21-Year-Old Country Singer Wows ‘Idol’ Judges With Emotional Song Written For His Late Mother
Duffee hoped to make his late mother proud with his ‘Idol’ audition.
Preston Duffee; Photo by ABC, American Idol
Preston Duffee honored his late mother with a performance of an emotional self-penned original song during his American Idol audition on Sunday evening (March 5).
Duffee, a 21-year-old from Hartsville, South Carolina, bared his emotions during Sunday night’s episode as he spoke about his mother and the mental struggles she faced.
“My mom, she was always extremely supportive. She always believed in my music. She just struggled with bipolar and depression. And over time it got harder and harder for her to hide it from us,” he said.
The aspiring singer/songwriter then recalled the evening that changed everything for him and his family.
“Two years ago, it was a big change in our lives, very unexpectedly. That day we all went to church. We had a cookout after that at the house and all of our friends came. My mama was in a great mood, but as people started trickling out, her mood started to change. And as I was getting ready for bed, I heard the gunshot. Now I didn’t know what it was at the time and my sister went in her room and that’s where she found our mama,” he said.
After losing his mother, Duffee had no idea what he and his family were going to do.
“I mean, we were basically homeless for three months because we relied on our mom’s income for the bills for the house. So it was very hard. I mean, music has quite literally saved my life as far as helping me to cope,” he explained. “Not only just that, just to eat, put food on the table.”
The full-time musician then went on to perform an original song called “Something To Write About,” which is the first song he wrote after his mother’s passing two years ago.
“Going to sing one of mine. It was the first song I wrote. I actually didn’t start writing until after my mom passed away,” Duffee told the Idol judges.
“Then he told me son all you need to do / Is think of all that I’ve done for you / And how everything that you’ve been through / Has made you into the man you are now,” Duffee sang. “And it dawned on me that he was right / God, I wish that I could see things through your eyes / When I’m looking ‘round / Yeah, maybe all the hard times are something to write about.”
His audition earned a standing ovation from all three Idol judges, including Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie.
“Sit down, please sit down,” the contestant humbly shouted as the judges stood up to offer his performance a round of applause.
Richie then declared that his performance was “right on the money,” before sharing that he thinks Duffee has a knack for songwriting.
“Songwriting is a skill and you nailed that. If you could do about another 40 like that, you’d have a great, great mailbox career,” Richie continued. ”Just mailing you money man. I’m telling you, very well done.”
Katy Perry then compared the contestant to a “young Luke Bryan, to which he jokingly replied, “the ladies at Church call me Luke.”
Bryan also applauded Duffee’s talents.
“I’m going to shoot you straight. We’ve got some other country guys in this thing that when you hear them sing it’s gonna be a… but what I know from you and the way you thought about that song,” Bryan said. ”If that’s the first song you wrote, the way you approached it, the way you wrote it… Man, you’ve got a really bright future as a songwriter and your voice will grow and be stronger.”
Richie, Perry, and Bryan then voted on the contestant’s audition to reveal his fate in the competition.
“For me, it’s a yes,” Richie added.
“Preston – your character, your personality, and you’ve got the passion and it’s authentic and I like authentic stuff. So it’s a yes,” Perry said.
“Job well done, my friend. Keep writing, keep digging, keep fighting, it’s a yes from me,” Bryan declared.
With that, Duffee received a golden ticket to advance to Hollywood.
“If my mama were still here, she’d be really proud and tell me she knew I’d get here someday,” he beamed.
American Idol airs every Sunday at 8/7c on ABC.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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