Watch: Aretha Franklin's Granddaughter Auditions for 'American Idol'

Grace Franklin on "American Idol."

Even coming from a royal lineage is not a guarantee to get you a spot on "American Idol."

Grace Franklin, the 15-year-old granddaughter of the Queen of Soul, found that out the hard way when she auditioned for the long-running musical talent show on its 20th season premiere Sunday.

When asked how she came to stand before the judges, the teenager said, "My grandma is Aretha Franklin."

The statement elicited surprise from R&B legend Lionel Richie.

"Stop right there, that's your grandma!" exclaimed the "All Night Long" singer.

Unfortunately for young Grace, the elation would not last.

The music neophyte, who shared with the audience in a pre-taped segment before the audition, "I don't think I could fully grasp the fact that she [Franklin] was known worldwide, because to me she was always just grandma," sang two songs.

Her take on "Killing Me Softly," as popularized by Lauryn Hill of the Fugees, was called "a little sleepy and subdued" by country superstar and "Idol" judge Luke Bryan. Her next attempt at Franklin's hit "Ain't No Way," was agreed to be more "in her lane" by the judges, but that was not enough to sway Bryan and Richie who voted for her not to advance.

Bryan sternly declared, "For right now I'm a no," before Richie took a slightly gentler approach on the deciding vote.

"Grace Franklin, I love you and I think the best thing for you in life is to take a shot at going backwards," he said. "Go back and get a running start and come at this again."

Perry, who voted her through to the show's next round, stormed off the stage following the decision.

As she exited the judges' chambers the "Teenage Dream" singer said, "She's got stardust on her! There's something wrong with your ears. Y'all are insane!"

Richie, however, was not done. He rose from his seat to address Grace directly and told her, "Trust me! If you go and come back and put the shyness behind you and the voice in front of you, you're going to be something amazing and I don't want to be the one to make you tip over and fall at this stage," and gave her a hug.

Watch the full audition below:

'Yayo' Rapper, Snootie Wild, Found Dead in Houston

Courtesy of Krystal Meredith

Yo Gotti protégé Snootie Wild is dead at 36.

The Memphis, Tennesee, rapper best known for his 2014 hit "Yayo," was found shot in the neck next to an SUV in a ditch early Friday morning in Houston.

Police told local ABC-TV affiliate KTRK that Porter backed up into the ditch accidentally, and he was shot by individuals who pulled up to the scene.

“They were talking for a little bit, and then all of a sudden, gunfire went off," Houston Police Department spokesman Lt. Ronald Willkens said.

Surveillance video obtained by HPD shows a white vehicle with two men and one woman inside arriving on the scene before a single shot was fired into Wild's SUV.

The shooting occurred at around 2 a.m. By Friday afternoon, rumors of Wild's death were sweeping social media.

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Those claims were refuted by his official Facebook page which said the hip-hop artist, who received CPR at the scene and was sent to a local hospital in critical condition, was still alive.

"Snootie is not DEAD! But he is fighting for his life," read the post. "Out of respect for the family, please refrain from sharing anything that is not communicated through his official accounts. Thank you."

But, Saturday on his official Instagram, post the family confirmed his death.

“Gone in body, but your NAME & LEGACY will live forever! #TeamYayo4Life,” the post read.

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Wild, whose real name was LePreston Porter, had moved to the city in recent years according to his fiance and manager Krystal Meredith. She said he had "major" plans for releasing new music.

"He was very active in the industry, and they literally just cut it short," Meredith told the Houston Chroncile. "But overall he was the glue for his family and friends.”

She also said the killing of the father of five was a tragedy.

“Snootie was a rapper but he was also a great individual," Meredith said. "He was a loving father … and we don’t understand how this could have happened or why it happened. We want justice in his killing.”

It may be some time before that happens.

Willkens said officers were “sitting on” what they believed to be the suspects’ vehicle, found near the shooting scene, but it's unclear whether any arrests were made. A motive has yet to be identified by investigators.

Biden Nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be First Black Woman on Supreme Court

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The White House announced today that President Biden has selected to nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jackson, currently a judge on U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, will be the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court if confirmed.

The nomination ends a month-long search and fulfills a campaign promise by Biden to nominate a Black woman to the bench.

The administration said in a statement Biden "sought a candidate with exceptional credentials, unimpeachable character, and unwavering dedication to the rule of law" to replace Justice Stephen Breyer, who announced he would step down from the Supreme Court after 27 years last month at the end of the current term.

I’m proud to announce that I am nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Supreme Court. Currently serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, she is one of our nation’s brightest legal minds and will be an exceptional Justice.https://t.co/iePvhz1YaA pic.twitter.com/Nzqv2AtN8h

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 25, 2022

"He also sought a nominee—much like Justice Breyer—who is wise, pragmatic, and has a deep understanding of the Constitution as an enduring charter of liberty," it added. "And the President sought an individual who is committed to equal justice under the law and who understands the profound impact that the Supreme Court’s decisions have on the lives of the American people."

Jackson, a former clerk for Breyer, has served as a federal appellate judge, a federal district court judge, a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an attorney in private practice and as a federal public defender.

The Democratic Party will likely need all its members in Washington to confirm the historic appointment in a 50-50 Senate (50 Republicans, 48 Democrats and two Independents who caucus with the Democrats), though there will be an attempt at bi-partisanship. 

When Jackson was confirmed to the appellate bench, she had the support of three Republican senators. If needed, however, the Democrats can confirm the appointment with their 50 votes and Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker.

She was born in Washington and grew up in Miami. The daughter of educators, Jackson graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College, then attended Harvard Law School, where she graduated cum laude and was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.

After law school, Jackson served in Breyer’s chambers as a law clerk. Then served as a federal public defender from 2005 to 2007, representing defendants on appeal who did not have the means to pay for a lawyer. If confirmed, she would be the first former federal public defender to serve on the Supreme Court

From 2013 to 2021, she served as a United States District Judge for the District of Columbia. She has been confirmed by the Senate on a bipartisan basis three times – twice as judge and once to serve on the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

Jackson's husband Patrick serves as Chief of the Division of General Surgery at Georgetown University Hospital. She lives with him and their two daughters in Washington.