing," Lady K said.

Even better: It's an adventure earned by her music. 

"I had the most fun I've probably ever had in my life," she said of going through Disneyland. "I was a kid. A huge kid. The cast and the crew didn't see me until it was time to go home."

No waiting in line, either.

"We had VIP access and a personal tour guide," Lady K said. "My first time ever going through that was a dream experience... I got on some of the craziest rides that I've ever experienced."

Back from the brink of elimination

What makes the Disney episode sort of bittersweet is it could easily have been denied her.

On Monday's show, a judge's contest where they picked the songs for everyone, Lady K and fellow Alabamian Tristen Gressett of Pell City ended the night in the bottom two after live voting.

For a moment, neither knew the judges had a lifeline for one of them. 

"I was like, well, this is it. Time to go," Lady K said. "It was very bittersweet. In that instant, I was thinking what's next? What am I fixin' to do? Wow, it's really come down to this. Not only did it come down to two Alabama people having to fight for a spot, but I might be going home as one of them. It was nerve wracking. You talk about pins and needles. My feet were already on pins and needles because of my shoes. Now I've got adrenaline and anxiety rushing through them too."

When a moment passed and judges Katy Perry and Luke Bryan announced Lady K was being saved, all that was replaced by motivation and hunger. 

"It amplified it," she said.

What's daily life like in Los Angeles with American Idol?

These days, Lady K always has something to do in Los Angeles — COVID testing, vocal rehearsals, dress rehearsals, being fitted for clothes for each episode, putting together "a look."

"We get our breakfast and lunch. They make sure we're hydrated and fed," she said. "Outside of that, it's work all around the clock. If we're not doing that, we're doing interviews with the press, more show rehearsals. We're making sure, since we're live, that the show can be as fluid as possible, and structured. It's a lot."

Performing live vs recorded

Does it make a big difference when Lady K sings live on TV, instead of having the performances recorded like they were early in the season?

Yes, but not for the reasons you might expect. Performance wise, the pressure is the same, prerecorded or live, she said. 

"When it's live, you've just got to take the punches and go with the flow," Lady K said.

Early on, Lady K was watching prerecorded episodes with the fans, and then she'd immediately get on social media with them to discuss everything that happened. She'd also coach them through the overnight voting process. Now that the episodes are live and the voting takes place during the show, that's not an option. 

"We're live on TV, and can't have phones," Lady K said. "Of course, we can't be live while on TV, going live on Facebook. It's kind of hard to keep my normal routine, and the rapport that I've built with my fans going."

Sunday watch parties 

Fans will be gathering in person in homes across the nation to watch Sunday, and in at least a couple of big public watch parties in Montgomery. 

Sunday evening, the city of Montgomery's Department of Cultural Affairs will present and American Idol Watch Party at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, 220 Hall St. This is free to attend. No tickets required. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the party lasts through the two-hour episode. There will be free hotdogs, drinks and popcorn. 

A separate watch party has been announced at Hookah House, 105 N. Burbank Drive, Montgomery. Doors open at 6 p.m. Text to 334-201-8664 for section reservations. 

More reunion on Idol coming Monday

Throughout the season, some of Idol's previous contestants have come back to mentor the singers for season 20. There's much more to come. Monday's episode is being billed as "The Great Idol Reunion." According to ABC, it will include guests like Ruben Studdard, Scotty McCreery, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Lauren Alaina, Kris Allen, Maddie Poppe, Laine Hardy, Willie Spence, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Grace Kinstler, Laci Kaye Booth, and more. The episode will air at 7 p.m. 

New fan base affecting Lady K's EP

Earlier in the season, Lady K released her new EP "Time of your Life." Since then, it's been picking up steam. 

"I'm seeing my music streaming in new cities that I didn't see before," she said. 

Which is fortunate, since because of Idol obligations, she hasn't been able to get out and promote the EP. 

"I'm gaining fans from new places, so I love it," Lady K said. "I might do the 'Time of your Life' tour one day."

Follow her online at musicbyladyk.com.

TOP 10: American Idol judges save the day for Montgomery's Lady K

Montgomery singer Kezia "Lady K" Istonia was bound for either Hollywood or "Hollyhood" when she finally made it in front of American Idol's judges to close out Sunday's two-hour audition episode on ABC.

After a night full of huge performances, and a few near misses, it was worth the wait. Lady K walked away with a golden ticket to Idol's Hollywood rounds.

Lady K started her segment off with something unique. She handed cards to celebrity judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, and said they weren't allowed to read until after she was done. Then Lady K blew them away by singing her own take on Perry's "Wide Awake."

"That just naturally made the experience more intense, because you never know which direction it can be taken," said Lady K, who spoke to the Montgomery Advertiser prior to Sunday's episode.

Lady K said Perry's songs speak to underdogs like herself.

"You sang with such elegance, beauty, grace, filigree. It's like you reinvented the song," Perry told Lady K. "It's like your heart is shining through your vocal cords." 

Bryan said Lady K's voice is tremendous and honest. "It's just magic," he said.

"Lady K, you've made my day," said Richie. 

Outside of the audition, Lady K has another connection to Richie. Though she's a Montgomery native, Lady K lives in Richie's hometown of Tuskegee, and said she frequently walks past the Commodores studio where he and the band would rehearse and record. 

"Right before I went to my audition, I took a picture in front of it for good luck," Lady K said.

After getting a hug from Richie, Lady K said it felt like she'd known him her whole life. 

"I know you have, because there's only five people in Tuskegee," Richie joked. 

Once she left the room, the judges read Lady K's cards, which were full of praise for each of them. 

"Thanks for remind me I'm a firework," Perry said, reading Lady K's message. 

"i felt more comfortable once I found my way to relate to each of the judges," Lady K said. "I felt like that helped me balance out the intensity of the moment."

Lady K grew up in music and struggle

Lady K and her four younger siblings were raised by a single mother. At one time, they lived in a shelter. In the midst of family struggles, Lady K lost a brother to suicide. 

But through all the pain and heartache, there was music. It's something Lady K had always had.

"My momma said that before I could talk, I was singing," Lady K said. 

She's been performing since she was five, and started recording at eight.

"I've been writing music from that young as well," Lady K said. 

Growing up, Lady K often sang in talent shows and school competitions. As she developed her skills, she was often featured on other artists' projects, before coming out as a solo artist. 

Along the way, she's absorbed the flavor of Montgomery's music scene and forged it into her own sound.

"I've been able to stay relevant and learn the motions and the technical side to it," Lady K said. "I'm influenced by a lot, but it's still my own original take on what I've learned from everybody." 

Someone she's worked closely with is Montgomery producer Noah Baker, who praised her talents in both singing and rap. 

"I met her in 2014 when we connected on our collaboration project ''My City,' and instantly, I knew she were a natural born star," Baker said. "Over the years everything she touch becomes a hit record."

She has three albums so far, "Letter from Lady K," "Unfinished Love Story" and "K." Her latest single is "Guard Down," which she released Dec. 15. 

Lady K said she defines her style as "undefined." She's definitely known around Montgomery for R&B, but that's not what she necessarily wants to be known for in the competition. She's reaching for what feels right and relevant to audiences, she said.

"I don't want to be defined as one genre or one style," she said. "Music is ever evolving."

She's in good Alabama company

Having a little foresight into the competition couldn't hurt. Lady K said she's friends with season 12 finalist Kevin Khule Harris of Montgomery.

"He has been very supportive and motivating throughout the journey," Lady K said. "Kind of preparing me for what to expect, even though a lot has changed between my season and his. It's still good having a heads up from a friend who already went through it."

She's not the first Alabamian to get a golden ticket for season 20. Tyler N. Allen of Mobile earned one last week.

"I'll never forget this moment, never as long as I live," Allen said in an ABC interview. Allen dedicated his audition to his late nephew and the child's mother, who died in a car accident.

There are at least two others from Alabama announced to be on American Idol this season, Candice Baker of Muscle Shoals and Tristen Gressett of Pell City. 

Along with Lady K and Harris, several other Alabamians have made it onto American Idol through the years, including Ruben Studdard (season 2), Bo Bice (season 4), Taylor Hicks (season 5), Jessica Meuse, Dexter Roberts and C.J. Harris (all season 13), and Samuel Swanson (season 16). 

Fans got Lady K onto American Idol

"The biggest thing I could tell my fans is thank you for the continued support," Lady K said. 

She held a watch party for Sunday's episode, with special fan guests. In a social media contest, she asked fans to tag her biggest fans. Three of them were picked from a drawing to watch the episode with her.

"It's a moment I wanted to give back to my fans, since they've been so supportive to me throughout the journey," Lady K said. 

After all, her fans are the reason she auditioned for American Idol to begin with. 

"I had no intentions on it. I had no idea Idol was having open auditions," Lady K said. "I was on a short social media break, or hiatus. When I got back on, I had these tags from everybody saying, hey, American Idol is auditioning. You need to sign up."

She saw their messages as a sign that she needed to give it a try. She auditioned with a video of her singing Beyoncé's song "Love On Top."

"It's a genuine moment for me and my fans, because they were there with me from the sign up moment," Lady K said. "That's a big intimate bonding moment for me and my fans." 

That bond could help make a difference if Istonia survives the Hollywood rounds and makes it into public voting, she said.

"I hope that going forward, I could shed more light on Montgomery, Alabama, as a place where people can seek talent," Lady K said. "There's so much undiscovered talent here. I was that undiscovered talent for years."

Follow her online at musicbyladyk.com.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at sheupel@gannett.com.

Article