Tristyn Hunter Wolkonowski (born May 24, 1998),[1] known professionally as HunterGirl,[2] was a contestant on Season 20 of American Idol.
Audition[]
Hunter auditioned in Nashville. She sang "Riot" by Rascal Flatts. All three judges voted "yes", sending her to the next round.
Later, Luke Bryan invited her to perform at his bar Luke's 32 Bridge in Nashville. Whilst there, the judges revealed that she received the Platinum Ticket, giving her the bypass to skip the first part of Hollywood Week.
Hollywood Round[]
Because Hunter received the Platinum Ticket, she received the honour of being able to pick her duet partner. She picked Cole Wesley Ritter. Performing as "Backwood Mac", they sang "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac. For her final solo performance, she sang "Girl Goin' Nowhere" by Ashley McBryde. Afterwards, the judges told her that she did enough to make the Top 24.
Top 24[]
Hunter appeared in Group 1 and sang "Banjo" by Rascal Flatts. She received enough votes to advance.
Top 20[]
Hunter sang an original song called "Heartbreak Down". She receive enough votes to place in the Top 10, making her a finalist. To celebrate, she sang "Vice" by Miranda Lambert.
Top 14[]
Hunter sang "Baby Girl" by Sugarland. She received enough votes to be "safe" for another week.
Top 11[]
Hunter sang "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton, as chosen by Luke Bryan. She received enough votes to be "safe" for another week.
Top 10[]
Hunter sang "I See the Light" from Tangled. She received enough votes to be "safe" for another week.
Top 7[]
Hunter sang "You Broke Me First" by Tate McRae and "Like My Mother Does" by Lauren Alaina. She received enough votes to be "safe" for another week.
Top 5[]
Hunter sang "Undo it" by Carrie Underwood and "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town. She received enough votes to land a spot in the Finale.
Season 20 Finale[]
Hunter sang "Dancing in the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen, "Red Bird" and a reprise "Riot" by Rascal Flatts. She received more votes than Leah Marlene, but not more votes than Noah Thompson, making her the runner-up.
Trivia[]
- HunterGirl made it further than any other mononymous contestant in American Idol history.
- HunterGirl is the first female runner-up of the ABC reboot series (the last was La'Porsha Renae in the final season on Fox)
- HunterGirl is the first Platinum Ticket recipient to be runner-up.
References[]
| Season 20 |
| Finalists |
| ·Noah Thompson ·HunterGirl ·Leah Marlene ·Fritz Hager ·Nicolina ·Christian Guardino ·Jay ·Emyrson Flora ·Lady K ·Mike Parker ·Tristen Gressett ·Dan Marshall ·Ava Maybee ·Allegra Miles |
| Semifinalists |
| ·Cadence Baker ·Katyrah Love ·Jacob Moran ·Elli Rowe ·Sage ·Cameron Whitcomb — ·Danielle Finn ·Scarlet ·Sir Blayke ·Kenedi Anderson |