Carnie Wilson is defending daughter Lola Bonfiglio following her American Idol audition.
On Sunday, March 23, fans of the singing competition show watched as Carnie and her sister and bandmate Wendy Wilson supported Carnie’s daughter as she chased her dream.
Lola sang Wilson Phillips’ “Hold On” with her mom, aunt and father, Rob Bonfiglio, for the first part of her audition. She later sang Kacey Musgraves’ “Rainbow” solo.
Fans took issue with Carnie, Wendy and Rob joining Lola and made their qualms known in the comment sections of Carnie’s Instagram posts. Some called it “unfair” for her family to have performed with Lola during the audition.
Yet, regardless of the outside criticism, American Idol judges, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie voted to send Lola through to Hollywood.
Now, Carnie, 56, is speaking out against the naysayers. “We’re human, and the Internet is so cruel. And the comments are really pissing me off, and I can’t respond,” Carnie shared during 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, on Sunday, March 30, per People.
“Would you encourage a doctor’s son not to be a doctor?” Carnie continued addressing the “nepotism” comments they’ve received.
She also revealed that the American Idol team requested Lola’s family join her. “And they asked us to sing,” she said of the show. “So we came and crashed the party. We love singing with her, and she sings with us on tour sometimes. She’s a really inspiring artist.”
American Idol is arguably television’s biggest, most influential platform for emerging artists over the past 23 years – including relatives of some very famous faces. From siblings of pop superstars to the children of Hollywood royalty, numerous Idol auditioners tried to carve out their own place in the spotlight. Some sailed through the audition rounds, […]
“Lola wants to be a singer, and they say these terrible things. And she was so hurt,” Carnie noted, adding that she and Lola are, “real people with real hearts and souls.”
In the end, Carnie said she couldn’t be prouder of her 19-year-old daughter and the work she’s put in so far to achieve her dreams.
“I encourage her to do it because she loves to sing,” Carnie said, noting that Lola was scared and “trembling with nerves” before her audition. “But I’m so proud of her that she was even brave enough to audition.”
The proud mom added, “She sounds so beautiful. I’m so excited for her future. She has a stunning voice.”
In addition to Lola being the daughter of Carnie and Rob, she is also the granddaughter of Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson and American Spring singer Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford.
