Ambar Ramirez
By Ambar Ramirez
For Lillian Michell, singing has always been a part of who she is — so much so that she can’t remember a time without it. It’s woven into her personality, and she has no plans of ever stopping. Taking the Clay County Star Search stage by storm, Michell delivered a heartfelt, emotionally charged rendition of “Creep” by Radiohead. Wanting to stand out, she opted for a slowed-down piano arrangement, allowing her powerful vocals to take center stage. The performance left a lasting impression, earning her third place in the adult division.
“Music wise I get inspiration from ’90s bands like Nirvana, Radiohead and Deftones or pop singers like Billie Eilish and Laufey,” Michell shared. “But I am mostly inspired by my parents because they always push me to be my best.”
Though this was Michell’s fourth time taking on the Star Search stage, she mentioned how nerves still find a way to sneak in. Her secret to getting over those nerves? Just keep singing and trust that whatever was meant to happen will happen.
“The entire performance I remember being so nervous. I kept thinking, ‘I’m only 16 competing with literal adults! What!!’ All I knew was that I just had to get up there and let loose. Whatever happens, happens,” Michell said. “With this huge journey to a win, I’ve learned to just sing. In other performances, I’ve gotten so nervous that I freeze up, and all technique goes out the window. However, with this performance, I said to myself “just sing”, and I knew that I would be OK.”
Through her time at Star Search, Michell has seen herself grow both on and off the stage. She described the experience in one word — “astonishing” — and is excited for the performances still to come.
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