American Idol: Jorgie comes out as gay during audition and gives Katy Perry ...

An American Idol contestant used Monday's episode to come out as gay to his unsuspecting family.

Jorgie, 23, said he grew up 'ashamed' of his sexual orientation while growing up in a conservative family in Israel.

His confidence blossomed after moving to Los Angeles five years ago – and he decided to finally come out in one of the most public ways possible.

Public announcement: Jorgie came out as gay to his unsuspecting family during Monday's episode of American Idol

Public announcement: Jorgie came out as gay to his unsuspecting family during Monday's episode of American Idol

'My family doesn't know that I'm gay, so this is a really big step for me,' Jorgie said before his audition with his band, Jorgie And The Orgies.

'It's not just me calling them and telling them – it's me actually being on TV and spilling the truth out.

'I'm here today to celebrate who I am and to end that era of being in the closet – because it's not fun. I'm ready.'

The show's celebrity judges asked if his father knew.

Pop star: The 34-year-old pop star was told by Jorgie that she was an inspiration

Pop star: The 34-year-old pop star was told by Jorgie that she was an inspiration

'He doesn't know anything about me,' he admitted. 'He's gonna see me and he's gonna find out about everything.'

Jorgie recalled how his family constantly encouraged him to be more masculine growing up, saying his move to Los Angeles was 'life-changing.'

'I used to be so ashamed and questioned why did God make me this way,' he said. 'But now if you give me a choice of being anything else than what I am I would say no.'

Life changer: Jorgie said his life changed after he moved to Los Angeles and learned to accept himself

Life changer: Jorgie said his life changed after he moved to Los Angeles and learned to accept himself

He told Katy Perry, 34, she was one of his 'biggest inspirations,' saying: 'Listening to I Kissed A Girl and knowing that it could be mainstream – that helped me so much.'

He even impersonated Katy, singing her California Gurls, with the star asking: 'Do I sound like I yodel? Is that my signature sound?'

'Spot on,' Luke Bryan, 42, teased her, with Katy then doing a deliberately bad impression of him in revenge.

Nice try: The contestant also tried to impersonate Katy and sang California Gurls

Nice try: The contestant also tried to impersonate Katy and sang California Gurls

Jorgie stunned the judges with his powerful performance of a moving original, Heaven, about a guy who never approached his crush because he was not out yet – with Jorgie admitting the guy was 'Jeffrey.'

'You're real! You've got a real emotional voice,' Katy gushed, saying that the band name, Jorgie And The Orgies, 'doesn't sound serious and you just gave us serious pro.'

'You have a real chance of being your dream,' she told him, hugging him as he got three yeses and telling him: 'We love you just the way you are.'

Nailed it: Jorgie stunned the judges with his powerful performance of a moving original, Heaven

Real talent: Katy praised Jorgie for having a 'real emotional voice' during his audition

Unanimous decision: The judges gave Jorgie three yes votes and sent him to Hollywood

As well as the last batch of contestants to go through, the final episode of auditions also featured a huge prank on the judges, who all looked wary of a depressed-looking goth named Lady Mapo.

'Oh God, what the heck is going on,' Lionel Richie, 69, asked as the contestant barely said anything, and complained that last year's show was 'really boring – it was just too American.'

But as Lady Mapo started dancing, she pulled off her black wig – revealing it was actually last year's winner Maddie Poppe, 21, hiding under the black lipstick and eyeshadow and dark lace outfit.

Goth gal: Lady Mapo wore all-black for her audition

Goth gal: Lady Mapo wore all-black for her audition

Really boring: The contestant told the judges that last season was 'really boring'

Really boring: The contestant told the judges that last season was 'really boring'

Feeling skeptical: Lionel Richie, Katy and Luke Bryan were looked wary of the singer

Feeling skeptical: Lionel Richie, Katy and Luke Bryan were looked wary of the singer

Good one: Katy started laughing as Lady Mapo turned out to be last season's winner Maddie Poppe

Wig off: The singer took off her wig to reveal her true identity

Practical joke: Lady Mapo took off her wig to reveal that it was actually last season's winner Maddie Poppe

'I was about to make a run for the door!' Lionel admitted as the judges all welcomed Maddie back.

She was not the only contestant from last year making a return, with Catie Turner, Dennis Lorenzo and Noah Davis all turning up to greet the judges.

Last year's runner-up, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, also pretended to audition – then sat with the judges to surprise one of his best friends from childhood, Jared Sanders, who was auditioning.

He's back: Caleb Lee Hutchinson also returned and pretended to audition again

He's back: Caleb Lee Hutchinson also returned and pretended to audition again

Showing support: The runner-up from last season took a seat next to Lionel to support his childhood friend Jared Sanders who was auditioning

Showing support: The runner-up from last season took a seat next to Lionel to support his childhood friend Jared Sanders who was auditioning

The 20-year-old fireman failed to get through with his version of George Strait's The Fireman – with only Lionel giving a yes.

Jared's famous friend assured him afterward: 'I believe in ya, brother.'

Luke immediately recognized Grammy-winning country star Billy Dean when he walked in as back-up guitarist for young hopeful Chloe Channell, 16.

Not ready: Jared failed to receive a golden ticket with only a yes vote from Lionel

Good friend: Caleb told Jared that he still believed in him

Good effort: Jared was consoled by his friend Caleb after failing to get a ticket to Hollywood

'I'm all good and washed up now,' the 90s' singing star joked with them, with Lionel soon also recognizing him from a party with mutual friend Kenny Rogers, 80.

'Uncle Kenny found me,' Lionel said noting that he wrote and produced Kenny's hit number one song Lady.

'You are very lucky to have Uncle Kenny and Billy – you just don't have those guys every day pulling for you,' Lionel told Chloe after her performance of Keith Urban's Stupid Boy. 'And I think it shows. Because if this is 16 years old I can't imagine what 19 might be, or 20.

Teen talent: Grammy-winning country star Billy Dean walked in as guitarist for young hopeful Chloe Channell, 16

Teen talent: Grammy-winning country star Billy Dean walked in as guitarist for young hopeful Chloe Channell, 16

Hard worker: Chloe took on Keith Urban's Stupid Boy during her audition

Hard worker: Chloe took on Keith Urban's Stupid Boy during her audition

'Your sound right now is confident.'

Billy was soon sniffing back tears after his young protégé got three yeses, with Katy calling her performance 'brilliant.'

'She's worked so hard. She's given up so many spring breaks and so many summers to do this,' Billy said, with Luke leading him and Lionel in a quick snippet of Billy's old hit, Only Here For A Little While.

Proud mentor: Billy praised Chloe for working hard to become a better singer

Proud mentor: Billy praised Chloe for working hard to become a better singer

Group performance: Luke lead Billy and Lionel in a quick snippet of Billy's old hit, Only Here For A Little While

Group performance: Luke lead Billy and Lionel in a quick snippet of Billy's old hit, Only Here For A Little While

Mutual friends: Lionel and Billy had a mutual friend in Kenny Rogers

Mutual friends: Lionel and Billy had a mutual friend in Kenny Rogers

Katy, meanwhile, also realized she had a connection with contestant Ryan Hammond when he spoke about his parents being pastors at a church in Modesto, California.

'Is your dad Mark Hammond?' she asked, clearly knowing his father.

'My parents are pastors and they started a church in Stockton. I think my parents, like, praised the Lord with your parents,' she told him.

Special connection: Ryan Hammond also had a connection with Katy as their preacher parents knew each other

Special connection: Ryan Hammond also had a connection with Katy as their preacher parents knew each other

'That's probably true. It's happened at

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