Best Country Auditions SO FAR On American Idol 2024! | Idols Global

Tell us who you are, where you're from. My name is Tristan Harper and I'm from McIntosh, Alabama. McIntosh, Alabama. How old are you? Fifteen. Oh, my God, man. I have been out country. Fifteen year old. Tell us your story. Well, you know, I grew up in a small town. I've, uh, I've been through a lot in my life. I grew up right here since I was born. Basically, I wouldn't trade McIntosh for nothing. There just ain't no place like home. In our town, really, you know, we're Choctaw Indians. We're so proud of Tristan being honored to appear on American Idol. And we hope that you'll be the winner in this competition. That we can say that we had someone. My mama wanted us to be something. That's why I got into music. Was it nice growing up? You have your ups and downs, at least I had. By the age of 11 years old, my mom was with my stepdad. He was getting very abusive. We had to leave McIntosh. And everything, it went sideways, just like that. The lowest part of my life was when me and my mom had got home from some sleeping on the sidewalk. I had just turned 12. Life has been hard. Life has been really hard. That's one of the reasons why he is so mature like he is. Because he's had to take on a role at a very young age. I know it was not easy, me watching my mom sit there and cry at night, you know, and not knowing what to do. I'd got to that point where I said, God, I need you to help me. My papa, he drove all the way from Alabama to Arkansas nonstop to come and get us. I'm just so proud, boy. Yeah, real proud. Just don't forget your roots. You know why? Where you come from. I never thought I'd be able to tell my story to America, ever. Makes me happy just thinking about it. I think that that story alone is about as compelling as it's going to get. Right. So I just want to get right to the goods. And I'm just going to say this out loud. Please, God, sing. OK, give it to us. Keeps her hand on a gun. Can't trust anyone. Well, I was so sure what I needed was more. Try to shoot out the sun. In days when we raced, we flew off the pitch. Such damage was done. But I made it through. Somebody knew that I was meant for someone. So, girl, leave your boots by the bed. We ain't leaving this room. Someone need medical help for the magnolias bloom. So now I ain't got the chop wood. So cover me up. You know you're enough to use me for good. Awesome. Thank you. I'm going to give it to you. Thank you. Thank you. Your voice. You got it. Thank you. When you go into telling a story, you've got us right here. The purity of your verses, the purity of the B part going into the hook killer. Make sure we know what that story is, because your voice is a storytelling voice. Yes, sir. You are so authentic, so connected to yourself, singing from your soul. It wasn't perfect, but it resonated with me. It was really good. Thank you. I'm impressed for 15. Thank you. That's the part I'm looking at old soul staring at him going old Alabama. Anything that you're doing technically while singing is because you're 15. I can have an afternoon with you and just say, don't do that anymore. Just like don't do those two things. Yeah. And man, I mean, you're just you're a shotgun. Thank you. Just watch where you're aiming it. Yes, ma'am. I got you. Yeah. OK, where's mom? Right here. Oh, yeah. Mom. Who came with you? My mom, my little brother and my grandparents and my two aunts. OK, mom, come here for a second. You want your mom to come in? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Let's bring your mother in. How you doing, Mama? All right, we need you front and center with this young man. He's 15. He's already taller than you, right? What is your name, by the way? Hattie Mae. Hattie Mae. Y'all are country, right? Yes, sir. Between his voice and your name, I would say you got all the country cred checked. Right. So I can finally give you the results. I'm a yes. And I'm a yes. And that means you're going to Hollywood. I'm Will Mosley. Will Mosley, where are you from? I'm from Hazlehurst, Georgia. Hazlehurst. Woody Folsom, right? The big city. Come on. Do you play football there? I played college football at Maryville College right outside of Knoxville. God, I don't want to get hit by you in a game. No way. Like football? Football was a way of life. It was eat, sleep, breathe, wake up, repeat. I loved it. Hazlehurst is a small town. It's it's slow. There's there's not a lot going on. I've lived here my whole life. 23 and counting. You know, every kid dreams of like going to play college football. I'm going to be in the NFL. You know, you have those dreams, but there's not many people from this area that they have those opportunities. So, you know, going to play college football was a blessing. And what position? I played right guard and left tackle. It's the offensive line. You smile when you say that. Yeah. The thing about alignment is, is every play of the game. Every snap that you're on the field. You're taking a hit. I received three concussions in the span of two seasons. And there's times where you take hits and you think something's not right. Something's not the same now as it was before. It was tough on me. Are the hits I'm taking, the risk that I'm taking worth in 30 years? Having those long lasting effects. There's no reversing that. Football ended for me, and that's where I really picked up the guitar and started learning to play. It's been a blessing in disguise. Coming to the stage, Mr. Will Mosley! I've realized being on stage and singing to people, it's an adrenaline rush, really. The feeling that you get when you sing your own song and people sing it back to you is life changing. What you going to sing for us? I'm going to play you an original today. Love it. Take us home, honey. Let's see how it goes. I keep telling myself it'll be OK at the end of the long, hard days. I don't believe it. No more than I can see it. She runs off, man, to her best friend's house. And I stay right here wondering how it'll all work out. I can't see it now. Yes, it'll be. Yes. All right. Lionel's got to go. Keep singing. Keep singing. You're the man, Lionel. You're the man. It'll be 10 p.m. You'll be seeing him. I'll be at home. Wonder where you've been. I can't help these thoughts, but I wish you could. There's no letting go, even though I know I should. Hey, are you gone for bad? Are you gone for good? You gone for bad or you gone for good? If I'm ever an option, then don't pick me. I don't want to be caught in your fantasies and tired of waiting around, wondering if I'll win. They still got it here in Georgia. It'll be 10 p.m. You'll be seeing him. I'll be at home. Wonder where you've been. I can't help these thoughts, but I wish you could. There's no letting go, even though I know I should. Are you gone for bad? Are you gone for good? Lionel's gone for good. But I'm just going to FaceTime him in really quickly. All right, let's do it. What do you think? What do you think about Will? I say Will is a star. He's a star. From the first note. I loved the timbre of his voice. His voice was amazing. Instant identity. We knew from the very first note. This isn't a hobby. You're not just doing this for one more year. You're going to do this for the rest of your life. That's what we're here for. So we're going to give him the golden ticket, right? Look. That was meant to be. There was one left on that table. There was only one left. All right. It's a yes for me. And it's a yes for me. All right. Hallelujah, Will. What in the world? Woo. Oh, my gosh. Look what you got yourself into. This is crazy. What am I doing? You're trying to live the dream. Yeah. How are you guys? Good. Who are you? My name is Max Dasher. And I'm 18. And I'm from Black Mountain, North Carolina. What you going to sing for us today? It's an old country ballad called Rock Salt and Nails. You ready? I'm ready. Yeah. All right. I hope I am. By the banks of the river where the willows hang down odd birds they wobble to a morning sound Oh, way down in the sun's cold It was there I first listened to the lies that you told Are you listening to your bro? Yeah. Can you hear him through the door? What's going through your mind when you're hearing him? Because he's a he's definitely a loud singer. Oh, gosh, he sounds incredible. I just think so. Right? Yeah. I'd lie there for hours in the chilly, cold marshes if the women were squirrels with them high bushy tails Oh, well, I would hook my shotgun with a rock salt nail. Thank you, Katie. Oh, my gosh. You have that sparkle. It's the stuff. It's there's like an undeniable authenticity. It's like a gold rush. Luke. All right. Here's lesson number one. Oh, well, there. Oh, help me out here. There you go. Help him out, Luke. Help him out. I mean, hey, we're getting wild here. Take it. Walk in again. All right. Tell us your name. OK. Well, all right. Right now, just right there. Just walk in. So I don't start doing that. Look, walk in like this. Got to have the strut. OK. OK. There you go. Get him right. Let's figure this out. There you go. There you go. Attitude. Katie. There you go. There you go, buddy. Oh, my God. Is that Rob Pattinson? Hold on. Go. See, what I love about you is you just did your audition exactly the way I would have. Freaking out, playing the guitar like you were trying to break a string. If we can get you to breathe and calm down. Yes, sir. And understand that you're pretty damn cool. Man, you've got a little bit of magic to you. Your mantra should be I'm 18 and I look like James Dean. You're going to have to bump up your vocals. But remember, your attitude comes with it. Yeah, I'm 18, but I look like James Dean. Yes, sir. How you feel, Lucan? Love it. I'm a yes. I'm a yes. Well, in that case, James, I mean, you're on your way. It's a yes for me. And you're going to Hollywood. Yes. Whoo. Let's go. I'm going to be singing y'all an original song called Fireflies. I wrote this song about a breakup with my boyfriend. We had been friends since the first grade. Our sisters are best friends, and so are our families. We go on family trips. And so about two years ago, we started dating. But, you know, people grow apart and he went to a different school. We broke up and it was really hard for me. It was, yeah, really hard. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm sorry. That's OK. He was my best friend. But I realized that everything happens for a reason, and God has a plan. And I'm really starting to understand that. And this song really helped me get through it. Good for you. Thank you. Are you all able to still be friends? I'm kind of. He goes to a different school now, so it's a little hard. But yeah. Well, do you miss the friendship or do you miss him being your boyfriend? I really miss his friendship. Well, does he know that? Probably not. Well, I think time will heal that. Time will heal that. Yes, sir. Telling him will heal it, too. Yeah. Yes, sir. Or writing a song and singing will heal it. On national television. Yeah, it really does help. Well, let's hear it. Yes, sir. I think in some ways that the heartbreak is a good thing because I got a song out of it and everything happens for a reason. But sometimes during moments like these, I really miss him. I admit it. I was scared. I've been hurt a bunch of times. Couldn't leave the past behind. But this guy was the sweetest of his kind. And God knows he could have been mine. But I had to go and ruin it. All he wanted was fireflies dancing in the moonlight. His hand felt so good in mine to step in on the truck bed for a real drive into the sunset. Promise ring on my left finger who said that diamonds only get bigger. Doesn't that sound like a perfect picture? Thank you. Wow. Who'd you write that song with? I wrote it by myself. Wow. I think that you are really talented. Thank you. And that. You're a really good songwriter. And when I was your age, I had boyfriends and was trying to write songs, too. My first boyfriend at 16, he dumped me in the parking lot of the guitar center and. Anyways, all that to say, Peyton, it gets better and so do the songs. It gets better. And if you're doing this at 15, you're on to something. Thank you. You know, I would say keep singing, keep writing, keep singing, keep writing. Try not to give so much energy to the boys, because I did a lot of that. And know that God has a plan for your life. Yes. You have a promising future. Thank you. All right. Just take the time and grow. But as far as your career is concerned, my dear, sky is the limit for you. You're an emotional person, and that's what it takes to be an amazing songwriter and artist. You are doing amazing stuff far beyond any 15 year olds. OK, Peyton, listen, I'm giving you a no based on timing. Yes, ma'am. It's just because you're in the growing phase and I would hate to pull you out prematurely. I'd love for you to come back. I'd say try it at three years, 18. And you'd have a real shot. Lionel. I just looked down at that one five. Girlfriend, if you just go away for a hot moment and come back a little bit more tidied up, I think it'll be a lot better for you. I'm going to give you a no this time. OK, but then please come back. I want to hear some more of that great stuff. I'm going to give you a yes. There you go. All right. She don't deserve three no's. You don't deserve three no's. Can we shake your hand? Come here. Good job. Thank you. Yeah. Hold your chin up, OK? OK. I got I got a sneak preview and we love you so much. All right. Yes, sir. And you're going to be just fine. Yeah, you're going to be fine. You're going to be just fine. And if anybody gives you any problems from now on, call me, OK? Yes, sir. All right. Thank you. All right. Thank you. You got a family here. American Idol. Thank you. Everybody's waiting, Peyton. You didn't get it? It's OK. I thought I was over like crying about it, but just like being in there, I'm like really nervous. It like brings up all your feelings. We do hope you come back. Keep playing and keep working on that. Keep writing songs. You're going to be a big star. Thank you. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, too. Good luck, Peyton. Thank you very much. Thanks, family. You take care. It's OK. I'm going to use what they told me and I'm going to work on it. And whenever I come back, I'm going to be better than what I was this time. What is your name? Dawson Slade. Slade like blade? Yes, ma'am. Oh, my goodness. Great name. It's a great name. Is that on your birth certificate? Yep. Wow. And how young are you? 17. I'm sorry. Is that on your birth certificate? Where are you from? I'm from Moulton, Alabama. It's a little town outside of Decatur, Alabama. Decatur, I know where you are. You have a job or? I work on a ranch in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Oh, really? And I'm a full time musician, full time dad. Full time dad? Yep. Yeah, I just had my first kid in June. So my little boy Stetson Slade. Stetson Slade. Well, sign him up for American Idol already, please. He's out there. He's waiting on me. Oh, my gosh, 17. Wow. What in the world? That's a lot of life already in 17 years. Yes, ma'am. My son is by far the best thing that's ever happened in my life. You're a lot of real life fast, huh? Boy, he's brand new. He definitely is the cutest little human on this planet, no doubt about it. Happy little baby. He is. He's a good baby. And he's an amazing dad. And his shirt. Says, I'm my daddy's biggest fan. That's amazing. And this is the dream, huh? This is a dream. I got a lot of nerves going on right now. But I told myself, just got to remember why you're doing this and who you're doing it for and not just yourself. Wow, OK. Well, what are you going to sing for us? I'm going to sing, I Hope You Dance by LeAnn Womack. Oh, God, you are so smart. What a song. Oh, my gosh. I hope you never lose your sense of wonder. You get so filthy, but always have that hunger. May you never take one single breath of breath. That's Daddy singing. What do you think about that? I hope you still fish small when you stand beside the ocean. Never want to close as I hope one more opens. Promise me that you'll get fed, fight, and change. When you get the choice to set it out or dance, I hope you dance. Good guitar playing. Wow. OK, Slade like blade. Dawson, you've got a great voice, a great timbre, a great kind of country thing to you. You're just not giving it the attack. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a little linear. It starts here, stays there, and it's a little calm and safe. Go ahead, Lionel. Dawson, I think that, truthfully, as much as I want to celebrate, I think you need to really, you got to put more time in. Yeah, for sure. It's going to be a no for me this trip. Luke. I'm hearing tons of songwriter vibes right now. I'm not really hearing screamin' artist vibes yet. I'm so nervous. I think I'm shaking more than you. Hold on, hold on. What? I'm trying to think of a song I want to test him out on. What song do you know that you can blow us away with? How about Justin Moore's? Let me hear that. Been sitting there tipping my crown straight. Working up the nerve and the words you say. Every guy here wants to make a move, better make a move. Hey, hold on, stop. Just chorus, no guitar. Somebody else will fight on. Walk up and ask her your name right now. Offer to buy you a drink. Sit down and tell you looks could kill. Sing it to that person up there. Somebody else will fight on. Walk up and ask her your name right now. Offer to buy you a drink. Sit down and tell you looks could kill. Somebody else will. I just didn't know you had that. I mean, you have those levels. You need to use those levels. Yes, ma'am. It's a yes from me. Thank you. Luke, what's it gonna be? Yes, you're going to Hollywood. Hello, Peters, I'm 24 and my hometown is Benton, Tennessee. I am not just a barber in this town, but I'm the only barber in this town. Have a good day, dude. I've been a barber for 10 years and I run my own shop and I sing a lot. People around town know me as the singing barber. I know it. You know the song Country Girl? By Luke Bryan? Yeah. Dude, I know that song. You want me to sing it? Yeah. People request Luke Bryan all the time. I went viral with a boy that we sang Shake It For Me Girl. It used to be just me singing, getting on people's nerves, but now people come in just to hear me sing at the barbershop. It means a lot to me. Ever since I was a child, I have dreamed of getting a golden ticket on American Idol. So getting to bring that back and frame it in my barbershop, it would mean the world to me. One thing about me is what you see is what you get. So I'm going to sing my butt off and hope for the best. I will stand by you I will help you through When you've done all you can do And you can't cope And I will dry your eyes I will fight your fight I will hold you tight And I won't let go Wow. Now there you go. There you go. Singing with ease. Thank you. There you go. Let me give you that one. But don't you feel a little naked? Yes, I do. I'm used to walking around the whole time. Do you think you'd sing better if you could give a haircut right now? I definitely would. Okay, great. Hold on. Oh no. Hold on. Who needs a haircut? Don't run all at one time. Oh, you've got a chair? Oh, whoa. Wait, what? What about this? Do you have your barbicide? I do. This is crazy. Welcome to Idol. That's right. Lionel, let's shave your head. Oh, heck no. Oh, let's shave Lionel's head. Oh no, if you just shave the mustache, it'll be a disaster. Let's shave Lionel's head. I'm not going to do it. But you know, the good timing for this cut, actually. I think you could use it. Go chair, go ticket. It's Colin style. We found somebody who could use a cut right now. Oh my God. How are you, buddy? How are you? Good, man. Good to see you. Let's go trim him up. Damn, y'all look familiar. What is happening? You do need it. You need a haircut. I know, man. Oh, man. Is this your kit? What is happening? Yeah, but I ain't never cutting a body like Colin. Well, listen, his hair's just like everybody else's hair, all right? Y'all recruited a heck of a haircut. How much you getting off there? We're going to take just a little bit off the ends, a little bit off the sides, you know? Get some of the split ends? Just a little bit. I've been trying to use some good conditioner, but... It's got a little shine. You've been putting some mane and tail on that thing? I used to. This is crazy. So I take it you can sing and cut? Yeah. Okay. But I'll only do it if you sing with me a little bit. What are we singing? Broken Halos, you know that song? Yeah, we can try. You start us off. All right. How's his follicles? So they help me. Cut it! What do you think, Colin? It's great. I like it. I ain't seen no hair hit the ground yet. Sing that. Not hard, but nice. I like your voice. Thank you. I like yours, man. Don't tease him. Get down. I hear you, good. It's all right. Here we go. We better... That much. They've all gone, wherever they go. Broken halos that used to shine. So Colin, we have a singing masseuse that's coming in too. Bring him in, bring him in. I'll take his boots off, he can rub my feet too. I didn't cut much, I promise. I just evened what you had. Great sport. You might want to finish this side over here. Yeah, let's get a finish on it. I got shows this weekend. We'll do it, we'll do it. What a surprise. That's awesome, man. It's so nice to meet you. Nice to have you here. Nice to see you, Colin. We love you. By the way, it is very shiny. It is, man. It's very healthy. Y'all got some good hair though. I'm telling you. It's killer. Well, heck yeah, man. So nice to meet you, man. Nice to meet you too. No matter what the outcome is, keep going, keep keeping on. Life's a garden, D. Thanks so much, Colin. Good to see you, Colin. That's good stuff, Colin. All right, Mr. Noah, you see what you got yourself into? Well, prepare for the curve balls, that's for sure. I think that when I heard you sing just a little bit, Broken Halos, when you were cutting, you were kind of not thinking about it and it was oozing out of you. I really want you to visualize that when you sing, that you're just back at the shop, just giving a trim. Yes, ma'am. And I just don't want you to overthink. You've got some sweetness to your voice, some soul, some purity, but it's definitely gonna need a blunt edge here and there. Okay? Yes, ma'am. Or some layers. Either way, it's gonna need some chippity-chop. Chippity-chop. I love it. Don't get psyched out. You have a quality in your voice that's fantastic. But more importantly, relax. I know that's hard to say, trust in who you are and what you sound like. You stay true to your lane Yes, sir. and you'll be on to something. Thank you. All right? Thank you. All right, let's vote. That's a yes for me. Thank you. It's a yes for me. Thank you. It's a yes for me. You're going to Hollywood! Better be in there. I've never shook while cutting hair before, but it happened today. I'm so excited. I now get to put Colin Stowell on my client list. Today was amazing. He was being real conservative. I am not cutting. That was great. When you're from a small town and nothing really happens, singing in front of big stars is a whole nother ball game for me. Knowing my life's going to change is pretty nerve wracking, but I'm so excited for this journey.