America watches as aspiring musician Baylee Littrell, the son of a Backstreet Boy, carves his own path on 'American Idol', dazzling the judges during the audition and earning a golden ticket.
- Mar 11, 2025
AceShowbiz - "American Idol" is no stranger to emotional moments, but the season 23 premiere brought a unique twist with Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell and his son, Baylee Littrell, sharing the stage. The younger Littrell, 22, didn't shy away from his famous roots, making a memorable impression on both judges and viewers.
The audition began with judge Carrie Underwood noticing a familiar look about Baylee. "There's something about you that looks familiar," she said, to which Baylee revealed his "nepo baby" status by identifying his father. This led to an easy rapport, with Luke Bryan joking, "You must forgive me, I didn't have your dad's posters in my room."
Baylee opened up about the burden and inspiration that comes from his father's success. "Following in my dad's footsteps is scary because his career, to me, is one of the most extraordinary in music history," he shared.
Despite the pressure, Baylee crafted his own path, performing an original song titled "Waiting on Myself to Die," which is about the struggle of not giving up.
The judges were thoroughly impressed. "Um, you're really good. Like, you're really good," praised Underwood. Fellow judge Lionel Richie added, "He's got his own lane and I think you can go a long way."
The climactic moment came when Baylee invited his dad to join him for a duet, harmonizing effortlessly on the chorus of his original song. Brian Littrell's pride was clear, as he teared up and admitted, "I'm crying."
Reflecting on his son's journey, Brian noted the unique challenges of growing up in the shadow of a famous parent. "Obviously growing up in the industry, a lot of people would look at that as such a perk, but it's not easy," he said. Yet, he remained optimistic about Baylee's future, asserting, "I've always told everybody that he's ten times more talented than I ever was."
Baylee's performance proved to be a poignant highlight of the premiere. The judges awarded him a golden ticket to advance, noting his ability to stand on his own despite his father's legacy.
As Season 23 of "American Idol" continues, all eyes will be on Baylee Littrell to see if he can continue blazing his unique path in the music industry. Tune in Sundays on ABC to follow his journey.
