Luke Bryan Admits Skepticism, Then 19-Year-Old Landon Hughes Wins Over ‘Idol’ Judges With Bluegrass-Fueled Audition

From the hills of Hazard, Kentucky, 19-year-old Landon Hughes is bringing his love for bluegrass and his pride for his Appalachian upbringing to American Idol. During his audition, which aired on Monday night, the aspiring singer held nothing back as he performed his rendition of “Little Maggie” by The Stanley Brothers, leaving the judges wanting more.

Hughes explained that he is currently a soccer player at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. When Idol judge Luke Bryan asked if he enjoys playing the sport, he said “yes,” but explained that his real passion has evolved into connecting with the kind of music that reminds him of home.

“I’ll be God’s honest… I love it. I didn’t think going up there would be as much of a life changing experience as it is, but it kind of made me re-fall in love with music,” Hughes shared. “As Appalachians, we had a very unique experience in life, but I used to hate home while I was growing up. After coal crashed, a lot of stuff was taken away, and I was the first generation to really experience the Hazard with not a lot.”

That longing for his roots started the minute he moved out of Kentucky. Looking for a way to honor his roots, he started to dive into classic bluegrass albums and found that he was instantly transported back to the mountains all the way from Ohio.

“Whether I’m in Cleveland or Nashville, it really transports me back home,” he stated proudly. “Listening to bluegrass really made me realize I took Appalachia for advantage for many years and I live there and now I’ve changed. I’m here 100% to represent Appalachia. When I play the music, that’s the sound of home. When they see me, that’s the look of home. And I walk with it every day. I carry dirt from home on my boots. I carry home with me, and I carried it here to American Idol because I’m proud of it.”

After noting how much this audition means to him, he did exactly what he set out to do: “I’m going out here to pick it, pick it fast, sing it loud. Hopefully it has an impact on ‘em.”

Hughes plucked his guitar strings with precision, letting his free-spirited, mountainous energy fill the room. His rich bluegrass tones were drawn out in every note, showcasing his unmistakable Appalachian flair and making the performance feel both authentic and joyful.

Among the panel of judges, Carrie Underwood was first to share her thoughts. She started by saying how “happy” the performance made her feel, but then expressed some hesitation about his ability to perform in other genres.

“I have one for real question. So in this competition we do Rock Hall of Fame, we do Disney Night, we throw things at you. We want you to be you. Can you be you in other genres?” she asked.

With confidence, he responded, “I think I can do about every genre I love music all across the board. Not just bluegrass because of where I’m from, but I love every bit of music.”

Lionel Richie told him, “I like your vibe” and commended him on the unique “character” quality of his vocals.

“You’re going to have to take us on that journey where we don’t get too comfortable knowing what you’re going to do. You’re going to have to kind of guide us through it,” he added.

Luke Bryan wasn’t completely on board at first, admitting he was “a little skeptical.”

“There was some stuff you did at the end where you had a little vibrato in there and it was really nice, so I think you’re still exploring a lot with your voice.”

In the end, the judges felt that he deserved the chance to prove himself in the competition, and awarded him a unanimous “yes,” putting him through to Hollywood Week.

Hughes was incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Although he knows his audition wasn’t “perfect,” he stated the audition gave him the confidence he needed to find himself.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Landon Hughes (@_landonhughes)

“Thank you. This means the world to me. For so long I was afraid of kind of exploring who I was and where I was from. I can finally be who I am and be proud of it…This has my heart. It’s everything and I’m very proud to take this ticket back home.”

Landon Hughes got to showcase his talent during the final round of auditions tonight. Next Monday, February 23, Hollywood Week officially begins in Nashville, TN and the judges will be forced to make the “biggest cut in Idol history.” By the end of the night, the top 30 will be unveiled.

New episodes of American Idol Season 24 air Monday nights at 8/7c on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.