Mackenzie Sol's American Idol fate down to public vote as North East singer blows judges away

Mackenzie Sol is relying on votes from viewers in the United States, as the North East born singer aims to make the top 20 on the world's biggest singing competition, American Idol., having got a standing ovation from judge and music legend Lionel Richie.

County Durham born 24-yerar-old Mackenzie has been living over the other side of the Atlantic for more than a decade now, having initially caught the attention of X Factor judges over here, when his mam Nicola auditioned for the ITV talent search as part of a girl group. At the age of just 10, Mackenzie played to packed audiences in Billy Elliot the Musical, before a trip to Florida changed everything and prompted Nicola to sell her County Durham home and up sticks to help him achieve his dreams of stardom.

Mackenzie impressed American Idol judges Lionel, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan in his first American Idol audition, with an impressive rendition of Sam Cooke's Bring It All Home to Me, earning him a place in the Hollywood rounds, where he made the cut once again, thanks to a passionate cover of Jealous by Labrinth.

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And, at the weekend, millions tuned in to see former Stagecoach student Mackenzie compete as one of the second set of 12 hopefuls in the top 24, again singing a song called Jealous, but this time the Nick Jonas hit, as Nicola took her place in a huge audience at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii to watch her son give his all.

All three judges were once again full of praise for Mackenzie, with country icon Luke telling him the performance was his 'best so far' and guest mentor Jelly Roll saying he was 'blown away' and now Mackenzie's fate is in the hands of US viewers, after the public vote opened for the first time this year. The top 20 will be revealed in a three results show on Sunday, April 14.

Launching not long after Will Young was crowned the first winner of Pop Idol in the UK, American Idol has discovered some huge stars, including its first champion Kelly Clarkson, country megastar Carrie Underwood, Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, Golden Globe nominee Fantasia Barrino and Queen's new frontman Adam Lambert.