Luke Bryan Hilariously Challenges ‘Idol’ Contestant Triston Harper To A Dance-Off: ‘You Trying To Out Gyrate Me?’

Harper brought out his best dance moves for his performance of Jason Aldean’s “She’s Country.”

By

Madeleine O’Connell

| Posted on

April 29, 2024

at

1:20 pm

Share on:

Luke Bryan on stage with Triston Harper during American Idol; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless

American Idol contestant Triston Harper claimed a spot in this season’s Top 8 after tapping into his McIntosh, Alabama roots and delivering a lively performance of Jason Aldean’s 2008 hit, “She’s Country.”

Before stepping on stage, Harper, who is the youngest competitor of the season, had a moment to connect with guest mentor Shania Twain, and gain some advice ahead of his performance. 

During their mentoring session, he revealed to the country icon that “She’s Country” is a song that is incredibly special to him as it correlates with the memory of singing along to the upbeat lyrics in the car with his mom. 

Country music icon Shania Twain mentors Triston Harper; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless
Country music icon Shania Twain mentors Triston Harper; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless

“I know its country, but you got a lot of soul,” Twain told Harper after hearing him deliver a few notes. She then dubbed his voice “amazing” and advised him to really lean into the lyrics and truly believe the words he’s singing. 

Connecting With Shaina Twain On A Deeper Level

When Twain asked why music is his passion, the young artist took a moment to recount his journey of being homeless, facing abuse and so much more early on in life. He explained how music quickly went from being something he did for fun to his means of making money to supply food for his family. This is a story Twin can heavily relate to as she too faced many hardships growing up. 

“Triston and I have a connection of displacement to our childhoods. In my case, we lived in battered women’s shelters,” she shared humbly. “Triston faced more than the average 15-year-old, and that responsibility of hoping that you get paid for singing, that shouldn’t be there when you’re a kid; You should just be having fun and doing it for the love of it. Now, he’s obviously doing it for the love of it, which is so beautiful to see.”

Triston Harper performs on American Idol, vying for a spot in the Top 8; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless
Triston Harper performs on American Idol, vying for a spot in the Top 8; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless

Harper Lets His Confidence And Dance Moves Takeover The Stage

When it came time to step in front of Idol judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie as well as the live audience, Harper exuded great confidence as he donned a pair of blue jeans, a flannel, a black leather vest, and a black cowboy hat. 

Streaks of red light flashed around Harper as he danced his way from one end of the stage to another to make contact with as many fans a she could. Meanwhile, his vocals took on a whole new level of power with the hard-hitting tune that offered an authentic look into his southern lifestyle. As a result of his gritty vocals and energetic dance moves, Harper rightfully earned a standing ovation from all three judges. 

YouTube video

The Judges Offer A Round Of True Praise And Excitement

Perry was first to offer praise as she dubbed what she just saw on stage to be a “big star performance.” However, her biggest compliment to Harper was his ability to take the notes he was given after his previous appearance and apply it to Sunday night’s delivery. 

“Thank you for being a student of this game,” she said. 

Bryan couldn’t help but comment on the contestant’s stand-out dance moves. 

“You trying to out gyrate me? We might have a little dance competition,” he joked in reference to his own signature dance moves that have become a fan-favorite part of his shows. “Heavy lies the crown when you start that. Once you started, it’s hard to make it go away.”

The running joke continued with Richie, who named the move the “Triston Strut.” He then finished by offering nothing but excitement for Harper’s future in the music business. 

“That was good, man. Excellent.”

Triston Harper performs on American Idol, vying for a spot in the Top 8; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless
Triston Harper performs on American Idol, vying for a spot in the Top 8; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless

Harper Was The First To Make It Into The Top 8

Once all the performances wrapped up for the night and the voting was closed, host Ryan Seacrest revealed the result of the nationwide votes. Triston Harper’s name was the first to be called, meaning he has officially secured a spot in the Top 8 and will be moving on in the competition. 

Shania Twain wasn’t the only star to make a guest appearance during Sunday night’s airing. Previous American Idol winners Scotty McCreery and Just Sam also returned to the show where it all began. McCreery performed his newest No. 1 single, “Cab in a Solo,” while the female songstress delivered a powerful rendition of Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time.”

American Idol returns to ABC tonight, April 29, for the highly anticipated judge’s song contest. For this challenge, the Top 8 contestants each perform one of three songs anonymously chosen by one of the judges.

Share on:

Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.