Ally Brooke of Fifth Harmony Shares What She Prayed Before Singing Worship Song to Britney Spears and Demi Lovato on The X Factor

Delaney Rannells Contributing Writer
Updated Oct 24, 2023

American singer Ally Brooke, who rose to fame after auditioning for The X Factor and joining the musical group Fifth Harmony, says she prayed to God before submitting her audition tape, which would eventually change her life.

Although she auditioned solo, Brooke was eventually grouped with Camila Cabello, Normani, Lauren Jauregui and Dinah Jane and became a member of Fifth Harmony in 2012. The group received third place on the televised singing competition and later went on to become one of the most successful all-female singing groups of all time.

Known for songs like "Work from Home," "Worth It" and "Miss Movin' On," Fifth Harmony have amassed more than 5 billion on-demand streams.

"I was locked in from my room for hours auditioning... And I remember just being frustrated. I felt like I just wasn't getting it, so I prayed," Brooke said on The Ryan Ries Show, a podcast available on LifeAudio. "I said, 'God, I love you. Lord, please if this is meant for me, please open the door. And if not, please close the door.'"

Brooke admits she had some hesitation and emphasized she would have understood if The X Factor wasn't in God's plan for her life.

"I was kind of trying to persuade Him [to close the door] because I just didn't want to do it," Brooke said. "I remember saying, 'Lord, it really is your will.'"

Brooke ultimately advanced to the in-person audition and performed "On My Knees" by Jaci Velasquez, a worship song, in front of judges Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid in Texas.

Lovato shared that Brooke's voice blew her away and was "so special and so beautiful."

Spears noted that she was surprised. "I felt like you should be on Broadway because your voice has such a theatrical dynamic."

Throughout her musical career, Brooke has proudly embraced her Christian faith and speaks about it frequently on social media. She released her memoir Finding Your Harmony: Dream Big, Have Faith, and Achieve More Than You Can Imagine in 2020.

"I feel called to let my light shine, and let God's light shine here because this industry does have a lot of darkness," Brooke said.

Hear Ally Brooke's full interview on The Ryan Ries Show: