I have enjoyed watching American Idol for years! This year, I started watching and saw a pattern … they always left the best story for the last segment of the show!

One night in January, when they were still auditioning, the last singer of the evening was a music healer. In the preview, they showed this Jesus-like-looking man in an all-white outfit sitting cross-legged meditating on a rock. The voiceover, as they were introducing him, was quite sarcastic.

Then when he entered the stage with the three judges (Harry Connick, Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban), they immediately started “ribbing” him about being a sound healer. What’s that? What gives you the right to call yourself a sound healer? Why does the world need sound healers? And on and on…

He handled it all in stride and briefly tried to explain his work/philosophy. He mentioned the word chakras [energy centers in the body] and Harry Connick, Jr. laid down on the floor mocking the contestant. Meanwhile, J-Lo and Keith are giggling and rolling their eyes.

I sat, watching all this in disbelief and disgust at these three completely insensitive judges. I honestly just couldn’t believe it!  They lost a fan that night!

The disappointment for me was 1) the possibility of “middle America” being exposed to the important genre of healing music, 2) “getting it,” and 3) endorsing it as important and worthwhile. What did they have to lose? It felt like a step backward, but certainly doesn’t deter those of us who are passionate and committed to this unique modality of sound healing and healing music.

No longer watching American Idol, I’ve happily switched to watching “The Voice” and enjoying every episode…