Elijah McCormick had to relearn how to walk and talk again after a severe car accident on his high school graduation day. He spent 79 days in the hospital enduring multiple surgeries and as soon as he could speak again, the first question he asked was "Mama, can I sing?" His mom had signed Elijah up to audition back in 2019 — now just a few years later, he's here at American Idol to fulfill his destiny. The judges compare "golden child" Elijah, who was almost taken too soon, to the late Willie Spence, a shining IDOL star who did go too soon.
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