'You are the reason I came to America!' Simon Cowell moved by singer performing to honour of her murdered mother

He’s already worth a reported $370 million, but Simon Cowell could become a whole lot richer with the talent on display on Thursday during US version of The X Factor.

After a slew of fairly mediocre auditions, the music tycoon’s eyes ignited when he heard enormously talented, yet modest, Los Angeles resident Ashly Williams.

Williams scored the strongest performance of the night as she belted out Whitney Houston’s octave leaping track I Will Always Love You.

Impressive performance: Ashly Williams belted out a Whitney Houston song on Thursday night's episode of The X Factor that impressed all four judges

‘I’m singing for my mother who was murdered when I was a child,’ said Williams tearfully before her exceptionally powerful recital.

The judging panel was left open-mouthed by the 24-year-old sales associate who dressed a little like Minnie Mouse for her audition.

Former Disney starlet Demi Lovato was moved to tears and Williams received the first full standing ovation of the night.

Ashly Williams' blows away judges on X Factor USA

Dedicated performance: Ashly sang I Will Always Love You for her mother who was murdered when the singer was a child

Nailed it: Ashly took on a challenging song and pulled it off

‘Thank you baby girl, for spilling your heart out in that vocal,’ said Destiny’s Child creator Kelly Rowland, while Mexican pop icon Paulina Rubio called the performance ‘captivating’.
‘I’m like speechless…I had chills all over my arms and legs,’ said a weepy 21-year-old Lovato.
But the most emphatic praise for Williams came from father-to-be Cowell.

‘We brought the show to America to find someone like you,’ he told the ecstatic contestant.

Country singer: Andrew Scholz was encouraged by judge Simon Cowell after the female panelists were initially unimpressed

The night began in the southern states with ‘corn fed country boy’ and smiley high-school jock Andrew Scholz.
Cowell loved the classically handsome 18-year-old, but the female panelists were not so impressed.
‘I just don’t get it,’ said Lovato, who thought the teen was awkward.
Determined to keep Scholz in the running Cowell made him sing a more country song, which ‘changed everything’ for his 'all-girl' panel.
'Country suits you. You look like an all-American boy,’ said the 53-year-old music executive and talent show guru.

Nice try: Teen singer Blake Shankle made the ladies swoon with his looks, but his voice not so much

Best-looking award probably went to handsome 19-year-old Blake Shankle.
‘You are so hot,’ cooed Rowland, 32, as he came on stage.
He might look like a movie star but Blake’s voice failed to excite and the incredulous teen received four no votes.
‘I felt like you posed a lot,’ condemned the 42-year-old Rubio.
‘I just can’t believe they didn’t like me,’ said Blake, who still managed to make the audience swoon.

The judges: Paulina Rubio, Demi Lovato, Kelly Rowland and Simon discussed a contestant

Bright eyes: Demi looked up at the talent on the stage

Making a point: Simon used a pen, his facial expression and some biting commentary to get his critiques across

Some flamboyant and ear-melting performances came out of the New Orleans auditions - including one contestant who sang in the children's scrambled jargon known as 'Pig Latin.'
‘What?’ said Cowell, before sending her packing.
Then shy cutie Ellona Santiago shocked everyone with her raw and sassy rendition of Wings by Little Mix.
‘She came out and she meant business,’ said Rowland, while Cowell called her ‘the girl I most want to work with in this competition.’

Talent judge: Paulina looked on as the contestants were evaluated

Bright and beautiful: Kelly rocked a bright lemon dress at the show

The peak of talent was short-lived and the next few contestants earned a litany of abuse from Cowell.
‘I am going to ask you to sing at the wedding of someone I hate,’ he told one hopeful.
Other insults included: ‘You sounded like you were being strangled’, ‘I’d hate to be your parents’ and ‘the whole thing was horrible.’
But the judges ears pricked up with wide-eyed 14-year-old Stone Martin, who sang the tween-pleasing One Direction hit Little Things.
While the little girls in the crowd squealed relentlessly, the panel heaped praise on the boy.
‘Your life is about to change forever,’ said Latin megastar Rubio as the likeable teen was awarded four firm yeses.

Overcome with emotion: Ellona Santiago impressed with her rendition of Wings by Little Mix

Teen star: Stone Martin had the girls in the audience squealing with his performance