When Simon hears what the 18-year-old wants to sing, he is skeptical, but as soon as she opens her mouth, he knows he was mistaken.

Stepping into a crowded arena filled with eager faces and a panel of famously blunt judges, you face two choices: play it safe or risk everything for a life-changing opportunity. At 18, Lucie Jones from Wales didn’t hesitate during her X Factor audition—she went all in. From the moment she hit the stage, Lucie made…