Matt Soergel: For Julianna Dickey, the cruelest cut at Wednesday's American Idol auditions came when they snipped her paper wristband in half. That was it - her 30 seconds in front of the judges was over.
"They just cut our wristbands and crushed our dreams into cinders, poured gasoline on and set them on fire," she said, alternating between indignation and sniffles.
"But I'm not worried. There are better places than American Idol, and they'll see me on the charts."
Sniff.
"As soon as I get my braces off."
Keep reading with a membership
This story is for Gangrey members. Join to read it in full, unlock the archive, and support narrative nonfiction.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Sign in



Leave a comment