Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell got emotional watching his son, Baylee Littrell, chasing his American Idol dreams.
The 22-year-old’s audition was shown during the Sunday, March 9, premiere of the singing competition’s 23rd season. New judge Carrie Underwood said she noticed something “familiar” about Baylee before he revealed his dad’s identity.
“You must forgive me, I didn’t have your dad’s posters in my room,” Luke Bryan teased as Underwood, 41, exclaimed that Baylee resembled his father.
Baylee opened up to the Idol cameras about growing up in the spotlight at the height of the Backstreet Boys’ success, joking that while he inherited his singing abilities from his dad, the same couldn’t be said for dancing.
“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,” Baylee gushed. “I remember being 8 or 9 years old and they sold out this huge arena and I got to open up for them. I just had my two little songs and I came off stage and when the guys went on, the screams and the lights went down. I was just mesmerized.”
Brian, now 50, reflected on how his time as a boy band star affected his son, whom he shares with wife Leighanne Wallace.
“Obviously, growing up in the industry, a lot of people look at that as such a perk. But it’s not easy,” Brian said. “I’ve always told everybody that he’s 10 times more talented than I ever was.”
Outside of the audition room, Brian teared up while praising Baylee’s hard work. “We’re super proud. … I think he’s cut out for it,” he added.
Baylee went on to perform an “emotional” original song for Bryan, 48, Underwood and Lionel Richie. “This song is about me personally wanting to give up and not giving up yet,” he told the cameras. “Trust me, I wish I wanted to do something completely different. But if I’m not doing music, there’s no way I can really exist.”
His performance left Underwood stunned — even more so due to the fact that he wrote the song himself. “I think you could go very, very far in this competition,” she said.
Bryan subsequently invited Baylee’s dad to sing the chorus with him. “I don’t know what to do anymore / I seem to be all alone in this war / Always by myself with no one by my side,” the pair sang. “What to do, what to do with my life / It seems I have no more tears left to cry / Misery takes my time / I’m waiting on myself to die.”
Following the surprise duet, Underwood reiterated that Baylee’s talent spoke for itself. “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,” she said. “You didn’t pale, you didn’t shy away. You were like, ‘This is my moment.’”
When all three judges agreed on sending Baylee to Hollywood, Brian said proudly, “I’m gonna cry. I’m crying.”
American Idol airs on ABC Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
