{"id":159322,"date":"2025-04-01T02:01:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T02:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/01\/brian-littrells-son-dedicates-american-idol-song-to-late-grandma\/"},"modified":"2025-04-01T02:01:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T02:01:48","slug":"brian-littrells-son-dedicates-american-idol-song-to-late-grandma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/01\/brian-littrells-son-dedicates-american-idol-song-to-late-grandma\/","title":{"rendered":"Brian Littrell’s Son Dedicates American Idol Song to Late Grandma"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Baylee Littrell<\/strong><\/a> has the support of his family throughout his American Idol<\/em><\/a> journey, but there\u2019s one person he wishes was by his side.<\/p>\n

Following the final auditions, season 23<\/a> kicked off its Hollywood round on Monday, March 31, during which the contestants watched their competition perform for judges Carrie Underwood<\/strong>, Lionel Richie<\/strong> and Luke Bryan<\/strong>. Baylee\u2019s parents \u2014 Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell<\/strong> and wife Leighanne Wallace<\/strong> \u2014 were in the audience as he took the stage to sing an emotional original song.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen your family\u2019s in the music business, it opens a lot of doors,\u201d Baylee, 22, told the cameras in a confessional. \u201cBut it also creates a lot of animosity, so my big thing here is I\u2019m here to make this on my own and carve my path.\u201d<\/p>\n

Discussing the inspiration behind his song \u201cHey Jesus,\u201d Baylee said it was written during \u201ca pretty tough time in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Brian Littrell Cries Over Son’s ‘Idol’ Audition, Performs Surprise Duet<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tBackstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell got emotional watching his son, Baylee Littrell, chasing his American Idol dreams. The 22-year-old\u2019s audition was shown during the Sunday, March 9, premiere of the singing competition\u2019s 23rd season. New judge Carrie Underwood said she noticed something \u201cfamiliar\u201d about Baylee before he revealed his dad\u2019s identity. \u201cYou must forgive me, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cMy grandma was my best friend. With my dad being away on tour, she would always step in. She understood me like not many people do,\u201d he continued, tearfully revealing that his grandmother died nearly three years prior. \u201cI thought she was going to be around for moments like this. I never expected to lose her, so when I did, I questioned everything and I pushed away faith \u2026 this song kind of helped me find it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baylee strummed an acoustic guitar as he sang to his fellow Idol<\/em> hopefuls, some of whom raised their hands in praise. When the camera panned over to Brian, 50, he was seen singing along.<\/p>\n

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Underwood, 42, told Baylee that his \u201cheart\u201d and \u201cgenuineness\u201d came through in the performance. As he left the stage, Richie, 75, applauded the \u201cgreat lyrics.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf my grandma saw me, she\u2019d probably be really proud,\u201d Baylee said. \u201cI hope it\u2019s enough to get to the next round.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>‘American Idol’ Star Emmy Russell Recalls Being ‘So Mad’ at Judges<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tFormer American Idol star Emmy Russell has revealed her anger over being asked to sing one of her grandmother Loretta Lynn\u2018s country music hits on the ABC show. \u201cWhen I saw the song choice, there was immense sadness whenever I saw it because [Lynn] just passed away very recently,’\u201d Russell, 25, recalled in a 2024 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

After seeing all 144 finalists perform, the judges deliberated over who to keep \u2014 and who to send home \u2014 in what host Ryan Seacrest<\/strong> called \u201cthe biggest cut in Idol<\/em> history.\u201d The contestants were separated into four rooms and told their fate.<\/p>\n

Baylee ultimately survived the elimination, but another singer with a famous family wasn\u2019t as lucky. Carnie Wilson<\/strong>\u2018s daughter Lola Bonfiglio<\/strong><\/a>, who performed Billie Eilish<\/strong>\u2018s \u201cBirds of a Feather,\u201d was sent home.<\/p>\n

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