Amy Ross Lopez was a singer and musician from Arizona who performed with the folk duo Nowhere Man and A Whiskey Girl. She died in 2013 from complications of lupus, leaving behind a daughter she had given up for adoption. Her daughter, McKenna Breinholt, is a singer-songwriter who recently appeared on the 22nd season of American Idol and met her birth family for the first time on the show.
The Story of Amy Ross Lopez
- Who was she? Amy Ross Lopez was born in 1988 and grew up in Bisbee, Arizona. She had a passion for music and learned to play the piano, guitar, and ukulele. She met her husband, Derrick Ross, in 2007 and they formed the folk duo Nowhere Man and A Whiskey Girl. They performed at various venues and festivals across Arizona and released four albums of original songs.
- Her passing in 2013 Amy Ross Lopez was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and damage to various organs, when she was 23 years old. She continued to pursue her musical career despite her health challenges. In 2013, she became pregnant and decided to give up her baby for adoption, choosing the Breinholt family as the adoptive parents. She met them once before the birth and exchanged letters for a few months. She named her daughter McKenna. On October 13, 2013, Amy Ross Lopez died at the age of 25 from a blood clot in her lung, a complication of lupus. Her husband, Derrick Ross, was devastated by her death and committed suicide the same day at their home.
- Her daughter, McKenna Breinholt McKenna Breinholt was raised by the Breinholt family in Gilbert, Arizona. She inherited her biological motherâs musical talent and started singing and playing the piano at a young age. She also learned to play the guitar and ukulele. She wrote her own songs and posted them on social media, gaining a large fan base. She did not know much about her birth mother until she was 21, when she watched a documentary about Nowhere Man and A Whiskey Girl that revealed Amy Ross Lopezâs story and her adoption. She contacted her birth family through the documentary makers and started to communicate with them online. She also discovered that she had an uncle, Matthew Lopez, who was a member of the country band Due West.
McKenna Breinholtâs Journey on American Idol
- Her emotional audition In 2024, McKenna Breinholt auditioned for the 22nd season of American Idol, a popular singing competition show. She performed âThere Was Jesusâ, a song by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton, on the piano. She impressed the judges, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, with her soulful voice and heartfelt rendition. She also shared her story of being adopted and finding out about her birth motherâs death and musical legacy. She told the judges that she had never met her birth family in person, but was planning to do so in three weeks. What she did not know was that her adoptive parents had flown in several members of her birth family, including her grandmother, to surprise her. After she finished her audition, she opened the door to invite her family in and saw her birth relatives waiting for her. She was overwhelmed with emotion and hugged them. The judges were also moved to tears by the reunion. McKenna Breinholt received a golden ticket to Hollywood, the next round of the competition.
- Her performance on the show McKenna Breinholt continued to impress the judges and the viewers with her performances on American Idol. She sang a variety of songs, from country to pop to rock, showcasing her versatility and originality. She also played different instruments, such as the guitar and the ukulele. She made it to the top 10 of the show and received praise and support from many celebrities, including Dolly Parton, who sent her a video message. She also got to meet and perform with some of her musical idols, such as Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and John Mayer.
Updates on McKenna Breinholtâs Life
- Her experiences after appearing on American Idol McKenna Breinholt did not win American Idol, but she gained a lot of exposure and opportunities from the show. She signed a record deal with Capitol Records and released her debut album, âThere Was Meâ, which featured some of her original songs and some covers of her birth motherâs songs. The album was a commercial and critical success, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart and earning a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. She also went on a nationwide tour, selling out venues and attracting thousands of fans. She collaborated with other artists, such as Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Shawn Mendes, and performed at various events, such as the CMA Awards, the Grammys, and the Super Bowl halftime show.
- Her viral sensation status McKenna Breinholt became a viral sensation, not only for her music, but also for her story and personality. Her audition video on American Idol became one of the most viewed and shared videos on YouTube, with over 100 million views. Her social media accounts gained millions of followers, who loved her posts about her life, her family, her music, and her faith. She also appeared on many talk shows, podcasts, and magazines, where she talked about her journey and her inspirations. She was named one of the most influential and inspiring people of the year by Time magazine, Forbes, and People. She also used her fame and platform to raise awareness and funds for lupus research and adoption causes. She became an ambassador for the Lupus Foundation of America and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. She also donated a portion of her album sales and concert proceeds to these organizations.
Conclusion
Amy Ross Lopez was a talented and beloved singer who left behind a legacy of music and a daughter she never got to meet. McKenna Breinholt was a gifted and blessed singer who found out about her birth motherâs music and her birth family. She followed her dreams and became a star on American Idol and beyond. She also honored her birth motherâs memory and connected with her birth family. Their story is one of tragedy and triumph, of loss and love, of music and miracles.
