Best Country Auditions On American Idol 2024

Will Mosley. Where are you from? I'm from Hazelhurst, Georgia. Hazelhurst. Woody Folsom, right? The big city. Yeah. Come on. Did you play football there? I played college football up at Maryville College right outside of Knoxville. Okay. God, I don't want to get hit by you in a game of black football. Football was a way of life. It was eat, sleep, breathe, wake up, repeat. I loved it. Hazelhurst is a small town. It's slow. 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 have those opportunities. So, you know, going to play college football was a blessing. And what position? I played right guard and left tackle. That'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. 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 risks 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. Thank you, guys. 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 okay At the end of the long, hard days I don't believe it No more than I can see it She runs off mad to her best friend's house And I stare out 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 for Katie and I. Keep singing. Go! You're the man, Lionel! You're the man! It'll be 10 p.m. You'll be seeing him And I'll be at home Wondering where you've been I can't help these thoughts But I wish I could There's no letting go Even though I know I should Are you gone for bad? Are you gone for good? Are you gone for bad or are you gone for good? And if I'm ever an option Then don't pick me I don't want to be caught In your fantasies I'm 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 And I'll be at home Wondering where you've been I can't help these thoughts But I wish I 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. laughs 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? His star. From the first note. I love 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. Woo! It's a yes for me. And it's a yes for me. All right. You're going to Hollywood. All right. Oh, it's chilly on my arm, too. Yeah. There you go, right? It gets a little cold. Yes. So this is my first ever IV. And I'm going through all of the knowledge of that. Yeah. Well, I mean, I don't even know the first thing about that. Yeah. Well, I could walk you through it now. laughs All right. Tell us who you are. All right. My name is Anderson Paye. I'm from West Texas. I'm a tractor driver, and I'm here to play country music. Really? She's a tractor driver. Tractor driver. I love it. It's all coming together. What kind of tractor do you drive? John Deere, of course. John Deere. What size? Big one. Big old John Deere. OK. 8,400? Bigger. Whoa. You sing out much? I do sing. I mean, I've been singing at bars since I was, like, 14. Whoa. Bars. 14. Wow. Texas. What are you going to sing tonight? I'm going to be singing Hummingbird that I wrote with my friend Davis Luce. It's about my mama. I know you love your mama. So this is about my mom and she in the car when she was driving me to school, and she was always humming. And that's what this song's about. Good. That's how it goes. People always ask where I learned to sing. If you ask her, she'd say it wasn't me. But it was kitchen counter sitting, listening while she cleaned the dishes. She was picking up my mess with a melody, driving me to school, playing burnt CDs, humming every line. Wish I could press rewind. She's my hummingbird, flying a million miles a minute, just to make sure her baby gets where I need to be getting, telling me to spread my wings, leaving the singing to me. I wouldn't be here without my mama, my hummingbird. She swears she can't carry a tune in a bucket. But, man, you ought to hear her humming. She's my hummingbird, flying a million miles a minute, just to make sure her baby gets where I need to be getting, telling me to spread my wings, leaving the singing to me. I wouldn't be here without her mama. Thank you. I don't want to dislodge the needle by a clap. Who'd you write that with? Davis Liu. He's my best friend. Yeah. That's a great one. Thank you. Really good. I got like four things I want to tell her to do to it. Come on, give it to me. Did you ever think about my mama, my hummingbird? My mama, my hummingbird. That's good. What was she saying? I just sang mama, but you add the extra my. My mama, my hummingbird. Yeah, two my and my. Luke Bryan just sang a song that I wrote. My mama, my hummingbird. Katy Perry sang a song I wrote too. I've never done this to a song. He's never been on an IV drip either. He's on one right now. Hell, I may be writing my next co-write. I may have one. I love the song, and I love that melody in the middle of the chorus. It was great. Good. Wow, thank you guys. Love the song. About halfway through the first verse, I said, I had to open my eyes and go, is that you, Dolly? Oh, my gosh. What? It did have a little thing. A little thing, but only in the way Dolly tells stories. It was very honest, solid, and natural, and positive to you. This is so crazy, guys. Thank you. Aniston, I thought it was a good song. You're on your way to being a great songwriter in Nashville, but I do think you were throwing away some of the opportunity for holding out notes. You can deliver lyrics in a very intimate way while still, like, having power. Yeah, totally. You don't always have to drive a tractor. You can drive a Mini Cooper. I like that too. You know what I'm saying? And still buzz around. Yeah. Lana, what's your vote? It's a yes for me. I want to see you in Hollywood. Oh, wow. Okay. It's a yes for me. Thank you. It's a yes for me. Oh, my gosh. Wow. Three for three. I'm going to stay in my chair. You're going to Hollywood. 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. It was hard. Yeah. And, um, I'm sorry. That's okay. 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 y'all able to still be friends? Um, 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. 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, uh, 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, um, 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. Two step in on the truck bed. Four wheel drive into the sunset. Promise ring on my left finger. Said the 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. Wow. 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. Yeah, 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, ma'am. 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. Thank 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. Okay, 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. Yes, ma'am. And you'd have a real shot. Thank you. Lionel. I just looked down at that 1-5. 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, okay? But then please come back. Yes, sir. Because I want to hear some more of that great stuff. All right, I'm going to give you a yes. There you go. All right. She don't deserve three no's. Heck no. You don't deserve three no's. Can we shake your hand? Come here. Good job. Thank you. Yeah. Hold your chin up, okay? Okay. 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. Don't worry about it. You're going to be just fine. And if anybody gives you any problems from now on, call me, Luke, and Kate, all right? Yes, sir. All right. Thank you. All right. Thank you. You got a family here at American Idol. Thank you. Everybody's waiting, Peyton. You might get it. It's okay. 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 okay. 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. The original song that I'm singing today is a song that I wrote after finding out I was pregnant. When everything seems wrong I may not make it right But you'll have my hand Always hold you tight So you don't have to worry About what tomorrow brings I'll be here to carry you Until you find your wings They say I'm too young And I don't know what I'm supposed to do But I know one thing's for sure That I love you more than anything I have before Before It's you After everything my heart has been through Every moment that I walk with you I learn things I never knew With all of my love for you And make sure that every dream comes true You ready to see Mom? Yeah. And it's not half of the place that I am now Is anywhere or time that I'm with you It's anywhere or time that I'm with you Very good. Whoa! Have you written songs before? I've written a few. Well, your parallels are great. I mean, your voice was actually great storytelling material there. Thank you. You definitely have a natural talent. Yeah. It wasn't all over the place. It wasn't overdone. I never trailed off and thought about what I get to do with my daughter tomorrow for my birthday at all. I was locksteady with you. Yeah. You definitely were born with something. Yeah. A little extra little something. Yes. The sky's the limit, really, in my opinion. And I hear, like, this Alison Krauss innocence. Yeah. You didn't try to come up with these big, fancy words to describe what your feelings were in the moment that you wrote the song. And that's how you connect with the masses. Oh, my gosh. I can't believe you just said that to me. I'm ready to vote. I know y'all are, too. It's a yes for me. I've been there from the beginning. Thank you. I think Cooper's gonna keep you grounded. Yeah. Because you're about to go to Hollywood, because I'm saying yes. Oh, my gosh. And I am the little extra yes that you're gonna get, three for three. You're going to Hollywood. On the express train, for sure. Thank you. Tell Cooper I said hello. I will. He's waiting for me. If I could say something to future Cooper that he would understand, it's that I love you so, so much, and this is for you, buddy. Oh, I'm a man's head There ain't a thing that I can't have Money and girls and the things of this world Got my foot caught in a trap All of these things have a hold on my brain And they don't give my soul a chance I come down because I am held back And the devil has asked me to dance I've been caught up in my own lie Stepping up onto a landmine Oh, Lord, what could I do? What could I do? That's a really cool song. Thank you. Also, just like the first verse, I was very in. Cool, that's good. It's a feeling that everyone has, you know, when they're not living right. Absolutely. Everybody can relate to that. Sure. What a voice. Thank you very much. You know, it's funny. I mean, we see worship leaders, and most of the time they have, like, a real smooth, very proper voice, and you come out of the gate with some meat on that voice, and you got a lot of character in that. I mean, it's certainly your voice. Thank you very much. What I'm really loving is that voice can tell a story. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Did you write those lyrics? I did. Yeah, me and my family wrote it together, kind of co-wrote it. Your family? Yeah, my dad and my little sister, Sophia, actually helped me write that song. Oh, cool. My brother, Max, and yeah. Cut them out of the song now that you've played it on. All the royalties are going to me. That's true, right? I'll share. All right. I'm ready. Let's see what the verdict is on this case. Yes. Definitely. Yes. All standing. Oh, my gosh. You're going to Hollywood! Thank you so much. Oh, my gosh. That was solid. Come and grab this. Yes, absolutely. All right, man. Thank you guys so much. I'll see you soon. Man, I never grew up thinking I'd be here. I've never been nowhere with this many lights except my bedroom, and that's got one light. That's about it. I've been performing since I was about six, seven years old in the church. But my church don't have a stage like that. Come get my baby. He's cool. He's not a baby no more. No, he's not. The song I'll be singing today is an original song. There's a love story behind it. There's this woman at the church. Her name is Sister Willa Mae. She's 86 years old. And she said, baby, come on over here. I said, all right, what is it? She said, I got a song I wrote about 20-something years ago, and maybe you could do a little something to it. I said, yes, ma'am. I took it home, put a little thing to it. And that Sunday morning, I was singing it. It goes a little something like this. I love this setup. Well, Gabriel came to Mary, and he said, you're blessed. We couldn't find another who could fulfill God's request. Well, you're going to bear a child. He'll be called the Holy One. Let go. He's going to be something special, because he's God's only son. Get wrapped up in Jesus. Open the door to their hearts. They said that he would never, ever leave you, nor would he. You got to believe us. Well, if you want to see them hurling gates, get wrapped up in Jesus. I've seen the pain, and I've seen the sorrow. I witness it every single day. It kind of makes me wish that there isn't a tomorrow, because I've heard all the hope stands for hold on. Pain is where it's needed. It makes you want to get down on your knees and cry. Make it in. So why do you keep doing it? I said, how long till you give up? Quit adjusting. Lay down and eat it. You want to get down on your knees and cry. I said, I'm going to quit and just lay down and die.