Less than one year ago, Shayla Winn was just a normal teenage girl who attended Thomas Dale High School in Midlothian, Virginia. When she began to suffer from vision problems, Shayla did not think much of it assuming  she just needed prescription eye glasses. When she went to the doctor’s office, however, she was given the worst news of her life.

Doctors diagnosed Shayla with hydrocephalus resulting from a tumor in her brain, and while they were able to remove the tumor successfully, she was left legally blind with a medical future that’s “a question mark.”

Shayla, whose stage name is Shayy, is now trying to figure out how to live life as a blind person. She’s had trouble learning how to read braille and how to walk with a cane. On top of all of that, she has had to deal with insensitive comments from bullies. Throughout all of this, Shayy has managed to maintain a positive attitude and she is grateful for the love and support her family has given her.

Shayy recently travelled to Louisville, Kentucky to audition for “American Idol.” Not only did she steal the hearts of the judges, she stole the hearts of millions of people all over the country as well!

Judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan were all very moved by Shayy’s performance. Lionel in particular was so overcome with emotion from her audition that he could not help but cry. After all that Shayy has been through, he could not believe that she was able to perform like this.

Shayy chose to perform the emotional song “Rise Up” by Andra Day, which is all about overcoming obstacles. She said that she feels a special connection to the song because it highlights how determined she is to follow her dreams despite her vision loss.

“My main goal when I sing is to touch someone. I think I accomplished that,” Shayy said.

By the time she was finished singing, Lionel had completely broken down in tears.

“You have wrecked me,” Lionel said.

“Lionel you look like you’re walking a daughter down the aisle,” Luke joked before addressing Shayy, “You have what we cannot teach. We cannot teach letting the music flow straight from the soul, and that’s what you did.”

Katy added that Shayy sings “like an angel” and that in the eyes of the judges, her future was “not a question mark.”

Needless to say, Shayy is moving on to the next round! Though her journey on “American Idol” is just beginning, Shayy said she already feels like a winner.

“Don’t let anything stop you from your dream and what you want to do,” she said. “If you want to do it, you can do it. You may have to find another way, but you can [do it].”

Watch her audition for yourself below.