WATCH: Drake Milligan and Jon Pardi Team Up For ‘Last Night Lonely’ Performance On ‘AGT’
Drake Milligan and Jon Pardi teamed up for a rowdy performance of Pardi’s latest chart-topping hit during the America’s Got…
Drake Milligan, Jon Pardi; Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC
Drake Milligan and Jon Pardi teamed up for a rowdy performance of Pardi’s latest chart-topping hit during the America’s Got Talent (AGT) finale on Wednesday evening (Sept. 14).
The Texas native joined forces with the country hitmaker to perform “Last Night Lonely,” a track that was co-written by Dylan Marlowe, Joe Fox, and Jimi Bell and appears on Pardi’s fourth studio album, Mr. Saturday Night.
Milligan, wearing a burgundy suit jacket over an unbuttoned black shirt, launched the performance as he strummed his acoustic guitar and sang the opening notes of the tune. Pardi, who was all smiles, entered the stage to join him during the chorus.
“It could be your last night comin’ in here, drinkin’ all by yourself / The last time givin’ your heart away to someone else / Yeah, we could be some history in the makin’, girl / Tonight might be your last night lonely,“ the pair sing on the chorus.
Pardi then offered Milligan advice after their performance together.
“Well, you’re already here chasing your dream, just stick to it. You guys are great no matter what, always believe in yourself and everything will win that way,” Pardi said.
Milligan, who finished in third place on AGT, admitted that his experience on the show has “forever changed my life.”
Milligan then graciously thanked America for voting for him, the AGT judges for “taking a chance” on him and the show for “completely changing my life and my career.”
At the conclusion of the show, Milligan’s fate was revealed and unfortunately he was not declared the winner of AGT. After determining his fate, AGT judges Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell praised the fast-rising country star.
“Drake, you know this, you are already a star,” Mandel gushed, before adding, ”You’ve had No. 1 hits [on iTunes], you have a new album coming out and you’ve had exposure like nobody can have at the highest level. Good luck buddy and I’m coming and the world is coming to see you live in concert.”
“Terry said it all, honest to God Drake, I repeat what I said week after week. You could’ve just left, you had a No. 1 record, but you didn’t. You stayed in the competition and that for your future I believe is the right thing for you to have done because you’re a fighter,” Cowell added. ”You are hugely talented, this is just the beginning for you. I really, really mean that and such a great guy.”
While Milligan’s journey on America’s Got Talent may have come to an end, his career in Country music is just beginning with the release of his debut album, Dallas/Fort Worth.
“One chapter ends…and another one begins. My debut album Dallas/Fort Worth is officially out!” Milligan wrote on social media.
Released on Thursday (Sept. 15), Dallas/Fort Worth features 7 tracks, including his iTunes chart-topping singles “Kiss Goodbye All Night” and “Sounds Like Something I’d Do,” which will impact Country radio on Monday (Sept. 19).
“As a lifelong Country music fan, it has been my dream to make a full-length record that pays homage to traditional Country roots, while still bringing new sounds and energy to the genre,” says Milligan.
Milligan continued, “As a native son of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I’ve always been intrigued by the difference between the two cities. First there’s Dallas: a city determined to prove that everything really is bigger in Texas. Then, just 30 miles to the west, there’s Fort Worth: a city that holds true to its Stockyard roots with a taut rope around its cowboy brand. My goal was to bring those same distinctions to the two parts of this album. On Dallas, the songs have a little more polish on their boots. On Fort Worth, there are nods to those traditional Honky-Tonkin’, Western swingin’, cowboy culture roots that I’m based in.”
Milligan’s full-length debut album follows his Tony Brown/Brandon Hood-produced 2021 self-titled EP.
Additionally, Milligan will soon hit the road in support of his debut project.
Sep 16– Los Angeles, CA @ Desert 5 Spot
Sep 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Desert 5 Spot
Sep 18 – San Bernardino, CA @ The Brandin’ Iron Saloon
Sep 21 – Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry’s
Sep 23 – Fort Worth, TX @ Billy Bob’s Texas
Sep 24 – San Antonio, TX @ The Rustic
Sep 30 – Indianapolis, IN @ Tin Roof
Oct 1 – Detroit, MI @ Tin Roof
Oct 7 – Gretna, LA @ Gretna Heritage Festival
Oct 8 – Sheridan, AR @ Timberfest
Oct 13 – Bonham, TX @ Powder Creek Pavilion
Oct 14 – Houston, TX @ Armadillo Palace
Oct 15 – San Angelo, TX @ The Hangout (part of the Texas Strong Concert Series)
Oct 20 – Memphis, TN @ Lafayette’s
Oct 21 – Lexington, KY @ Tin Roof
Oct 22 – Louisville, KY @ Tin Roof
Oct 29 – Richmond, VA @ River City Roll
Follow Drake Milligan on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
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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