Triston Harper Earns Praise From Luke Bryan After Elvis-Inspired ‘Idol’ Performance: ‘That Was Tremendous!’
The 15-year-old showcased his dance moves while performing the Elvis Presley classic, “Heartbreak Hotel.”
Triston Harper, Luke Bryan; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless
Triston Harper channeled his inner Elvis Presley on American Idol on Sunday evening, securing a spot in the coveted Top 12 along the way.
The 15-year-old delivered one of his most memorable performances when he took the stage to perform the classic hit “Heartbreak Hotel” during Idol’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-themed episode.
Prior to his time on stage, Harper had the chance to sit down with guest mentor Gene Simmons of Kiss, who encouraged the young contestant to come out of his shell a bit.
“Triston, my only comment is to be more physically you. Because there’s nobody else who can be. It’s like your fingerprint,” Simmons told him.
With his newfound confidence, the Alabama high school student promised, “I’m ditching the cowboy hat and I’m ditching the guitar and I’m going to break out some bit of my moves for the world.”
He did just that when he took to the stage and for the first time ever, he left his mic stand behind and worked the stage like a seasoned performer. He shook his hips and made his way out to the catwalk to interact with the live audience.
Finishing out the performance on a high note, Harper earned a standing ovation from the judges’ panel as well as Simmons, who was watching from the side of the stage.
Full of energy, Katy Perry exclaimed, “Oh my God, I just thought you were a good Christian boy! Look, you get what you give. Even if it’s a little bit, the people are already in love with you. And then when you just do this (shakes her hand), everybody’s like, ‘ahhhhhhhh!!’ You scared me and you scared your mother.”
Luke Bryan had nothing but high praise for the young man.
“That was tremendous,” he told him. “It was perfectly done. And there is no way America cannot fall in love with that performance right there.”
Wrapping things up, Lionel Richie joked, “Gene forgot to tell you one thing you have to do at the end of that song, you have to say, ‘Thank you very much,’” referencing the famous Elvis Presley quote.
All jokes aside, Richie said Triston Harper’s performance was “excellent” and told him, ‘Movement is your king, your key.’”
Following a nationwide vote, Triston Harper secured his place among the American Idol Top 12. The standout contestant has previously captured the hearts of viewers with performances of “God’s Country” by Blake Shelton, “‘Til You Can’t” by Cody Johnson, and “Cover Me Up” by Jason Isbell. He also performed an original, “H-O-P-E,” which stands for “hold on pain ends.”
As a survivor of abuse and homelessness, Harper aims to use his music to help others facing similar situations.
“Anytime I’m going through a hard time or I don’t know how to express my feelings, I write songs,” he explained and went on to quote the lyrics, “I’ve seen the pain and I’ve seen the sorrow. I witness it every single day. Kind of makes you wish there is no tomorrow.”
Throughout the season so far, fans have witnessed Triston Harper’s growth as a singer and performer and have fallen in love with his humble personality.
American Idol returns tonight, Monday, April 22, with performances from the Top 12. The Top 10 will be revealed at the end of the episode.
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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