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Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell Joins Son Baylee During American Idol Audition
Baylee Littrell is showing disconnected his larger-than-life talent.
The 22-year-old lad of Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell showcased an archetypal opus that near judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lional Richie, arsenic good arsenic his begetter and different American Idol hopefuls, successful tears.
During his show of his archetypal song, “Hey Jesus,” connected the March 31 occurrence of the contention series, Baylee dedicated it to his precocious grandma Shirley.
“I wrote this opus erstwhile I was going done a beauteous pugnacious clip successful my life, mislaid idiosyncratic I loved,” the Atlanta autochthonal said successful a broadside interview. “My grandma was my champion friend. With my dada being distant connected tour, she would ever measurement in. She understood maine similar not galore radical do. My grandma passed distant 3 years agone almost.”
Baylee continued done tears, “I thought she was gonna beryllium astir for moments similar this. I ne'er expected to suffer her. So, erstwhile I did, I questioned everything. And I pushed distant faith. Thought I would not find it again, this opus benignant of helped maine find it.”
During his performance, Baylee strummed his guitar arsenic members of the assemblage stood to their feet and wiped tears. At 1 point, the camera chopped to his begetter Brian and his parent Leighanne Littrell who sang on with tears successful their eyes portion sitting adjacent to Idol big Ryan Seacrest.
At the judges table, Carrie was visibly affectional arsenic she praised the performance.
“Baylee, you’re truthful good,” she said arsenic chap judges Luke and Lionel nodded successful agreement. “Your bosom and your genuineness conscionable travel through. You’re truthful good.”
And portion Baylee has the enactment of his father—who has recovered occurrence with the boyband for implicit 2 decades—the young instrumentalist is acceptable to carve his ain path.
“When your families successful the euphony concern it opens a batch of doors, but it besides creates a batch of animosity,” helium said up of taking the stage. “My large happening present is, I’m present to marque this connected my own.”
Baylee stunned the judges during his audition during the play 23 premiere that aired March 10, erstwhile his begetter joined him to sing on during his audition arsenic helium performed different archetypal song, wherever helium besides had the accidental to recognition his begetter for his talent.
"I judge I get my dependable from Dad, and hopefully I tin bash him justness today," Baylee explained. "I conjecture you tin accidental euphony runs successful our family. Dance moves-wise, that's the 1 happening genetically that did not walk down."
"Following successful my dad's footsteps is scary, due to the fact that his career, to me, is 1 of the astir bonzer successful euphony history," Baylee added. "No 1 tin ever compare."
Keep speechmaking for much personage kids who shined connected American Idol…
Ray Mickshaw/WireImage
Nikko Smith
Son of the Hall of Famer Major League Baseball player Ozzie Smith, Nikko competed connected play 4 of American Idol, singing Stevie Wonder’s “All I Do.”
Nikko made it to the apical 9 before helium was eliminated.
Frank Micelotta/FOX
Jordin Sparks
Jordin, girl of New York Giants alum Phillippi Sparks, competed connected season 6 of American Idol. She auditioned successful Seattle, Washington, performing Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me.”
She received a yes from judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, and she went connected to triumph the season.
Since competing successful 2007, the “Battlefield” vocalist has dropped respective deed songs and received a Grammy information successful 2009 for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for “No Air,” her duet with Chris Brown and successful 2024 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for“Love Me Like I Am” With For King & Country.
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Lara Johnston
In play 10, the girl of Doobie Brothers member Tom Johnston Lara sang Stevie Wonder’s “All I Do” successful a San Francisco, California audition.
She made it to the Hollywood circular and was eliminated.
John Shearer/WireImage
Jane Carey
Comedian Jim Carrey’s girl Jane was a season 11 contestant, singing Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About” successful San Diego, California.
Jane made it to the archetypal circular of Hollywood week before being eliminated.
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Shannon Magrane
Former St. Louis Cardinals player Joe Magrane’s girl Shannon besides competed connected season 11 of the contention series. She performed a rendition of Etta James’ “Something’s Got a Hold connected Me,” and received a yes from each 3 judges.
Shannon secured a spot successful the apical 11 before she was sent home.
Ray Mickshaw/FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
Gianna Isabella
Gianna, girl of ‘80s popular star Brenda K. Starr, auditioned forseason 15 of the series. She performed her mother’s deed opus “I Still Believe,” and she wowed the judges.
The New Jersey contestant finished with a place in the apical ten.
Eddy Chen/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Amelia Hammer Harris
Amelia, girl of pianist and “Great Balls of Fire” songwriter Jack Hammer, was a play 16 contestant on American Idol. She performed “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones in Savannah, Georgia, where judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan all gave her a yes.
She secured a spot successful the apical 24 before being eliminated.
Eric McCandless via Getty Images
Claudia Conway
Claudia, girl of Kellyanne Conway (former Senior Counselor for President Donald Trump) and George Conway (who served arsenic an advisor to Trump) auditioned for play 19.
Katy announced the audition connected a Nov. 16 Instagram story, saying, “Well, well, well, fto the games statesman due to the fact that Claudia conscionable tried retired for American Idol.”
The influencer sang Adele’s “When We Were Young” and Rihanna’s “Love connected the Brain,” receiving a nary from Luke, but a yes from both Katy and Lionel. Claudia made it to the Hollywood circular before being eliminated.
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Project Angel Food
Ava Maybee
Ava, girl of Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, auditioned for play 20 with Stevie Wonder’s “Lately.” She wowed each 3 judges, who sent her to the Hollywood round.
She made it to the apical 14, singing “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles, but, alas, it was not capable to support her successful the competition.
Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images
Leah Marlene
Also competing successful play 20, would be Leah—daughter of Honeymoon Suite guitarist Derry Grehan—who performed “Steal My Girl” by One Direction successful her Nashville audition, securing her a spot successful the adjacent round.
She became a finalist for the season, singing “Cover Me” by Bruce Springsteen and her archetypal opus “Flowers,” but was eliminated.
Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images
Lyric Mederios
Lyric, girl of singer Glenn Mederios, auditioned for play 21 successful Nashville with the opus “Love Me Like You Mean It” by Kelsea Ballerini. However, Katy wanted to spot her perform different opus much challenging, performing Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.”
Luke voted no, but Katy and Lionel moved her into the adjacent round. Lyric was eliminated soon aft successful the Hollywood round.
Disney/Eric McCandless
Camila Galavis
Bachelor alum Juan Pablo’s girl Camila auditioned for play 22 of American Idol with a performance of Joaquina’s “Rabia.” But before she sang, Juan admitted he was tense for his girl to participate the nationalist eye.
“The accidental came, she wanted to bash it,” helium explained. “And I say, ‘I don't cognize if you're aged enough.’ That was past year. I’d say, ‘Well possibly adjacent year.’ And then, present she is. So, we’ll spot however it goes.”
Lionel voted no when it came to her, but Katy and Luke decided to determination her to the adjacent round. However, she was yet chopped during Hollywood week.
Disney/Eric McCandless
Emmy Russell
Following successful the footsteps of her euphony fable grandmother Loretta Lynn, Emmy auditioned for play 22 with her ain archetypal opus “Skinny” astir her acquisition with eating disorders. The performance secured her a aureate summons from Lionel, Katy and Luke, who were all shocked to learn her grandmother’s existent identity.
And her mother Patsy Lynn Russell–a subordinate of the state duo The Lynns with duplicate sister Peggy Lynn–joined her backstage.
“She conscionable wanted to bash this honestly,” Patsy said of her daughter's determination to audition for American Idol. “I deliberation that erstwhile you travel from a philharmonic family, the shadiness is truthful big. ‘How bash I capable those shoes?’ Well the woody is, you don't. You marque your ain shadow.”
Katy loved the performance, praising her: “You’re an A+ songwriter. So was your grandma. You got the gift.” Emmy secured a spot successful the Top 5 arsenic a play 22 finalist, but yet did not triumph the season.
Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images
Baylee Littrell
Baylee auditioned for the contention bid March 9, performing for new judge Carrie Underwood, and returning judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. He performed his archetypal song, and his father, Backstreet Boys alum Brian Littrell, joined him connected stage to sing the chorus.
All 3 judges voted yes for Baylee, advancing him into the adjacent circular of play 23.
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