When Texan soul singer Panda Ross hit the stage of X Factor USA, she delivered one of the most unforgettable auditions in the show’s history, leaving some viewers reckoning, “she’s super entertaining – better than Oprah!”
Amassing more than 18 million YouTube views across various uploads of her audition, Panda’s story is one of strength, hilarity, and completely unexpected turns. Music Man readers can watch her show-stopping audition unfold in the viral clip below…
“Busting herself out of the hospital” just a day before her audition, following a fight with pneumonia, the larger-than-life, 42-year-old barista serves a pre-audition interview wearing a gold necklace reading “SINGLE” – a vibrant message to her unlikely celebrity crush, Simon Cowell, whom she’s just about to meet for the first time.
Panda comes across as an instant inspiration, excitedly telling producers, “Singing is everything to me. I don’t got a lot of education, I don’t got a lot of nothin’, but I just got a lot of personality and it’s the gift that God gave me, so, I just like to use that gift to brighten up everybody’s day.”
As soon as she hits the stage, Panda confesses her love to a smiling Simon, erratically sharing her story of pneumonia and the jaw-dropping tale behind her unusual name, instantly winning the audience’s love and attention. Fellow judges L.A. Reid, Demi Lovato, and Britney Spears are just as stunned as Simon at Panda’s boundless, uplifting energy. But nothing could have prepared them for the sound of her singing voice!
Performing the classic track, “Bring It On Home,” Panda serves pure gospel-soul queen, slaying her audition from her very first line. Her deep vocals stun the judges, yet her pitch-perfect rendition has the audience up and clapping, hooting, and cheering for the X Factor icon. She even dedicates a juicy verse to Simon Cowell himself, serenading him like a diva whilst making Britney Spears cackle.
With the judges enraptured by her voice and sparkling personality, Panda received spotless praise across the board, with Simon even commenting, “You sound like a legend! And I absolutely love you. [I’ve] always wanted a panda.”
Despite earning four out of four Yes votes from the X Factor USA judges, Panda failed to make it into the live rounds. But that hardly stopped the star from giving the show a second shot!
In both 2013 and 2019, Panda flew to the UK to audition on the original X Factor show, impressing Simon yet again, not only with her show-stealing voice but with her incredible 100lb weight loss.
Since then, Panda has taken her music to over 40 states and three countries, according to her official website, and is even available to book as an artist at weddings, parties, plays, and business events! She’s also released a number of gospel compilation albums, and a 2022 single with J. Harvey entitled, “Swing It,” which curious readers can find both on Amazon and her own site.
Panda Ross is a force of nature whose X Factor audition—equal parts heart, humour and sheer bravado—has cemented her as unforgettable. Discover more about her story and watch the viral clip via the useful links below.