Lucas Leon Channels Musical Hero Brad Paisley With Show-Stopping Tim McGraw Cover on ‘American Idol’

American Idol hopeful Lucas Leon has been performing songs made famous by his musical hero, Brad Paisley, at Nashville gigs for years and is admittedly one of the country star’s biggest fans. But the singer gained a new fan in Paisley himself after singing a heartfelt rendition of Tim McGraw’s “Just To See You Smile” at Disney’s Aulani.

In the midst of enjoying the exciting getaway in Hawaii with both of his parents by his side, Leon caught up with this season’s mentors Paisley and Keke Palmer. During their interaction, Leon explained that he has received tremendous support from his hometown, from his peers to his high school teachers and more, who all come out to see him perform around his hometown of Gallatin, TN.

He shared with Paisley that his rendition of the country star’s “I’m Gonna Miss Her” is a fan favorite at his shows and often brings in steady tips.

“I’m a massive Brad Paisley fan,” Leon acknowledged. “I’m a big fan of Brad just because his guitar playing, his singing, his songwriting, his stage presence, everything about him.”

Hearing how much support he receives from Leon, Paisley generously invited the singer to join him backstage at the Opry next time he plays the coveted venue.

“I’m sure I’ll be on the Opry in the next couple months. Maybe you can come to that and then we can walk around backstage,” he said with a smile.

Eventually, it was time for Leon to preview his next performance for the mentors and receive some helpful advice before he hits the stage in front of the judges. Paisley was first to praise the Tennessee native for his impressive ability to get “lost in the song” while offering his own “heartfelt interpretation” of McGraw’s hit.

“It doesn’t sound like Tim and it shouldn’t. It sounds like you and that’s hard to do. Differentiating yourself is the name of the game on a show like this,” Paisley added.

Reflecting on those words, Leon shared, “They say I don’t meet your heroes, but I’m really glad I met Brad. So hoping that I can take his advice with me on stage.”

The crowd clapped along as Lucas Leon launched into the song, looking completely at ease performing the beloved country tune. Strumming his guitar and fully leaning into the heartfelt lyrics, he proved that his age is no match for the depth of his talent. He hit every note with ease, leaving both the judges and his family beaming with pride.

Idol judge Lionel Richie echoed that statement when he emphasized how “comfortable” Lucas Leon looked up on that beachside stage.

“You made that so comfortable, I almost forgot that you were a contestant. That’s what you want. You want comfort. You want people to understand that this is what you do naturally. And what you just performed there was about as natural as you’re ever going to get. It was fantastic,” Richie gushed.

Although Keke Palmer had previously heard Leon deliver the tune, this was the first time she got to hear it live on stage with the full production behind him. It’s safe to say that she was more than happy with what she witnessed from him.

“I agree with everything that Lionel said because you literally transported us into your world. I felt like I was at a beach club. I was at a festival. I haven’t been in love in ages. I’m single as a pringle,” she joked, “And I felt romantic because you set the tone. You were making me smile. I mean, I just loved it. You are very much you and you did a fabulous job.”

Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood couldn’t have agreed with their fellow judges more. They each took a moment to share why they resonated so well with his delivery.

Underwood noted, “Your voice is so … It is powerful. It is beautiful. And there is something really special about the simplicity. You don’t try to over sing. You’re like laid back in the pockets and it’s just so easy to listen to you and to watch you. I loved it.”

Bryan encouraged him to “just keep delivering. Keep making us feel comfortable, but also keep adding the pressure and intensity and get songs that really pull you outside of your comfort zone, but you just keep knocking every performance out of the park.”

Fans who want to see Lucas Leon continue on in the Season 24 competition can vote for him two different ways. The first is by commenting “Lucas” on American Idol official voting posts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The second is by texting “13” to 21523.

Voting closes at 6am ET on March 24, 2026. There is a limit of 10 votes protestant per method and it is open to all wireless carriers.

The “game-changing” results that determine who has made it into the Top 12 will be revealed next Monday (3/30) during the Songs of Faith night.