Cody Johnson and Triston Harper Deliver Powerful Performance Of ”Til You Can’t’ On The ‘American Idol’ Finale

Fresh off his buzzed-about ACM Awards performance of “Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson made his way to Hollywood, California to perform on the star-studded American Idol finale. 

The Texas native, who is in the midst of his The Leather Tour, teamed up with 15-year-old Triston Harper to deliver a performance of the chart-topping, CMA Single of the Year winning track, “‘Til You Can’t.” 

Standing side-by-side on the American Idol stage, Johnson and Harper took turns trading verses of the powerful tune while the audience clapped along to the beat. During the chorus, they harmonized, delivering a compelling message about seizing the moment.

Harper held his own next to the country superstar, showcasing his undeniable talent. Luke Bryan could be seen nodding along proudly from the judges panel throughout the performance.

At the end of the performance, Johnson turned to give Harper a high five, and they later shared a hug.

This was a full-circle moment for Harper, who performed the song earlier in the season. His solo performance of the country hit earned him a place in the Top 14.

Triston Harper may have been eliminated in the Top 5, but he was a standout contestant all season long. Fans were first introduced to the young star with a cover of “Cover Me Up” during his audition. He went on to sing songs such as “God’s Country” by Blake Shelton, “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis, “What Makes You Country” by Luke Bryan, and “She’s Country” by Jason Aldean. 

He also delivered an impressive performance of an original song titled, “H.O.P.E.,” which stands for “hold on pain ends.”   

As a survivor of abuse and homelessness, Harper aims to use his music to help others facing similar situations. 

“Anytime I’m going through a hard time or I don’t know how to express my feelings, I write songs,” he explained during the show and went on to quote the lyrics, “I’ve seen the pain and I’ve seen the sorrow. I witness it every single day. Kind of makes you wish there is no tomorrow.”

The McIntosh, Alabama native released the song via 19 Recordings / BMG Nashville on Friday.  

“‘H.O.P.E’ is a song that means so much to me because it helped me get through the worst time in my life,” Harper shared in a statement. “I was in the mood to write one day so I propped up my phone and started recording. This song kinda just poured out of me. I’ve seen a lot in my life and as I was writing it, it almost felt like I just needed to get all of that out in song.”

Click below to listen to the just-released tune.