A crowd of thousands of people are screaming, singing and dancing, waiting for their chance to audition for one of America’s top shows. In the middle of all the chaos is 2011 FHN graduate Katie Bailey. She was among the few chosen to go to Hollywood.

“My first thought when I found out I made it was kind of like a big black hole,” Katie said. “I didn’t know what to think or say, but when you look down and see that golden ticket in your hands, it feels absolutely amazing.”

Last May, Katie auditioned with 12 other girls, including FHN graduates Brittany Burke and Laurel Reese. Out of the 12 girls, Katie was the only one to go to Hollywood.

“To be honest that was something personal I had to go through,” Laurel said. “I already knew she made it. If I made it too, it would be awesome, but if I didn’t, it would suck. I had to pull myself out and move on because she would do the same for me.”

Katie believes seeing the other singers’ potential made her second-guess her own talent along with singing in front of the judges.

“Performing in front of the judges was definitely nerve racking,” Katie said. “You don’t want to mess up because they are looking at you with expressionless faces and straight in the eye so they don’t give anything away.”

While Katie was eliminated after making the top 150 contestants, she’s still grateful for what she considers an amazing experience.

“The best part about being on the show was everything,” Katie said. “Meeting new people from all over the nation was amazing. Just having this experience under my belt was awesome and getting to sing in front of the judges was just absolutely mind blowing.”

Katie plans on trying out again once she feels she can handle herself and the situation better. She also wants to explore other singing opportunities that may come her way.

“I think she can do it,” mother Linda Bailey said. “She is a person who isn’t afraid to try new things. She could really go somewhere far with all the talent she has to offer. Whatever she decides to do, she can do it.”