Pembroke native Anna Grace Hunt gets her golden ticket to Hollywood on 'American Idol' Season 22

PEMBROKE, N.C. (WTVD) -- A North Carolina native is heading to Hollywood after auditioning on 'American Idol.'

18-year-old Anna Grace Hunt from Pembroke got her golden ticket after performing for the Idol judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie.

She is studying biology as a freshman at UNCP.

Hunt told ABC11 she's been singing since she was 12 years old, but struggled to share her voice with the world because she's shy.

In the end, it was her mom and one of her teachers who convinced her to give Idol a shot.

"I still can't believe that this small-town girl is making it to Hollywood," Hunt said, "because where I'm from a lot of people don't it out. So, this just means a lot to me."

She added: "I'm just proving to little girls in my community and other Native American little girls that dreams do come true."

Hunt is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and won Teen Miss Lumbee in 2022.

There are a few other people from the state who auditioned this year.

Black Mountain siblings Laela Dasher and her brother Max Dasher both auditioned for judges earlier this month earning their chance to move forward.

Max performed Rock Salt and Nails by Utah Phillips, impressing all three judges with his voice and gaining the coveted golden ticket.

Laela took the stage after Max who joined her to play guitar for her audition. She performed Angel from Montgomery by John Prine.

Former ECU football player and NFL player Blake Proehl took his chances and auditioned. He is headed to Hollywood.

He sang "In Case You Didn't Know" by Brett Young for the judges.

You can watch all of the performances again on Hulu.