Jesse Findling, a junior at Binghamton University, is heading to Hollywood after receiving a golden ticket during the season 24 premiere of “American Idol.”

Findling, who studies biology and musical theatre, received a standing ovation from Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan and a ticket to compete in Hollywood after his “American Idol” audition in Nashville. During his audition, Findling recounted his struggle with having a stutter since elementary school and said this challenge helped instill his love for singing.

“Singing has always felt freeing for me because when I sing, I don’t stutter,” Findling said during his audition. “When I sang, it was a way for me to express myself in a way where I didn’t have to worry about being embarrassed or what people would think, or if somebody would laugh.”

Findling performed the song “In the Stars” by Benson Boone for his audition, saying the song was important to him because he and his brother, who also has a stutter, would sing it together. Findling expressed that he wanted to act as a role model for his brother.

The judges gave Findling’s audition a standing ovation and complimented his singing and emotional engagement with the song.

“Your voice is beautiful,” Underwood said. “You have a beautiful vibrato, a beautiful tone. We could understand everything you were singing and you were in the song emotionally, which just took us right there with you.”

Findling has also been involved in the University’s theatre department, performing in multiple shows. Tommy Iafrate, associate professor and director of musical theater at the University, worked with Findling his freshman year when he tried out for the fall musical, “Anything Goes,” and the spring semester’s studio musical, “The Cradle Will Rock.”

Findling landed a lead role in “Anything Goes” as Moonface Martin and a critical role as the preacher in “The Cradle Will Rock,” with Iafrate telling Pipe Dream that Findling “did a wonderful job with the material.”

“Jesse is really willing to play and have fun, and audiences like watching performers have fun, so seeing him sort of release himself into that world of playful exploration is something freeing and funny and enjoyable for an audience,” Iafrate said, later adding that Findling was always well-prepared, supportive and reliable.

Zawadi Yebo, a Johnson City local, also appeared on this season of American Idol, but was sent home after the judges did not grant her a golden ticket. Yebo sang “Where Have You Been” by Rihanna for her audition.

Another upstate New York native, Savannah Swatland from South Wales in Erie County, posted a behind-the-scenes photo of her audition last week. She did not appear in the season premiere of the show, but said on Facebook that she will appear in a later episode.

Findling did not return Pipe Dream’s request for comment.

After impressing judges with his emotional backstory and musical talent, Findling will now travel to Hollywood to continue the competition.

“What problem?” Richie said after Findling’s audition. “You don’t have a problem. The only thing wrong with you is you gotta figure out how you’re gonna navigate this career.”