Delaware's Margie Mays sings a Sam Smith song on 'American Idol,' passes to next round

Wilmington native Margie Mays conquered Hollywood Week on "American Idol" Sunday night, belting out "Lay Me Down" by English singer/songwriter Sam Smith and advancing to the reality show's next round.

The 25-year-old Tower Hill School graduate was worried after her performance, admitting on the show, "I was a little nervous. There was a croak in my throat."

Even so, show judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie liked what they heard and extended her run on the ABC program, in its 17th season.

In a funny moment, Perry just happened to sneeze right when Mays finished the ballad, closing out Mays' two-minute appearance on the two-hour episode.

Mays grew up in Wilmington and went to college at Stanford University and the Los Angeles College of Music.

She now lives in Los Angeles full-time where she works as a dog walker and gives voice and piano lessons. Her parents, Chris and Alice, live in the Wilmington area.

Hollywood Week continues with the program's "Showcase Round & Final Judgment" Sunday night. The top 20 singers will start battling it out Monday, April 1.

Armed with a quirky and outgoing personality, Mays advanced to Hollywood Week on March 18.

During that appearance, Perry clearly took a liking to Mays, calling her a "star."

“You’re literally a star,” Perry said to Mays after she finished singing “Shot” by New York pop act Lawrence. “You can be exactly who you are. Just focus on winning with your voice and letting your heart shine through. You’ve already switched from in between the two going from totally insane to totally pro.” 

Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).