Noah Thompson Proves His Rising Superstar Status On ‘American Idol’ Finale With ‘One Day Tonight’ Performance
American Idol finalist Noah Thompson returned to the American Idol stage on Sunday evening (May 22) for the live debut…
Noah Thompson; Photo Courtesy American Idol
American Idol finalist Noah Thompson returned to the American Idol stage on Sunday evening (May 22) for the live debut of his debut single, “One Day Tonight.”
After showing Idol viewers a glimpse of Thompson’s homecoming concert in Kentucky, the fan-favorite contestant took to the Idol stage to perform his debut single.
His performance of “One Day Tonight” earned a lengthy standing ovation from Idol judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan as well as the live audience, which included his girlfriend Angel and Grandma Karen.
“I’m just going to keep my tissue in the palm of my hand, I think God has a real sense of humor, you came from working on the Arc, Noah, from a place where all of your heroes are from and you’re just about to do something really big,” Perry said. ”Do not stop dreaming there is a plan for you and your life.”
“What we strive for in this business, yes it’s a hit record, but what makes your career last forever is when people fall in love with you. I’m telling you my friend, you’re on to something fabulous,” Richie added.
Thompson released “One Day Tonight” earlier this month. Upon release, “One Day Tonight” raced up with iTunes charts and landed at No.2.
Co-written by Jared Griffin, Trannie Anderson, and Brett Sheroky and produced by Jimmy Robbins, the mid-tempo track showcases the Kentucky native’s signature raspy vocals alongside pop/country vocals.
“I fell in love with ‘One Day Tonight’ as soon as I heard it, just by the sound of the melody,” Thompson shared. “The lyrics are beautiful, the song has so much meaning and it is also so catchy! Can’t believe I get to sing it, to be honest, it blows my mind. I hope so many people love it just like I did when I first heard it!”
The song finds the former construction worker singing about his lover and how she dreams about their future together while sipping on wine.
“She wants a wedding in September/ Save up all winter/ Spend our summers in a fix ‘er upper in Denver/ She wants a girl and a boy/ And a old dog named Ole Roy Lord I hope this old boy can give her that life/ So go on girl/ Pour a glass of wine/ And dream aloud, talk about/ One day tonight,” he sings on the chorus.
During the American Idol finale, the 20-year-old Kentucky native also took the stage for a duet alongside Rock icon Melissa Etheridge.
Additionally, Noah Thompson delivered a smoldering cover of the Bruce Springsteen classic, “I’m On Fire.”
Following his performance of the Springsteen hit, Idol judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry gushed over his vocal abilities.
“Well we got the boy here doing Bruce Springsteen, we got him doing Disney songs, Rihanna, that’s a long way from that first audition buddy. So proud of how you handled this with such humility. You are the king of aw shucks man,” Bryan gushed. “Congrats on being here, relish the night, enjoy the night.”
“You have what’s now your stage persona, when you walk out on this stage now you look, you act, you now sound like yourself, and that is called an artist,” Richie said.
“You picked my favorite Springsteen song,” Perry added. “I think you just swooped in and grabbed every heart in America by singing that song and you really made it your own. You truly are so humble, and you’re just a good guy from Kentucky that might win American Idol.”
The three-hour Season 20 finale of American Idol also featured performances from the Idol judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, as well as the Top 3 finalists Noah Thompson, HunterGirl, and Leah Marlene.
Additionally, superstars Gabby Barrett, James Arthur, Sara Bareilles, Michael Bublé, Deana Carter, Earth, Wind & Fire, Melissa Etheridge, Flo Rida, Ben Platt, Thomas Rhett, Tai Verdes, and more also performed during the star-studded broadcast.
Several other contestants from Season 20 also returned to the Idol stage, including Mike Parker, Christian Guardino, Jay Copeland, Nicolina Bozzo, Fritz Hager, Emyrson Flora, and Lady K.
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the American Idol finale aired live coast-to-coast on Sunday, May 22, at 8/7c on ABC. The finale also streamed live on ABC.com and the ABC app and will be available to watch via Hulu on Monday (May 23).
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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