A father's love leads to a golden ticket

Matt Farmer is a Tulsa native headed to Hollywood.

The former soldier won a golden ticket on last night's American Idol and he credits one little girl.

"I'm on American Idol because of my daughter," Farmer said.

He performed the song "Change is Gonna Come," for the judges.  It was a fitting song for a father and daughter who have gone through a lot of adversity.

Farmer was a soldier who returned home with TBI or traumatic brain injury.  He says this could have cut his music career short.

"As a singer I would try to remember words to songs and I wouldn't remember them," Farmer said.  "Everywhere I would sing I would have to have a monitor in front of me."

The new challenges didn't stop Farmer from pursuing his music career.  He said there are tricks he learned to help remember the lyrics.

"Now I can do a 15 or 20 song set and remember the words," Farmer said.

His three-year-old daughter was also there to motivate her father and keep him heading forward even when he got down on himself.

Having a child wasn't even guaranteed for the vet.

Farmer said he was told he could never have children because of certain medications he took.  A year and a half later Farmer had a daughter and takes raising her very seriously.

His daughter was there when her father won the golden ticket in San Antonio.  Famer said any success he gets from the show will benefit his biggest fan.

"This is what I want for my daughter's future," Farmer said.

Plus, he hopes the contest will continue to teach her a very important lesson.

"There's one thing we believe here in my house and that's music can unite everybody," Farmer said.  "The fact that she knows that , enjoys that and gets to the engulfed in that, it's the best part for me."