March 2 show featured Colts Neck’s Jacquie Lee, Freehold’s Julia Sienna and Jake Thistle of Paramus
By Mary Ann Bourbeau
Three tremendously talented New Jersey residents made it as far as Hollywood Night on the ABC singing competition “American Idol,” but only two will be moving forward.
Jake Thistle, a rising singer-songwriter and mainstay on the Jersey Shore music scene, was chosen during the March 2 episode by the celebrity judges, who had the difficult task of narrowing down 127 hopefuls to 30.
Colts Neck resident Jacquie Lee, who at the age of 16 was a runner up on the NBC singing competition “The Voice,” also made it to the Top 30 of “American Idol.” The now-28-year-old wowed the judges with her rendition of “I Put a Spell on You” during her audition.
“You have a ‘bring the house down’ voice,” Lionel Richie said when Lee finished singing. “I’m already standing up. It’s a yes for me!”
Freehold’s Julia Sienna Santiago didn’t make the judges’ cut.
Thistle, a 21-year-old Paramus resident and recent Rutgers University grad, is known for his lyricism and musical storytelling as well as his mastery of the guitar, with a sound that blends classic rock with modern pop. He has worked with artists such as John Hiatt and members of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers and appeared on bills with Jackson Browne, the Foo Fighters, Eddie Vedder, Roger McGuinn and Steve Earle.
On the Feb. 23 Hollywood Night episode, Thistle performed “Seventeen Going Under” by Sam Fender to rousing applause from the audience and praise from the judges.
“You are so ready for this,” said judge Luke Bryan.
Thistle and Lee will head to Hawaii for the ’Ohana Round, where the 30 hopefuls will perform for their families and industry tastemakers. Only 20 will move on to a Disney Resort in Ko Olina for the March 16 and March 23 episodes, where Brad Paisley and Keke Palmer will mentor them.
“I’m super excited about all of this,” said Thistle. “I’m looking to put out a record this year, so this gets me in front of a lot of new eyes. Regardless of what happens, I’ve learned so much already and I had the opportunity to play before legends in the industry.”
Thistle was in the middle of a tour this past fall when he received word that he was chosen to audition in Nashville for “American Idol.” He flew in from Florida and performed Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” for judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.
“It’s one of my favorite songs and despite it being well known, it’s also off the beaten path,” he said. “I didn’t want to do a song they’ve heard a thousand times. I knew I only had a minute or a minute and a half to make an impression. I think the song was a good representation of what I do. For the most part, I think I succeeded. It showed exactly who I am.”
The judges wholeheartedly agreed, with Bryan praising Thistle’s confidence and Underwood commenting on his poise while performing.
“You went from a little Billy Joel with a guitar to Bon Jovi to Bryan Adams,” said Richie. “What I’m loving about all this is that it’s fresh. It’s checking some boxes for me.”
Thistle has been playing in Jersey Shore venues since he was a teenager.
“A lot of things were happening in Asbury Park, and I wanted to be part of it,” he said. “There was a Springsteen fan meetup weekend when I was around 12 or 13. That was my first time there. Before the pandemic, I performed at a Light of Day benefit. I saw firsthand how the music community comes together, so I started playing in the area as much as possible. I’ve built a good group of friends down there.”
Santiago, who goes professionally by Julia Sienna, is a 20-year-old Rutgers student and special officer with the Sea Girt Police Department. She is a graduate of Howell High School’s Fine and Performing Arts Center. Growing up, she participated in summer intensives at Paper Mill Playhouse, took lessons at the Basie Center’s Rockit Academy and was nominated for Outstanding Female Lead in a Musical at the Basie Awards. Her influences include Jennifer Hudson, Adele and Ariana Grande.
During her audition, Sienna dressed in a police uniform and playfully handcuffed judge Bryan before singing a heartfelt rendition of Connie Talbot’s song, “I Would,” which received high praise from the judges.
“You’re strong, you’re gorgeous, you have a strength in your voice and then you have these beautiful notes at the top that are very soft and pretty,” said Underwood. “It’s all the things wrapped into one and I love that very much.”
Performance always called to her, but so did the lure of police work.
“My nana would babysit me when I was younger and she would always sing to me,” said Sienna. “I can remember feeling that melody through my body. It really spoke to me like nothing ever had. When my dad (Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago) came home from work, I was interested in what he did. If I wasn’t practicing singing, I was watching a cold case or something on the news. I always had such an interest in both fields.”
After graduating from Rutgers, Sienna said she hopes to enter the police academy and be a full-time officer while still pursuing music. Her father, along with mom Toni, brother Raymond and sister Lexi, accompanied her to Nashville for the audition. For her Hollywood Week audition, she sang “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle. While she is not moving forward on the show, Sienna insists the loss won’t keep her down. She plans to release an album with original music within the year.
“I’ll never give up on my passion for singing,” she said. “Nothing is going to stop me from achieving my dreams of going on tour one day.”
The article originally appeared in the March 5 – 11, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
