Luke Bryan Calls 17-Year-Old Lucas Leon ‘Idol Gold’ After Star-Making ‘American Idol’ Audition
Bryan also compared the young man to his son, Bo.
Luke Bryan, Lucas Leon; Photos Courtesy Disney, ABC
Sometimes a contestant steps into the American Idol audition room and you instantly know they have star potential, and that was certainly the case for 17-year-old Lucas Leon.
The high school student from Gallatin, Tennessee, just north of Nashville, immediately caught the judges’ attention not only with his talent, but also his looks, as Luke Bryan quickly noted his resemblance to his oldest son, Bo.
“Oh my gosh. You look like my child. Look at this. Hold on. So I took this picture of Bo the other day… They could be brothers,” Bryan said.
The country star then invited the hopeful to share more about himself and what life is like “up there in Gallatin.”
“I’m Lucas Leon, I’m 17 years old [and] I’m from Gallatin, Tennessee. I play a lot of music, write a lot of songs, do some fishing,” Leon shared.
Bryan added that Leon’s name “sounds like a star name,” before steering the conversation toward their shared love of fishing.
After chatting about bait, Leon finally had the chance to show the judges what he could do, performing his original song, “Fall In Love Someday.” And it’s safe to say both the judges (and viewers!) quickly fell for him.
The performance earned a standing ovation, with the panel predicting a bright future for the young singer.
“We’re all standing,” Carrie Underwood noted. “It’s like your baby face and you’re adorable, but there’s this odd, awesome maturity. I feel like you could go pretty far in this competition.”
“Pure, honest, and very talented,” Lionel Richie added.
Unsurprisingly, Leon received a “yes” across the board.
“Really great stuff you’re doing at the age of 17, and you have it all,” Bryan told him. “So thank you for bringing your old butt down here to us. And yeah, it’s a big old yes for me,” before later declaring Leon was “Idol gold.”
Fans also praised his talent on social media.
“I am rooting for you Lucas it’s for someone who is actually amazing to win American Idol this year,” one viewer shared.
Another declared, “Holy moly this was fantastic! Not only does he have such a great voice but the gritty element he has to his vocals but also the guitar was also such a great addition to this audition. This is only the first episode I already think I may have found my favorite to go all the way!”
With “yes” votes from Underwood and Richie as well, the 17-year-old walked away with a golden ticket and officially punched his pass to Hollywood Week, which will take place in Nashville for the first time ever.
Fans can continue tuning in to American Idol Season 24 every Monday at 8/7c on ABC.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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