By Melanie Linn Gutowski

'American Idol' contestant Aaron Kelly owes his aunt quite a lot.

Kelly Kelly and her husband, Greg, adopted Aaron and his brother after their biological parents could no longer care for them.

"When I was a year old, things just weren't really going that great with my biological parents," Aaron told 'American Idol' in an audition interview.

"We moved around so much; never stayed in one place. We had no money, my dad couldn't keep a job; things just weren't good."

Aaron and his brother were about to be surrendered to Children and Youth Services.  

"My aunt and uncle did not want that; they didn't want us going to somebody we didn't know and never getting to see any of my family - or real family - again," he said.

"So, they adopted us."

Kelly and Greg's decision certainly seems to have been a fortunate one for Aaron, who is now in the top nine contestants on 'American Idol.'  Now sixteen, he has been singing since childhood.

Kelly is what we at Savvy Auntie call a "ParAunt" - an auntie who becomes a parent to her niece or nephew.  

"I'm grateful for everything that she's done for me," Aaron said.

"She's given up a lot to make sure I am how I am today and I've had all the things in life that every 16 year old should have."

Aaron has left American Idol viewers with no doubts about his feelings toward his fabulous ParAunt:

"I do call my aunt 'mom,' because the one who raised you is your mom."

Photo: Poptower.com

Melanie Linn Gutowski is a freelance writer and a proud Godmother.