Wade Cota Shares Childhood Trauma Before Emotional Audition - Inspirational Videos

27-year-old Wade Cota overcame his troubled past to impress all three judges on American Idol.

When asked about his childhood, this talented performer said, “We grew up with next to nothing, but my mom always made it a thing where we didn’t know that we were as poor as we were. There was times where we would be hungry. My mom would always figure it out. We don’t have a lot but we love each other so much.”

The family was also victims of abuse at the hands of their father. Wade bears the scars of some of the more violent instances.

After one frightful scene, Wade’s mother knew she needed to remove herself and her children from this situation. She mustered up the courage to leave the house and never looked back.

Now, Wade is a full-time musician in Phoenix, Arizona. He’s hoping American Idol will help him give back to his mother in a way she most certainly deserves.

After sharing his story with the judges, Wade started to sing "Blame It On Me" by George Ezra. And when you hear his distinctive voice, I knew this was going to be an unforgettable audition.

Judge Lionel Ritchie remarked, “I was not expecting that other person to jump out of your body.”

Each judge praised Wade’s performance and he easily earned his ticket to Hollywood. And there was no one prouder of this talented young man than his mother waiting on the other side of the door. This is just the beginning of an amazing journey for Wade Cota.