Moving on! Local American Idol contestant makes it past the performance round

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - After receiving the golden ticket in her audition, Paige Anne is continuing her American Idol journey. Anne spent the previous week filming in Hollywood for the performance round of the competition and held a watch party for the airing of the round.

At the round, the crowd cheered as Idol Judge Katy Perry told Anne and those watching Paige would be moving on.

"I was so excited when I was able to move on from performance round to duets round. And so I'm just excited to be able to post my results from the duet round and just share with you the rest of my experience," Paige said.

She says the entire week in Hollywood was an emotional one for her.

"It was so scary. I'm not even kidding when I tell you I cried the entire day at every single interview. I just balled my eyes out. But it was such a cool experience to be able to, like, grow from. I mean from my audition to this. It was a huge amount of growth, just even performance-wise and I hope I can continue just to go up," Anne said.

Anne, who got to video chat with David Archuleta after her auditions, now got to meet and talk to him in person.

"I got to meet David Archuleta and that was a really cool experience." She continued, "it was so cool because I've just always been a huge fan of David Archuleta. Ever since I was really little. I'd go to his concerts when he come to Idaho Falls, and I went for like my birthday. And so being able to meet him in person, it was just my 11-year-old dreams are coming true."

Paige's mom Launie says seeing what her daughter went through during her first week in Hollywood was challenging for her in ways she wasn't expecting.

"It was literally like The Hunger Games watching contestants get cut and cut and cut and the emotion and the drama behind it was crazy," she said. "I don't think I've ever been so nervous and emotional. It it's really bringing out things in me that I, I think I've kept hidden for a long time. Fights and tears and watching my little girl just go through a lot of stress and having to have her sit on raw emotions and not being able to step in and just take care of it."

She says as the journey continues her family will continue to watch and support Paige.

"We're really excited to watch her, watch her grow. Before you have kids, you don't understand how great that is for everybody in the family, for me especially to watch a little itty bitty six-year-old grow into something that's flying on her own. I've said this before, but it's a passion at this point for her and I'm eager to follow her the whole way."

But it wasn't just Paige's mom who was worrying about her. Paige's father Paul Stenbridge says it's been a whole new experience watching Paige compete on the show.

"I've never seen her get really nervous before as she sings, and this has been a real challenge for her initially to perform in front of these judges in this kind of an audience. And so I've just really loved to see her grow and just expand her abilities."

Stenbridge adds seeing how the community is rallying to support Paige on her journey is something he won't forget in a hurry.

"It's been amazing. We've had local family and friends, friends all over the country, family all over the country. Just be supportive of her and just really step up and just cheer her on. It's been it's been great."

He says he is looking forward to what comes next for Paige.

Launie also is appreciative of the community support.

"My heart is very full. My heart is very full with this community and this kind of support."

And Paige says she is thankful as well and has one hope for everyone supporting her in this journey.

"I can feel their support from afar. And so, I mean, I appreciate any and everyone that's able to come here or even just watch from their house. So I just thank you for all the support and I hope to make you all proud."