Tensions ran high towards the end of Season 1 of Building The Band. The Netflix reality TV competition sees newly formed bands go head-to-head, vying for the $500k prize money at the end of the season.

In the penultimate episode, the contestants appeared more stressed than ever, anxious about their final performance. It made it all the more perfect timing, then, for them to receive a visit from some very special guests.

The Contestants Were Surprised By Family Members

In Episode 9 of the season, the remaining bands prepare for their final performance, the one that will decide who the winner of the entire competition is. Nerves were running high, and, in order to provide the contestants some encouragement, the producers surprised the cast members with visits from their family members, who snuck up behind them during rehearsals.

Many of the singers were so overwhelmed to see their loved ones that they broke down in happy tears, rushing over and hugging them. For several of the contestants, one or both of their parents paid them a visit, making them feel supported during a time when they needed it most.

One contestant, Shane, a member of Midnight Til Morning, had a FaceTime call with his parents instead. He opened up to the cameras about how much winning the competition would mean not just for him, but for his entire family:

One Contestant Had An Especially Emotional Reaction

One of the participants who was the most surprised by the visit was Aaliyah, a member of mixed-gender group SZN4. In a confessional to the cameras, Aaliyah explained that her mother had been battling breast cancer for the past few years, which meant that she herself had had to take a step back from her musical career to take care of her.

Aaliyah noted how much it meant to see her mother showing up to support her musical ambitions. The two squeezed each other tightly as happy tears ran down her face. In a post on her personal Instagram page, Aaliyah detailed what it was like when her mother was first diagnosed—not just how scary it was for their family, but how strong she knew her parent would be:

It seems that her mother is faring well enough to be able to travel and support her daughter’s musical career. Though SZN4 did end up placing second in the competition, from the looks of things on social media, the group is still going strong. In fact, just last week, Aaliyah made another Instagram post telling her fans that SZN4’s “pinky promise” to stay together no matter what was still in effect.