Latest news with #INeedYourGlory
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This 17-year-old aspiring preacher praised God on ‘American Idol' — and left the judges ‘speechless'
When Canaan James Hill walked into his 'American Idol' audition, Carrie Underwood had a hard time believing he was only 17 years old. The 'Idol' contestant carried himself with a maturity that did not give off the air of a teenager, the country music star said. And Hill is, in fact, already ahead of his years. He graduated high school early, an accomplishment that was motivated by his desire to pursue a preaching career — 'So that I can go forward with my gift and do what God has called and chosen me to do,' he told the 'Idol' judges. Now, the aspiring preacher from Dallas, Texas, is sharing his faith on a platform that draws in millions of viewers. On Sunday night, 'American Idol' aired Hill's audition — and it proved to be one of the standout moments of the season so far. Hill put his faith in the spotlight for his 'American Idol' debut, performing gospel singer Earnest Pugh's 'I Need Your Glory.' His voice started out soft but sure as he sang the opening lines: I need Your glory, I want Your glory Less of me and more of You is what I need As the intensity of Hill's performance picked up, 'Idol' 'judge Lionel Richie scooted back in his chair and then stood up and began pacing around the room in excitement. When Hill finished the song, Richie walked over to him and touched him on the shoulder. 'That was powerful,' he said. 'Thank you so much,' Hill responded. 'To God be the glory.' Richie was visibly having a hard time forming his thoughts. 'That was something so spectacular,' he continued. 'I just can't even describe what I heard.' Underwood also said she was 'kind of speechless.' 'Where have you been the last 17 years?' she said. 'You have a gift. Thank you for bringing your gift to us.' 'Idol' judge Luke Bryan was all smiles from start to finish as he took in Hill's performance, and couldn't help but laugh as Richie walked around the room in excitement. 'When you sing in church, what do people do?' the country singer asked the teenager. 'Do they just run to the baptism pit and jump in it and get saved immediately?' The judges were so awestruck that they chose to award Hill with the coveted platinum ticket — a special ticket they hand out just three times in a season that allows a contestant to immediately advance past the first round of Hollywood week. Hill's audition wrapped up the audition round on the 23rd season of 'American Idol.' The show begins the Hollywood round Monday night. Ahead of his 'Idol' audition, Hill told host Ryan Seacrest that his inspiration to pursue music stems from his grandfather, who sings a lot of gospel music. 'We're a gospel family,' he said. His performance of 'I Need Your Glory' has generated some attention online — and even caught the attention of singer Pugh himself. 'Congrats @canaansangz great job!!!" Pugh shared on Instagram following the audition. '#keepGoing @americanidol your platform continues to shine a light of hope for the world to see. Thank you!!" Hill has been vocal about his faith on social media — the bio on his official YouTube channel says that he loves 'to encourage people to trust God because he can do more with it than we can.' After receiving the third and final platinum ticket on 'American Ido,' Hill said he will continue to share his faith throughout the season. 'Oh, I'm so ready to spread the gospel, and that I am gonna do,' he said.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch the 17-Year-Old Final 'American Idol' 2025 Platinum Ticket Winner That Has Lionel Richie Out of His Chair
If you've watched every episode of American Idol auditions for 2025, by the time you see this, you will have seen the eventual winner of the season. And it could very well be this very last contestant: 17-year-old Canaan James Hill from Dallas, TX, who walked away with the third and final Platinum Ticket. Despite only being 17, Canaan is a high-school graduate, having finished early so that he could pursue his calling of becoming a preacher. 'What motivated you to graduate high school early?' Luke Bryan asked. 🎬 🎬 'So that I can go forward with my gift and do what God has called and chosen me to do,' Canaan responded. In line with that, Canaan took Luke, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie to church with his performance of 'I Need Your Glory' by Earnest Pugh. So moving and impressive was Canaan's performance that Lionel couldn't sit still. We have never seen him respond like that to a performance in all the seasons of American Idol that he's judged. 'That was so powerful,' Lionel said. "You are so blessed. That was something so spectacular, I can't even describe what I heard.' While Lionel tried to compose himself, Carrie weighed in, saying, 'The words velvet, butter, it was smooth but powerful. I was, 'Where have you been the last 17 years?' You have a gift. Thank you for bringing your gift to us. I am kind of speechless.' To which Lionel said, 'Hallelujah!' Related: Luke, too, was awed, saying, 'I've never seen anything like it. When you sing in church, what do people do? Do they just run to the baptism pit and jump in it and get saved immediately? Carrie said buttery, velvety, all the favorite food groups, butter pecan ice cream, barbecue. It's a yes!' It was a yes for Carrie, too, and Luke asked, 'Lionel, what are you ready to do?' Lionel said yes and ran and hugged Canaan. Luke asked again, 'Lionel, what are you ready to do?' And he pointed to the Platinum Ticket on the wall. But Lionel couldn't pull the ticket off the wall, so Luke had to go over and rip it off for him. Handing it to Canaan, Lionel said, 'This Platinum ticket means you can bypass the first round of Hollywood, and you get to sit back and watch all the people you are going to slay. I present this to you from the heavens above.' American Idol airs both Sunday and Monday night this week at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Streams next day on Hulu. Next,
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This 'powerful' audition had Lionel Richie leaping from his chair on 'American Idol'
Canaan James Hill's audition on Sunday night's episode of "American Idol" wasn't just emotionally moving, it was physically moving too. Canaan introduced himself as a 17-year-old from Dallas, Texas, who graduated high school early and was getting into preaching. After the brief introduction, he broke into Earnest Pugh's 2011 song "I Need Your Glory." The rendition prompted "Idol" judge Lionel Richie to leap from his seat, dance and approach Canaan to express his appreciation for his impressive voice. Fellow "American Idol" judge Luke Bryan also hollered in amazement as Canaan sang. Watch the entire performance here. After the performance, Richie approached Canaan, placing both hands on the contestant's shoulders. "That was powerful," said Richie. "You have been so blessed." Son of Backstreet Boys member hopes to advance on 'American Idol' "Are you OK?" judge Carrie Underwood as Richie returned to his desk. "No, I am not OK. Look where my seat is. I had to sit back here to listen," he said, pointing out how far his seat had been moved as he watched the performance. "That was something so spectacular. I just can't even describe what I heard," he added. Richie wasn't the only judge thoroughly impressed by Canaan's performance. Underwood said she was left "speechless" by the Canaan's singing and Bryan said he had "never seen anything like it." Lionel Richie, Robin Roberts return to their roots in Tuskegee, Alabama After a unanimous "yes" vote, Richie gifted Canaan with a "Platinum Ticket." "It means you can bypass the first round of Hollywood, and you get to sit back and watch all the people you're gonna slay," Richie said, while handing Canaan one of three highly coveted tickets that "Idol" judges can award contestants. "Hollywood Week," where contestants try to continue their dreams of singing their way to stardom, kicks off on Monday. This 'powerful' audition had Lionel Richie leaping from his chair on 'American Idol' originally appeared on
