Clara Rae may have introduced herself as just a “girl at a bar with an acoustic guitar,” but by the end of her American Idol audition, she was something much more—a Golden Ticket winner with a spot in Hollywood!

Stepping into the audition room with quiet confidence, the country singer-songwriter strummed her guitar and launched into a unique rendition of Imagine Dragons’ Radioactive. But this wasn’t just any cover—Clara took the rock anthem and transformed it into something unmistakably her own, infusing it with a raw country soul that left the judges captivated.

Lionel Richie was the first to react, nodding along before grinning ear to ear. “I love that rasp in your voice,” he said. “It’s got a grit that pulls you in.” Luke Bryan, no stranger to country talent, praised her ability to blend genres, saying, “You took Radioactive and turned it into something brand new. That’s artistry.” Carrie Underwood, who has been particularly tough on country contestants this season, gave her stamp of approval, telling Clara, “You’re not just a girl at a bar—you’re a star in the making.”

With three resounding yeses, Clara Rae left the audition room with a Golden Ticket in hand and a brand-new title: American Idol hopeful. With a voice that blends smoky rasp with country twang, she’s got the potential to go far. The real question is—how will she take on Hollywood Week?

One thing’s for sure: she won’t be just another girl at a bar for long.