Last night’s American Idol episode rounded out the final 10 performances of singers in the remaining Top 20 of the competition.
With the contestants once again backed by the gorgeous views of Disney’s Aulani Resort and alongside the mentorship of Brad Paisley & Keke Palmer, the 24th season brought the show one step closer to its Final 14. Arguably one of the best and most authentic performances of the night came from one of the youngest contestants remaining, 17-year-old Lucas Leon.
Leon, who admittably fangirled at the sight of his musical icon, Brad Paisley, decided to sing another ’90s country classic for this week’s Ohana Round: Tim McGraw’s “Just To See You Smile,” which Paisley referred to as “one of my favorite songs ever written.” The Gallatin, Tennessee native may have a baby face, but returned following his previous Hawaii cover of Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me” with the same mature vocals.
Gearing up for his big performance in front of the crowd and judges, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, Paisley hyped up Leon beforehand, saying, “You sort of get lost in the song and then acknowledge there’s an audience.” Adding, “It’s a very heartfelt interpretation of Tim’s thing, it doesn’t sound like Tim and it shouldn’t, it sounds like you, and that’s hard to do.”
Taking his hero’s advice to the stage, Leon’s cover was the perfect blend of a nod to McGraw’s original with this newbie’s growling vocals. You know, as soon as Luke Bryan gets that stanky frown and head bobbing going, it’s got his nod of approval. Leon ended the performance strongly with a grappling riff on the final “Just To See You Smile,” earning a high-energy scream from the audience.
Following Leon’s performance, Richie perfectly described the young star’s raw talent, noting, “You made that so comfortable, I almost forgot that you were a contestant.” He added, “What you just performed there was about as natural as you’re ever going to get. It was fantastic.”
Underwood echoed these praises, “There is something really special about the simplicity. You don’t try to oversing. You’re like laid back in the pockets, and it’s just so easy to listen to you and to watch you.”
Unfortunately for Idol viewers, there’s another week to wait before finding out the results of this round as the competition narrows down to its Top 14. The show will return next Monday, March 30, for its Pre-Easter “Songs of Faith” theme night.