The 12 Best Male Singer Auditions on American Idol 2026

I got a girl crush, I hate to admit it, but I've got a heart that ain't slowing down. Yeah, I want to taste her, yeah, cause they taste like it. I want to drown myself in a bottle of her, her, of you, my blonde hair. I want her touch, yeah, cause maybe then you won't touch. And I've got a girl for her. Oh, taste her lips, yeah, cause they taste like you. I'll sell a bottle of her. I want her touch, yeah, cause maybe then you won't lust as much. And I've got a girl for her. Oh. Hey, guys. What's up? Hey. How are you? Gosh, this is crazy. I'm good. How are y'all? Oh, my gosh. You look like my child. Here, look at this. Hold on. So I took this picture of Bo the other day. I literally, like. Wow. With dad beads. They could be brothers. All right. Well, who are you? I'm Lucas Leon. I'm 17 years old. I'm from Gallatin, Tennessee. Lucas Leon. I love that name. That's a star name. Is that the real name? Yes, sir. But is it Leon or is it Leon? It's just Leon. I love it. The controversy. What do you do up there in Gallatin? Play a lot of music, write a lot of songs, do some fishing. What are they biting on out there these days? Baby brush hog, Texas rig. Now he sounds like my son. He fishes all day, every day. All right. Well, what are you going to sing today? I'm going to sing an original called Fall in Love Someday. All right. We pray you do. Oh, he will. Waste down the road. Oh, I just wonder what's the cost. If you'd ever know. Because I'm a young gun in North Forum. Rolling down the coast. Coming down Route 66. City with her ghost. So I made Arizona. Texas, Mexico. Send me by the desert fire. Let it be my home. Ain't quick to pray. I swear to God I fell in love today. Oh, I swear to God we fell in love today. All right. We're all standing. Thank you very much. Thanks. Oh, yeah. Bring on out the bat, son. It's like your baby face and you're adorable, but there's like this odd, awesome maturity. I feel like you could go pretty far in this competition. Thank you. Pure, honest, and very talented. Thank you. Yeah, I was just checking on notable people from Gallatin, Tennessee. Tell us. Is he on that list? Well, Zach Duke, he's a former MLB pitcher. He's actually a buddy of mine. Oh, yeah. Yeah. There's John Rogan, the second tallest verified human being ever documented. He was 8 feet 9 inches tall. I did know that. Not really seeing any notable singers. Maybe old Lucas Leon. Maybe. He's got a spot here on the Wikipedia. I'm just having fun with you. Really great stuff you're doing at the age of 17. Tell me about it. And you have it all. So thank you for bringing your butt down here to us. Oh, it's my pleasure. Lionel. Yes. Thank you. Carry it. Let me think about it. Oh, come on. And yeah, it's a big old yes from me. Oh, wow. Thank you. Thank you so much. Join us. Hollywood Week. This is why we're here. Thank you so much. Brilliant. Do you remember this kid? Yes. I thought about him a lot. Really? Huh? Ah. Hey, guys. Hi. How are y'all? We're doing great. How are you guys? We're so happy to see you. We're happy to be here. 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4. My name is Julian Calel Almanzan. I'm from El Paso, Texas, and I'm 19 years old. Last year, I auditioned. I had no idea what to expect. Obviously, I was terrified. When I talk about it with my sister, we both say that we kind of just blacked out and gave a performance of our lives, I guess. There's a hole in my chest Knock me down, leave me to rest Drown my thoughts with kerosene I performed an original song called Surrender, which talks about the struggles of anxiety and depression. So I surrender If it's war that I've waged, I'll raise a flag My fate is in his hands I felt like I was at your show just now. Are you serious? Yeah, I did. Wow. It played like a record. Just stars. He's a star. Just a straight up, straight up star. I'll be gone without a sound When my heart fails me and I'm not around Yes. Hallelujah, yes. Come on, lads. The things that the judges told me, I felt like my life was changing in that moment. He may win this thing. He literally might win it. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. I'm going to Hollywood! Unfortunately, though, I was not able to continue forward. There were shared concerns about my abilities to balance a journey like American Idol and my mental health. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression my freshman year of high school. But I had been struggling with those feelings for a big part of my life. I mean, through elementary and middle school. He came up to us and said, I am not okay. There's something happening with me. I mean, it's a knife to your chest because you're thinking, you know, what's going on? What's happening? And he said, I'm sad all the time. Anxiety is just like a big wave crashing on you and you just drown. I was questioning the value of my life. You have to look in the mirror and recognize that mental health professionals need to get involved and that there's no shame in that. Music is my lifeline. It's what keeps me grounded. I had so much to smile about with my audition. And I just knew, like, I'd really regret it if I didn't give this another shot. I'm just hoping that whatever I'm doing just reflects the message of just not giving up and, most importantly, to not be defined by your struggles but by your strengths. I choke up just thinking about it because I'm very lucky to be here. You know, life is a gift. For you to come back out here to try this, we're very happy and proud of you. We're so happy to be here. Thank you so much. So what are you going to do for us? The song today is called Long Guitar. I wrote it at a very dark time in my life where I was at a crossroads of deciding whether or not to give up or to keep going. And found that, you know, it's as simple as just stay one more day. That's the message. It's been rough. We've had some rough years. And this song in particular, it's suicide prevention, basically. What do you see when you look at me The blessings that I'm letting go Forgive so easily It's getting harder to find peace Get the chance to grow old I'm not the man that I should Never felt trouble Hailing back every night Too far gone for prayer Just a boy afraid to die Heartache stare, words unspoken The burden of my flaws An empty chair, a family broken Pain is all I've caused I should stay, I should stay You walk your daydream With thoughts unholy Damn near giving up Hug your mama Till there's just enough To see that old sun rise I should stay Oh, I'll stitch my wounds And learn to love These remarks along the way Oh, I should stay Lord, let me stay I got too much to give I got I love you to say Don't wanna make my old man cry Leave my mama screaming why Guess I'm in this bleeding heart Lighthead in my way To the boy alone in suffering Thinking no one understands If it's strength that you need You don't have to be a man Thank you. Ronald, what'd you think? Welcome back. Thank you. I'm gonna leave you with some words that I keep repeating over and over again, and I'm gonna pass it on to you. You were born enough. Everything about you is just honest, and you organize your thoughts and your feelings into song in a way that comes across so real. Thank you. That is something that's needed very much. Yeah, man, you got the magic. I think that you're incredible. I think you have all the skills and tools of a great singer. So glad you're back, and we'll just have fun with this thing. How about that? Absolutely, yeah. What do you think, Lionel? It's a yes for me. Yes for me. Let's go. Thank you, guys. Thank you so much. Welcome to Hollywood. We're back. My parents. You did it, mijo. Carisa. You did it, mijo. Congratulations. I just felt understood. I felt seen for the artist that I try to be. I want to spread my message. You are loved, and everyone is born enough. Everyone is in fact born enough. Here we go. Hey, guys. Hey. How are you doing? Good, how are you doing? I'm good. My name's Jesse Finling, and I'm 19 years old. What do you do? I'm a college student right now, but I've been singing ever since I was little with my brother and sister. We would pull up karaoke tracks, and we would just sing with each other, and since then, I did choirs in school. If you haven't noticed, I have a stutter, and that's really where kind of my love for singing came. I've had a stutter ever since I was little. Dad! Dad! Take a picture. I am. Good to see you, Mom. And it's something that I've struggled with since elementary school. Be right here, be right here It was something embarrassing for me, and it was something that I really had a hard time with. I wouldn't raise my hand in school, and it was just something that made me feel alone and something that I felt like I had to hide, so it was definitely hard. Singing has always felt freeing for me because when I sing, I don't stutter. When I sang, it was a way for me to express myself in a way where I didn't have to worry about being embarrassed or what people would think or if somebody would laugh. It was an outlet for me when I was little, and it's still an outlet for me now. I can come here with the band. Walking out with a Golden T-t-t-t ticket would mean that everything that I've struggled with in the past, it's all led me here, and I can do whatever I want if I work hard. I've come a long way with it, and it doesn't hold me back. Well, you're doing great. So your siblings sing. Are you a musical family, or you just all love the music? Me and my brother sing with each other, and he also has a stutter, so it's really special when we sing together. It's crazy to see how far he's come. It's insane. I want to, you know, be a role model for him because I knew how hard it was for me in school. I love your attitude, for sure, and you can tell that you are a good big brother. Well, what you gonna sing for us? I'm gonna be singing In the Stars by Benson Boone. It's a song me and my brother always sing together. You're gonna be thinking of him when I sing it. Very good. ♪ Sunday mornings were your favorite ♪ ♪ I used to meet you down on Woods Creek Road ♪ ♪ You did your hair up like you were famous ♪ ♪ Even though it's only church where we were going ♪ ♪ Now Sunday mornings I just sleep in ♪ ♪ It's like I buried my faith with you ♪ ♪ I'm screaming at a God I don't know if I believe in ♪ ♪ Because I don't know what else I can do ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm still holding on to everything that's dead and gone ♪ ♪ I don't want to say goodbye, this one means forever ♪ ♪ And now I'm in the stars and six feet's never felt so far ♪ ♪ Here I am alone between the heavens and the embers ♪ ♪ Oh, it hurts so hard for a mill reason ♪ ♪ You took the best of my heart and left the rest in pieces ♪ Luke, you jumped off awful quick. I don't think I blinked one time. Yeah. I mean, wow, you're a real singer. Thank you. Man, I'm really proud of you. I love this show. I love this show because we get to meet kids like you. Your voice is beautiful. You have a beautiful vibrato, a beautiful tone. We could understand everything you were singing and you were in the song emotionally, which just took us right there with you. So it was just beautiful. Problem? What problem? You don't have a problem. The only thing wrong with you is you got to figure out how you're going to navigate this career. Wow. What's up, fam? Ah. Hi. Look at that. I love you. I think we can vote. Yes, indeed. Yes. I think you could go really far in this competition. We just haven't had voices like yours coming through those doors. I'm really excited to give you a big old yes. Ah. Thank you. We will see you at Hollywood Week. Did it. You did it. We did it. Yeah, we did it. We did it. When I was singing that song, I was thinking of younger me who wouldn't speak in class, who was scared of what people thought of him. And the fact that I got this is just proof that everything's working out how it should. Boy, he's got a pretty voice. He does. I'm going to Hollywood Week. Woo! I love you, too. You could do anything you put your mind to. And I'm always here for you. I'm very proud of you. Love you. Don't give up, you Lord. Oh, your mercy never fails me. And all my days I've been held in your hand. From the moment that until I lay my head, oh, I will sing of the goodness of God. All my life you have been faithful. Oh, yes, you have. All my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, oh, I will sing of the goodness of God. Yes. Thank you, Lord. After, running after me. Goodness is running after, running after me. With my life laid down, I'm surrendering now. I give you everything. Your goodness is running after, running after me. I'm Brooks Rosser. 22 years old. I'm from Bel Air, Maryland. What do you do up there in Maryland? I work at a dementia care facility as a medication technician. Hi. Very cool. How many shows are you playing a year? I've gone to a couple gigs, but I've only just played guitar. I've never really performed. Morning, John. Hey, Brooks. Good morning. Morning, Skip. Hey. How are you, buddy? Not bad. Doing all right? I was just looking at this article on the next generation of Excelers. Oh, yeah? I like trains. You sleep good? Yeah. For the last three years, I've been working in the dementia care field, and it's been extremely fulfilling. I've made a lot of friendships with so-called patients. They're actually just friends. Can you sing me a song today? Yeah. Growing up, I was a shy kid. I didn't really know how to make my own friends. My grandmother was always my biggest fan. She was one person that I never had trouble talking to. When she first started showing dementia-like symptoms, I picked up the guitar, and that was one way where we could both practice speaking from the heart. It would help her learn her words back, and it would help me get mine out. After taking care of my grandmother, I realized this was a passion of mine, to be there for people, even if they don't remember me. Music is one thing that you can't forget. I think your town is far above most people. Thank you. Next week, I'm going to Nashville to try out for American Idol and see if they like me. I have no experience playing in front of people. It's going to be a lot different, but I'll just pretend the celebrity judges are just more of my friends and residents. I think you're going to do fine if you play like that. I play like that? And you sing like that. All right. I'm going to root you on. What you got? What you singing? Your Place at My Place by Joshua Sloan. OK, perfect. Fix us. I thought I loved you. It was only just a mix-up. That's what you said when you were crying because you missed us. You don't even know how bad I wish I could fix love. Because now it's too late. So much for another soulmate. Shooting on you. Nobody's ever taken your place at my place. And no ways to fix us. I thought I loved you. It was only just a mix-up. That's what you said when you were crying because you missed us. You don't even know how bad I wish I could fix trust. Thank you. Wow. Gosh, I just want to hear more. You haven't played out much. And why is that? I'm working too much. Well, stop doing that. Do you understand why we're so excited? Because you understand why? No. Man, no matter what you sing, it's going to be beautifully unique. Yeah. Everybody kind of sounds like somebody else or is emulating someone else. So when you kind of meet somebody that you're a unicorn. Like, it's one of one. That's really cool. Thank you so much. What's your favorite song to sing at the place you work? Probably Knockin' on Heaven's Door. Let's hear it. Wow. I'm going to take this badge off of me. I can't use it anymore. It's getting dark, too dark to see. Still I'm knockin' on heaven's door. Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door. It's so good. So good, man. So good. Thank you so much. So good. You have a unique style all your own. I have not heard another voice like this ever. Congratulations. Thank you so much. This is major, major stuff here. Thank you so much. Did you watch this show last year? Yeah. Do you remember Thunderstorm? Yeah. Well, he's over there. That's him over there listening to you. We've been having people dropping by. It's fun. What do you think, Thunderstorm? Man, it's amazing, dude. Like, your voice is crazy. Isn't that great? I'm obsessed, brother. Thank you so much. Thunderstorm, you want to vote? That's all yeses from me. If you don't get a yes, I don't know what's going on. Oh, man. Thank you for being in our life. I mean, it's like when you hear Van Morrison. Yeah, real iconic. Crazy. I think it's another countdown, right? Yeah. One, two, three. You're going to Hollywood Week. On display. I've lost my way. Oh, God, I pray. Let this pass over. I lost the know. I've even chose. I lost my composure. I think they're blind. I think they're out of their mind. Like one of them has. Giving me up. I'm just fine. It's just a matter of time. No, I can't feel my sadness. I know it should be there. Baby, I'm too tired to care because I'm still fine. I'm Sheldon Riley. I'm 26 years old from Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne. What are you doing here? American Idol, huh? A bit crazy. I wanted to do music since I was a really young kid. When I was maybe about 15 years old, I sang at my school. And I remember that first applause. I was like, yeah, this is what I want to do. I love the way it made me feel. I love the way that it made me feel noticed. About 10 years ago, I auditioned for a big TV show back in Australia. It's my big moment. And I sung my song. And they said it wasn't quite enough. Just you singing, it's not enough. That experience made me doubt myself. It made me feel I had to play a character just to be seen. I kind of created this character that dressed up like crazy, the most avant-garde, high fashion. Crystals and diamonds. And it was the thing that made people see me. And it just kind of took off. I had opportunities like crazy, not just Australia, but the entire world. Every TV show competition known to man, I've done it all. And the outfits just got getting crazier and crazier and crazier. It almost felt like an addiction to be the most memorable person in the room. But I'd come home, I'd take the mask off, the makeup, accessories, the everything. And I would hate the person that I saw in the mirror. Hated that version of me. So I took two years off. And remembered why that little kid got up on stage that first time. And this is the one show, there's no smoke, there's no mirrors, no nothing. And I said to myself, if I was gonna come back into music, it would be here with just the piano and just me. And if you don't like it, you don't like it. I don't ever know if anyone's ever really gonna want what I have to give without everything that I usually put on. That's a big part of why I'm here. Just to remind myself that my voice is enough. Everybody's got their version of what you just said. You know, everybody's got their mask, whether it is something physical that they hide behind or this certain identity that they've created for themselves. And you know, then of course you do worry that if I wasn't that, would anyone still love me? You're very relatable. Thank you. What are you gonna sing for us today? This is Brother by Matt Corby. It's an Australian singer. Yeah. All right, thank you. ♪ Somebody call out to your brother ♪ ♪ He's calling out your name, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Hiding under the covers with no one else to blame, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ You couldn't help but your own neighbor ♪ ♪ You couldn't tell it to his face ♪ ♪ You were messed up by the blame ♪ ♪ You're caught in the corner, confiding in your father ♪ ♪ Let it out, say, yeah, yeah, let it pass away, yeah ♪ ♪ Right there, pull yourself out of this state, dear ♪ ♪ Acknowledge you were a fake here ♪ ♪ And from then you might just roll, roll, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Talk to your brother, he's calling out your name, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ About your own neighbor, you couldn't tell it to his face ♪ ♪ You were messed up by the blame ♪ You're crazy talented, crazy unbelievable. Thank you. Don't know why you ever had to wear the mask, because you're an amazing looking person. You being the loudest guy in the room, you don't always have to be that. Being the most dynamic singer in the room, you don't have to be that. It's okay to just peel a layer off, but that was impressive. Thank you. You're an artist, man, and you're authentic. I love watching someone in their moment. You have stage presence. It's all there. Accept you. Embrace you. I'm really glad you're here. I'm really glad I'm here. I love your voice. Let's vote. Yes. Thank you very much. And make it three. It's a yes from me. Thank you so much. You're going to Hollywood Week. I appreciate it. Thank you so much. Yeah, man, you just, just sing. Enjoy it. Thank you. Enjoy this. All right. Welcome to the class. This kid went viral because he's posting singing from the shower. Go away. Hi, my name is Alona, and I am so excited to be here today. I am actually not singing, though. My boyfriend, Bryant, is, and no one has any idea what he looks like. The camera is never on him. It's always just on me doing my hair and makeup. So it's just me reacting. So we're going to not watch him sing. So just make him feel comfortable. Yeah, we got to ease him into this. I hear him walking. I hear him. He's getting close. Life with Bryant is, oh, I'm going to cry. Sorry. I'm going to pull it together. He's made me come out of my shell a lot, too, as a person. I didn't think that love ever existed like this until I met him. I can't see a thing. I'm so excited to be on this journey with him, and this is such a big deal. All right, we can break these down. Hop from behind the pillar. Don't look at me. We're not looking. We can't see you. Okay. All right, who are you? My name's Bryant Thomas. I'm from Mobile, Alabama. Alabama. Well, you sound like you're from Alabama. Roll Tide. I am a singer-songwriter. I grew up in the church singing music. How many fans do you have? Like 110,000. Wow. So the fans have never seen your face. Correct. Blowing your cover? Well, this is the first time we've ever allowed one of these to go this way, so. A new era of Americanite. All right, what are you going to sing for us? I'm singing Against All Odds by Phil Collins. Fantastic. How can I just let you walk away? Just let you leave without a trace? With you, you're the only one. So take a look at me now. There's just an empty space. And there's nothing left here to remind me. Just the memory of your face. So take a look at me now. There's just an empty space. But you coming back to me is against the odds. But it's what I've got to face. Take a good look at me now. Hey! Cause I'll still be standing here. And you coming back to me is against all odds. But it's what I've got to face. All right. Take a look at me now. Wow. Way to do it. Thank you guys so much. The reveal. Good job. The reveal, here I am. You know, I'm overwhelmed. I can't, I can't lie to you, you know. I'm just going to be like, like Luke and I'm going to make jokes. You're still kind of covered cause you got your shades on, but I get it. There's the full reveal. Whoa. Carrie, what you think? Your voice is outrageous. Thank you so much. It means a lot to me to hear that from someone like you. It's incredible. It really is. Even over there behind a pillar, you can feel just so much emotion and life in your voice. So well done. What you think Lionel about Bryant? I think we got ourselves a hit record here. You've got star power vocals, man. And that little rasp you have is just on fire. Thank you so much. You were all the way there. And I'm loving it, man. Thank you so much. Yeah, man. Great job. And really, really soulful voice. I feel like I'm hallucinating right now, honestly. I'm like, is this a projection? Is this AI? Well, let's vote. Lionel, what you think about your Alabama boy? Well, I think for the University of Idaho, I would deem it very exciting to put you in as part of this class. It's a yes for me. I'm a heck yes. Woo woo. I'm a yes. I love it. Congratulations. You got a lot of family in there behind you. They're coming in. What's up? How are y'all? Good. Are you the girlfriend? I am. You started all this? I did. Come on, guys. Send her in. There you go. Well, he's going through the Hollywood week, and he's a great singer. I appreciate y'all bringing him to us. I have one thing to say. Yes, yes. So I told you, you know, when we started this whole journey, you know, that you were the one for me. To be honest, whether I got a golden ticket or not, I was going to do this. And I just want you to know that, like, my journey started with you, and it's going to end with you. And I promise you that. So can you say something? Yes, yes, yes. Oh, my God. This is beautiful. Congratulations. Oh, my God. Tell us who you are, where you're from, your age. I go by True to Star. I'm 24. I'm from Montgomery, Alabama. No way. Down the street. Down the street, Tuskegee, man. All right. Any musical background in the family or just you? My Uncle Lionel. Uncle who? Lionel. Sounds like a good individual. My first memory of music, me and my mom actually used to watch American Idol. That was my first memory of, like, loving music. And, yeah. He once tried to run away to Hollywood and he was just going to run away with a guitar and see him on the street. I thought it was crazy. He was determined. And I'm glad you kept that energy, bro, despite what anybody said about you. I appreciate it. For real. Growing up was tough. My mom was on drugs. There was a lot of times we didn't have water on, lights on. I had to take care of my little siblings. My mama had a hard life. And truthfully, my mom went through the same thing I had to go through. You know, history repeats itself. Eventually our family stepped in and my mom got clean. And she was actually really trying to change and make things better. I lost my mom in 2022. I had just started to understand. I had just started to understand at that time. And I had just started to forgive her for a lot of things that we went through as kids. It was hard. It was very hard. This is a very special moment, not only for me, but for my family. For me, it's more than auditioning. It's just about my family, showing them that you can do anything that you can put your mind to. ♪ If I go a million miles away ♪ ♪ Teaching every day ♪ ♪ Cause I need nothing, so nothing can ever change this ♪ ♪ Every pie, your cake and ice cream ♪ ♪ Oh, your sugar and spice and everything else ♪ ♪ You're the girl I dreams, but if you want to leave me ♪ ♪ Yeah, well, I just say, well, come on ♪ ♪ Cause I need nothing, oh, can never change this ♪ ♪ I need nothing, oh, can change this old love I have for you ♪ So, so I'm channeled now. All the folks in Montgomery, Tuskegee, Auburn, Union Springs, they told me to give you a hug. Oh, thank you so much. Oh, now, we're proud of you, son. Thank you so much. You did well, I love that. Thank you so much. You have a commanding voice, but I think my favorite part was your delivery. It was completely intentional, and it wasn't trying to barrel over the song and show us all your big notes. You were just delivering a story to us, and it was very believable. Thank you so much. It was the first time in three days I've had full body chills the whole time, and I thought it was just so real and genuine, and I just cheer for you. I want to see your family have a blast with all this, and- Oh, we going. Is the rest of your family outside this door? They should be. We have been waiting on you. Come on in, Montgomery. This is my brother, this is my sister, that's my brother, that's my little brother, that's my auntie, that's my uncle. Montgomery's gonna be proud. I think he came in here to take no prisoners, and he just did that. It's a yes for me. I'm a big time yes. Terry wants to know. Little man, you think we should all say yes and give him one of these? Say yes. It's a yes for me. You're going to Hollywood Week. This is so sick. Hey. Hello. This is crazy. So you're the last- You're the last. You're the last audition. That's crazy. Isn't that crazy? That's crazy. You guys look majestic. Majestic? Yeah. Well, thanks. Your hair is majestic. It's a lot going on, but- I don't know if we've seen better hair, right? No, no, no. It's pretty awesome. All right, tell us who you are and where you're from. Yeah, my name is Chris Tunkseth. I'm 27 years old, and I'm from Fergus Falls, Minnesota. And what do you do up in Minnesota for work? Right now, I've been roofing houses. Quickest work in a small town is usually construction, so. Tell me a little bit about why he's here and what this audition means to Chris. Yeah. I mean, music's always been a part of our family. We've grew up watching American Idol, and he's really turned to music kind of as his way of getting his feelings off his chest. Tell us about growing up, your home life. Yeah. I just feel so fortunate. Like, I'm so blessed. I've been given the greatest family in the world. Yeah. Growing up in Minnesota's the best. Like my childhood, it was so fun and so simple. My dad, he studied opera, and he was an opera singer, and then became a pastor and a worship leader. And my mom was a pianist. My siblings, we'd sing every holiday at church. Everything that we did was, like, together. But it started to take a turn when I was 10 years old. My mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Hi. It was pretty aggressive. How are you? I'm good now. Right away, my mom was in and out of the hospital. She was four hours away. My dad would be traveling back and forth trying to take care of our family. He was gravity to us. He's the strongest person I've ever met. He was my best friend. He was my, kind of my foundation, the person I turned to for advice. 12 years after my mom's diagnosis, my dad was diagnosed with leukemia. Yeah, that was the worst thing I've ever had in my life. Like, Superman is no longer Superman, you know? My siblings moved home to help me take care of them. I mean, all of us put life on hold, but there was nothing else that we would have done. Like, that was honestly the biggest gift for us to be close to them. So, I'm going to be singing Lonely Road that I wrote for dad. Love that. I mean, everyone says how much you look like dad and how much you resemble dad. Now, especially with him being gone, his legacy is now living through you, through your singing. Pops, I wish you were part of this. I wish you were here to see this thing go through, but I'm just going to be me, and I hope they see you through me. ♪ I hit the lonely road again ♪ Missed my turn ♪ I'm not the only one that's traveling ♪ But I know I'm far from home ♪ I guess I had to learn ♪ To know that you did too ♪ How come no one has directions ♪ When we've all been down that same road too ♪ I still have a million questions ♪ Only you got answers to ♪ I don't really think that I will care for them ♪ When I'm up in heaven with you ♪ Press on ♪ We're gonna make it through ♪ Hold on I love everything about you. I love your presence. I love how open you are in the way you talk, communicate, and the way you sing, communicate. You have an incredible voice. It's powerful, and it's beautiful. It's masculine, and it's soft at the same time. Like, it's, you kind of have all the things. It's just very impressive, the gift that you have to work with and the way that you work with it. Thank you. Part of your singing is going to be the things you say in between each song. Yeah. You have a ministry, a real strong connection to people. Thank you. I was so touched by the fact that you said, I'm blessed, I'm grateful. There was a point in my life where I thought, my dad's dying and my life's falling apart. There was a little aide over in the corner of the hospital, and I was talking to my dad. He was in and out of a coma. He said, you're very lucky. And I looked at him and said, what are you talking about? I said, he's in a coma. And he said, I was just thinking, I wish I had a dad to love as much as you have. Yeah. It's a gift to hurt so much, you know, because it means that something was important there, so. Your ministry is right in place, man. Thank you. The timing of all this is the timing of it. Right, exactly. We're not in control of it. I had setbacks in my life that put my music career on hold, and I matured and grew up during those years. Yeah. It's really perfect to me, what you're doing. I've been in the room with Chris Stapleton a lot of times. You've got those little vibes going on. You've got that ability to whisper with soul and turn it up. You just got a lot of stuff going on and don't be afraid to turn them loose. Yes, sir. Because we're going to be there every step of the way, encouraging you. Thank you, Luke. Lionel, what is your vote? Yes. Appreciate you. Absolutely, yes. Thank you. I think you're going to go really high in this competition. It's a yes from Minnesota. Come on. Woo! That was amazing. I love you guys. My name is Vincent Fondue. Well, who's your crew here? Well, this is my band. We've been together for 18 years. Where are you from? I'm from Cleveland, Ohio. What do you do up there in Cleveland? I do concrete with my brother, and I've created this band up there. What's the name of the band? It's named Recess. Recess? Yeah. We just think of it as like a break from every day. Awesome. What are you going to sing today? I'm going to sing an original song we actually wrote in 2019. We felt like we were going to break up, and instead of breaking up, we just came out with this song. Lionel and I thought we were going to break up in 2019. Never. We were going to stay together no matter what. Stronger than ever. Huh? Let's go. When every minute heightens my confusion till I can feel the fall from space How come you look so close like you're right in front of me And if they say that time is an illusion why can't you see it on my face How come you look so close but you feel so far away How come you look so close just not close enough Why? It's over but it just won't stop, no A ringing in my ear and the sound of giving up Oh, it's over but it's all I've got A ringing in my ear and the sound of giving up