The unthinkable happened on the Monday (March 23) episode of American Idol, when contestant Makayla Brownlee suffered a medical emergency during her performance.
Taking the stage to perform Kacey Musgraves‘ “Rainbow,” the 17-year-old from Wellington, Kan., abruptly walked off stage after slurring her speech due to a seizure. As the production crew gathered around the EMTs evaluating Brownlee, judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie walked backstage to check on the teen, who was lying down with her legs propped up.
After being wheeled off set in a wheelchair, Brownlee explained the effects of her health issue. “In seventh grade, I was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope,” she said. “It’s a heart condition that causes me to react to stress differently than other people and it can cause a seizure.”
The teen returned to the stage hours later and nailed her song for Hollywood Week, leaving an emotional Katy Perry in tears and receiving a standing ovation from the entire judges panel.
Watch Brownlee overcome the frightening moment below.