Latest news with #BackstreetBoy
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
His dad is a Backstreet Boy. Now he's trying to carve his own path on ‘American Idol'
Shortly after Baylee Littrell stepped into the room to audition for 'American Idol,' Carrie Underwood felt there was something familiar about him. When she mentioned that to the 21-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, he revealed that his father is Brian Littrell from the Backstreet Boys. 'And you look like your dad,' said Underwood, whose debut as a judge on the reality competition show comes 20 years after she won Season 4. Apparently Underwood was a big Backstreet Boys fan — the show shared a picture of the country music superstar in her childhood bedroom that was decorated with multiple posters of the popular boy band. Although Littrell grew up on the road with his dad — he was 8 or 9 when he started opening for the Backstreet Boys with a couple of songs — he's trying to carve out his own path in music as a country singer. And based on his 'American Idol' audition, which aired during the Season 23 premiere Sunday night, he's off to a really good start. As the son of a Backstreet Boy, music has been a part of Littrell's life as long as he can remember. He told 'Idol' producers he was 'mesmerized' as a kid when he watched his dad take the stage as the lights went down and the screams from fans intensified. 'I believe I get my voice from dad, and hopefully I can do him justice,' Littrell said ahead of his 'Idol' audition, although he noted that he did not inherit his dad's dance moves. 'Following in my dad's footsteps is scary because his career to me is one of the most extraordinary in music history. No one can ever compare.' But his dad has a different point of view. 'Obviously growing up in the industry, a lot of people would look at that as like such a perk, but it's not easy,' Brian Littrell said during the episode. 'I've always told everybody that he's 10 times more talented than I ever was. ... We're super proud. He's obviously grown up in the business, and you know, I think he's cut out for it.' For his audition, Baylee Littrell performed an original song, 'Waiting On Myself to Die.' The song, he said, is about not giving up — even when you really want to. 'Trust me, I wish I wanted to do something completely different,' he said before his performance. 'But if I'm not doing music, there's no way I can really exist.' As soon as Littrell started strumming his guitar and singing, Underwood widened her eyes and looked at fellow 'Idol' judge Luke Bryan in awe. 'You're really good, like, you're really good,' she said with a big smile following the performance. 'You went there emotionally, and I think you could go very, very far in this competition.' Although it was clear Littrell was going to earn a 'yes' from all three judges and advance to the next round of the competition — judge Lionel Richie echoed Underwood's sentiment that the singer 'could go a long way' on the show — the judges decided to prolong the audition by inviting Brian Littrell to join his son for an impromptu duet. Brian Littrell walked out in front of the judges table to sing harmony on the chorus of his son's song. He was visibly proud and smiling big as they performed together. 'For your superstar singer dad to come in here, I feel like for anybody else, it would make you look bad. But it didn't. You were right there with him,' Underwood said. 'You didn't pale, you didn't shy away. You were like, 'This is my moment.'' Both Brian and Baylee Littrell got emotional as the rising singer received a golden ticket to advance to the Hollywood round of the competition. 'Congrats @bayleelittrell_music on an incredible premiere with @americanidol,' Brian Littrell shared in a Facebook post following the audition. 'I am so proud of you Bubba — can't wait to see you in #Hollywood!!' Brian Littrell, who in July joins the Backstreet Boys for a short residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas, recently opened up about his son competing on 'Idol' and how it has been somewhat of a learning curve for the budding artist. 'He was just texting me last night, going, 'Dad, dude, how do you do this? Like, it's hard work,'' Brian Littrell previously told 'Today.' 'He's been busting his butt, and I'm super proud of him. He kind of gets a new sense of reality of what this is.' But Baylee Littrell has been pursuing a music career well before 'Idol.' In 2016, he made his Broadway debut in the musical 'Disaster!' when he was 13 years old. He released his debut album, '770-Country,' in 2019, and opened for the Backstreet Boys' 'DNA' world tour that same year, per 'Today.' 'Opening the show with a video of the five members giving advice to their opening act, 16-year-old country singer Baylee Littrell — yes, son of Brian Littrell ... the BSB seemed eager to establish that while they can still do the synchronized dance moves and sing in perfect pop harmony, they are family men these days, dedicated husbands who are dads by day and pop stars by night," Cristy Meiners wrote in her review for the Deseret News when the tour rolled through Salt Lake City. Littrell's turn on 'Idol' comes a year after singer-songwriter Emmy Russell, the granddaughter of late country legend Loretta Lynn, auditioned for the show, as the Deseret News previously reported. Russell, who said competing on 'Idol' was an attempt to forge her own path, placed fifth on the season. 'I think that when you come from a musical family, the shadow is so big,' her mother, Patsy Russell, said during her audition, per Deseret News. 'How do I fill those shoes? Well the deal is you don't. You make your own shadow.'
CNN
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Brian Littrell tears up after son Baylee's ‘American Idol' audition
Brian Littrell's son is making his own path in the music industry and he wants it that way. Baylee Littrell, the 22-year-old son of the Backstreet Boys member, made his dad proud with his recent 'American Idol' audition. The younger Littrell was clocked early on by new judge Carrie Underwood, who said he looked familiar before the singer shared the identity of his famous father. Littrell then went on to talk about opening for the group as a child and witnessing his father's career and popularity. 'When you're a kid you're not afraid,' he said of performing as an opening act for the Backstreet Boys. 'But when you start to get a little bit older, especially a teenager, you kind of get intimidated, at least I was.' His father understands. 'Obviously growing up in the industry a lot of people would look at that as such a perk,' the elder Littrell said on the show. 'But it's not easy. I've always told everybody that he's ten times more talented than I ever was.' Baylee Littrell, who was 21 when he auditioned, played guitar and performed an original tune titled, 'Waiting On Myself to Die,' for judges Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. He told producers it was 'wanting to give up and not giving up yet.' 'Trust me I wish I wanted to do something completely different,' he said. 'But if I'm not doing music there's no way I can really exist.' The performance won raves from the judges. Underwood told Littrell, 'You're really good.' Meanwhile, his parents were waiting to congratulate him and his father got emotional as he said of his son, 'He's obviously grown up in the business and I think he's cut out for it.' Bryan asked Baylee Littrell if his father ever sang with him and upon learning that he had asked, 'Ya think he'd sing with ya?' The Backstreet Boy then performed his son's song together with him to the delight of the judges. 'I'm very happy for you and very proud of your son,' Richie told the elder Littrell. 'He's got his own lane and I think he could go a long way.' The judges then voted to send the younger Littrell through to the next round of the competition as his father said, 'I'm going to cry. I'm crying.' Season 23 of 'American Idol' airs Sunday on ABC.
CNN
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Brian Littrell tears up after son Baylee's ‘American Idol' audition
Brian Littrell's son is making his own path in the music industry and he wants it that way. Baylee Littrell, the 22-year-old son of the Backstreet Boys member, made his dad proud with his recent 'American Idol' audition. The younger Littrell was clocked early on by new judge Carrie Underwood, who said he looked familiar before the singer shared the identity of his famous father. Littrell then went on to talk about opening for the group as a child and witnessing his father's career and popularity. 'When you're a kid you're not afraid,' he said of performing as an opening act for the Backstreet Boys. 'But when you start to get a little bit older, especially a teenager, you kind of get intimidated, at least I was.' His father understands. 'Obviously growing up in the industry a lot of people would look at that as such a perk,' the elder Littrell said on the show. 'But it's not easy. I've always told everybody that he's ten times more talented than I ever was.' Baylee Littrell, who was 21 when he auditioned, played guitar and performed an original tune titled, 'Waiting On Myself to Die,' for judges Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. He told producers it was 'wanting to give up and not giving up yet.' 'Trust me I wish I wanted to do something completely different,' he said. 'But if I'm not doing music there's no way I can really exist.' The performance won raves from the judges. Underwood told Littrell, 'You're really good.' Meanwhile, his parents were waiting to congratulate him and his father got emotional as he said of his son, 'He's obviously grown up in the business and I think he's cut out for it.' Bryan asked Baylee Littrell if his father ever sang with him and upon learning that he had asked, 'Ya think he'd sing with ya?' The Backstreet Boy then performed his son's song together with him to the delight of the judges. 'I'm very happy for you and very proud of your son,' Richie told the elder Littrell. 'He's got his own lane and I think he could go a long way.' The judges then voted to send the younger Littrell through to the next round of the competition as his father said, 'I'm going to cry. I'm crying.' Season 23 of 'American Idol' airs Sunday on ABC.
USA Today
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'American Idol' premiere: Carrie Underwood cries, a Backstreet Boy duets with his son
'American Idol' premiere: Carrie Underwood cries, a Backstreet Boy duets with his son Show Caption Hide Caption 'American Idol': Carrie Underwood makes history, replaces Katy Perry Carrie Underwood, the season 4 winner of "American Idol," is returning to the show. The Grammy winner will replace Katy Perry on the judges panel. As a new season of "American Idol" kicks off, Season 23 so far is losing focus on the next Idol as it highlights one of its most famous alumni: Carrie Underwood. Of course, Underwood is the long-running competition show's newest judge, coming home after cultivating a successful career over the past two decades to nurture the next generation of talent. Following Katy Perry's departure last year, Season 4 winner and eight-time Grammy winner Underwood signed on to help Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie sift through the nation's undiscovered talents. And Sunday's season premiere went to great lengths to re-introduce Underwood — the show's first ever alum-turned-judge — to "Idol" loyalists. As the trio went from audition to audition, Bryan and Richie realized something about their new colleague: She can sing almost anything. Thus, "Jukebox Carrie" was born as the country star belted along to auditions utilizing everyone from Korn to George Strait to Bell Biv DeVoe. We've got a few of these auditions episodes to get through in the next few weeks, so let's get right to it. Here are Episode 1's standout performances, who made it to Hollywood and which lucky lady is getting fast-tracked through Hollywood Week with a platinum ticket. Listen up, millennials: This Backstreet Boy did a duet with his son There was no getting the family resemblance past Underwood. She'd clocked there was something familiar about Baylee Littrell, and she was right; the 21-year-old college student from Alpharetta, Georgia, is the son of Backstreet Boys star Brian Littrell. His career started early, when he was a kid opening for the boyband. "I believe I get my voice from Dad, and hopefully I can do him justice today," Baylee said. "Following in my dad's footsteps is scary because his career to me is one of the most extraordinary in music history. No one can ever compare." Brian clearly disagrees, proud dad that he is: "I've always told everybody that he's 10 times more talented than I ever was," he said. "He's obviously grown up in the business and I think he's cut out for it." Bucking any expectations that he'd go the saccharine pop route, Baylee took a risk with an original song called "Waiting on Myself to Die." The judges were convinced enough by the acoustic guitar set and the vulnerability in a song about not letting yourself give up, but for good measure, they requested a father-son duet. Brian joined for a reprisal of the song, providing the upper range for the chorus. And with three yeses delivered, Brian was left in tears. This 17 year old deserves to go straight to the Top 10 Someone give this high schooler a record deal, stat. Isaiah Misailegalu, a 17-year-old high school senior from Las Vegas, Nevada, is not only the varsity football team captain, a member of the honor choice and president of his school's Polynesian club, but he also has immense singing talent. Forget the platinum ticket — where's the card that rockets him straight to the Top 10? With his confidence and emotion as he sang Donny Hathaway's "A Song For You" with accompaniment from his Uncle Luigi on acoustic guitar, the performance was one you'll want to put on a loop. One issue: Underwood refused to believe that voice could come from someone who only recently started singing in front of others. "It sounds like you've been doing it forever. You made it sound very easy, and it's not. So well done, you liar," she joked. "You just borrowed Donny's song, but that's your song now," Richie said before the judges gave thee easy yeses. Carrie Underwood was 'not a crier' — until she met an adorable toddler Usually, putting your audience to sleep isn't a good sign for a singer. But it might've just secured 25-year-old Breanna Nix a ticket to Hollywood. As the stay-at-home mom from Denton, Texas, boldly sang Underwood's own song "Jesus, Take the Wheel," her toddler Emerson fought to keep his eyelids open in Underwood's arms until he finally gave in to slumber. The cuteness moved the "Idol" alum to tears. As Underwood described what "an honor" it was to hear the cover, Bryan took over babysitting duties and let the little boy nap against his chest. The trio's unanimous vote came in a whisper, so as to not wake the little one, and was a resounding "yes." Who made it to Hollywood Week? The judges were not too sparing with their golden tickets in the season premiere (I'm looking at you, Insite, and your head-banging to Korn). Here's who's making it through to Hollywood. Kolbi Jordan Breanna Dix Crews Wright Isaiah Misailegalu Kam'ron Smith Insite Baylee Littrell Lillie Zitlaly Rhoden Shane Dan Turner Pat Johnson Ché Gabby Simone Ian Ward Abi Bowen Slater Nalley Who got a platinum ticket? Introduced in 2022 to shake things up after more than 20 years on air, the platinum ticket rockets a contestant through the first week of auditions in Hollywood. The judges typically have four of these updates to dole out. Kolbi Jordan, the 26-year-old singer from Tulsa, got top billing as the first audition of the episode. Her rendition of Chrisette Michele's "Epiphany (I'm Leaving)" bowled over the judges so much that not only did Richie get her on the phone with her idol Patti LaBelle, the producers also set her up with a performance during a Titans vs Patriots game at Nashville's Nissan Stadium. After she proved her chops to an estimated 70,000 football fans (one would assume; we didn't actually get to see the performance), Kolbi had her golden ticket upgraded to a platinum ticket. Cue the confetti.
