When 19-year-old Wesley Mountain walked onto The X Factor USA stage in 2013, it quickly became obvious that he had one person on his mind: judge Kelly Rowland. He openly admitted that he had a huge crush on her, even walking over to kiss her hand before the audition began.
But once Wesley picked up the microphone and began singing “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes, the mood changed completely. What initially seemed like an awkward and overly enthusiastic audition revealed something the judges hadn’t expected — Wesley actually had a very good voice.
Demi Lovato admitted that her first impression of him had been quite different, but she quickly changed her mind after hearing him sing. Kelly Rowland praised his voice as well, while Simon Cowell acknowledged that the performance was genuinely good.
Wesley even turned the song into a personal serenade for Kelly, making the audition both hilarious and memorable. Despite all the flirting and nervous energy, his vocals ultimately won over the entire panel.
All four judges gave him a yes, sending him through to the next round.
