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Reis Kloeckener is like a character on Glee come to life.

Equipped with a Justin Bieber haircut, the American Idol hopeful tried out in St. Louis last night and explained how he attended a 152-student Lutheran middle school… before entering a much larger high school and getting bullied non-stop.

He considered dropping out, until a teacher overheard Reis singing in the hall one day and asked him to join choir. From there, he made friends and found a niche for himself.

The story, combined with Kloeckener’s take on “Lean on Me,” was too much for Steven Tyler. The singer/judge welled up and quickly gave this aspiring artist a Golden Ticket to Hollywood. See if you have the same reaction now:

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Among Kloeckener’s strongest competitors in St. Louis? Johnny Keyser.