When Megan Pearson was just a toddler, her parents saw she had an interest in music. By age four she had written her first song, and now a junior in high school, Megan is auditioning for this season of “American Idol.” Let’s chat with her and her father about her musical talent and the road to “American Idol.”

Megan grew up in a musical home. She remembers sitting around with family playing music like others remember playing card games or watching sports. She has an uncle and cousins that play musical instruments and her great-grandfather led worship at the church where he preached. She remembers thinking singing was embarrassing. She said, “When I was in fourth  or fifth grade I started to enjoy singing and that’s when I started practicing every single day, because I wanted to be the best at it.”

Her home always had instruments around and Megan wasn’t afraid to play with them as a toddler. She laughs that while she wrote her first song at age four and was excited to play it for her parents, she is pretty sure it wasn’t any good! She began playing the piano at the age of six. “Piano is my favorite because it comes naturally to me now,” she said. Megan’s father Marc taught her how to play the guitar sporadically when she was younger and then more seriously over the last few years. 

Her family moved to Liberty Hill when she was in fourth grade, seven years ago. She joined choir in seventh grade at Liberty Hill Middle School and remembers her director, Clark Stanley, fondly. “Mr. Stanley made a big impact on me. I didn’t really want to be in choir, but he made me fall in love with it,” said Megan.  Now in high school, she is in her third year under Davina Hendrix, whom she also loves. Hendrix said, “Megan is a naturally talented musician. She works hard in choir rehearsals and is a leader in her section.  It is not surprising that she was chosen for ‘American Idol.’  Megan sings from her heart and that comes across clearly in her musical performances.”

Megan shares snippets of her singing, often accompanied by piano or guitar, on her social media. That social media led to a call from an “American Idol” staff member encouraging her to audition for the show. Her first call was to her grandma. She said, “I immediately picked up the phone and called my grandma. I told her you will not believe this, but I’m trying out for “American Idol.”

Megan auditioned in front of judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Ritchie and Luke Bryan in Nashville this past November. She auditioned with “Use Me” by Zach Top. She recalls feeling equal parts nervous and really excited. Although Megan wasn’t shown on television during the audition rounds, she did receive a golden ticket to the next round — Hollywood Week in Nashville! Watch Megan when “American Idol” airs this Mondays at 7 p.m. CST and streams the next day on Hulu.

Megan, Liberty Hill is proud of you and is cheering you on!