“American Idol” is back this Sunday and Monday for Hollywood Week and Los Angeles native MKY (pronounced Mikey) is hoping to make it through to the live shows when the show picks the Top 24. In the showstoppers round the MKY and the hopefuls will sing for a chance to move on with some more big auditions. In the preview of the Sunday, April 6 show, MYK channels his Latin roots by singing “Sabor a Mí”! by Luis Miguel in Spanish.

MKY spoke with ABC 7 Los Angeles about his time on the show so far and his hopes and dreams beyond the show. The singer with a Latin flavor impressed the judges with his rendition of Smokey Robinson’s “Oh, Baby, Baby,” which had Lionel Richie swaying in his chair and standing and dancing.

“So far ‘American Idol’ has just opened my eyes in so many different ways,” Jimenez said. “I’m definitely fulfilling my dreams as an artist because they’re just amazing people, the whole production team and the stages are beautiful, the sounds the best, so I’m ready.”

MKY has music in his blood. His father sings and his grandfather, Mike Jiminez, was a member of the popular Latin R & B group Tierra whose hit “Together” reached the Billboard Top 20. MKY’s own song “Save Me,” was released earlier this year and the East LA native has opened locally for such acts as Los Lobos.

“I’m getting the opportunity to perform at a very high level,” Jimenez said. “Even for me to get ‘American Idol’ to come out to Whittier Boulevard, I don’t think that’s ever been done before. So it’s all about just pushing the culture and breaking down barriers.”

“American Idol” airs Sundays and Mondays on ABC.

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