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
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