Maddy Hudson made the cut.

And she owes it all to making Beyonce’s “Resentment” sound like it was her own song.

The Manteca-Ripon teen advanced in the American Idol competition. While the 16-year-old knew that she was advancing, she wasn’t allowed to tell anyone else. Friends and her family found out Wednesday night watching FOX along with the rest of America.

Singing Beyonce wasn’t the most obvious choice, but Hudson worked her magic, finding all the big notes and showcasing a cool little cry hanging on the end of her phrases.

Judge Jennifer Lopez said she was “fantastic” and called her “one of my favorites.” 

“I think she could win,” said J-Lo, the only person to ever have a No. 1 album and film in the same week.

“You have all of the ingredients to really be a superstar,” added Judge Harry Connick Jr.

Some 35 family and friends joined Hudson for a pizza party at Mountain Mike’s on North Main Street in Manteca to watch the event on national television.

Her special guests were godparents Greg and Geri Wallace, who never stopped beaming. Greg Wallace had donned a gray T-shirt that read, “Maddy Hudson’s #1 Fan.”

The teen and her mom Ashli lived on Jack Tone Road for a number of years. Hudson attended Ripon Christian School in the sixth and seventh grades before being home schooled. The family later resided in Pleasanton. She is now in her senior year and plans to make singing a life-long vocation.

Wednesday was a busy day for her, having been on Pam Cook’s KTVU television show in the morning and D’ Ferrera’s KJOY radio program later in the day and finally on Channel 40 with the American Idol at 8 p.m. 

Her mother said her daughter had been singing since she was 6 years old, adding that the first time she opened her mouth she put family and friends in awe with her talent. She entertains the crowds at the Pleasanton Farmers’ Market every Saturday at Tully’s on Main Street.

Hudson’s next stop with other finalists will be at the Orpheum Theater in Hollywood. Those wishing to follow her future competition may go onto Facebook. She has two pages – one a “fan” entertainment page and the other a series of personal listings for her close friends.

Her mom said the viewing at the pizza parlor was very emotional for her as it was for Hudson. She hadn’t been allowed to watch the Oct. 3 taping, leaving her and other family members pretty much in the dark. 

“They gave her a handful of tickets when she was done and told her she could tell everybody else to go home,” mom said. She added that her daughter was among 47 who had first auditioned in San Francisco.

The evening ended with a special congratulatory cake for Hudson.