Baylee Littrell, the 22-year-old son of Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell, faced disappointment as he did not make it to the Top 14 of American Idol. His elimination occurred during the April 21 episode, following his performance of “All of Me” by John Legend, which he had chosen as his “save me” song.
Judges’ Choices in the American Idol Competition
Bottom 10 Placement
The recent episode marked a pivotal moment in the competition, with the number of contestants reduced from 20 to 14. The top 10, determined by audience voting, were revealed first, leaving the remaining 10 in the “danger zone.” Those contestants were afforded the chance to perform a solo “save me” song in hopes of securing one of the four spots selected by the judges.
In his final performance, Baylee Littrell offered a heartfelt rendition of John Legend’s “All of Me.”Following his performance, the judges shared their feedback. Carrie Underwood praised his vocal abilities:
“Vocally that was one of your best performances so far…You have a nice powerful tone when you choose to turn it on.”
Lionel Richie encouraged him to challenge himself and pursue more demanding performances, suggesting that he embrace opportunities that might feel daunting. Luke Bryan advised him:
“Lean in and enunciate. I want to learn as much as I can about you every time I watch you perform.”
Despite these positive critiques, Littrell was ultimately not selected to advance, marking the end of his journey on American Idol.
A Summary of Baylee Littrell’s Journey
Baylee Littrell’s experience on the 23rd season of American Idol featured a variety of performances across several rounds. He commenced his journey by auditioning with “Waiting on Myself to Die,” a performance that advanced him to Hollywood Week. There, he showcased his talent by performing “Hey Jesus.” During the duet round, he partnered with contestant Keilene for a rendition of “Shallow.”
In the Top 24 round, he performed “Happy,” earning his place in the Top 20. His April 20 performance of “Gone Without Goodbye” —a song composed by his father post-9/11—held deep personal significance, as Baylee shared that his mother was originally scheduled to be on one of the hijacked planes.
Advancing Contestants and Notable Eliminations
Ten contestants progressed based on audience votes: Kolbi Jordan, Thunderstorm Artis, Filo, John Foster, Mattie Pruitt, Canaan James Hill, Breanna Nix, Jamal Roberts, Slater Nalley, and Gabby Samone. The judges also selected four additional contestants to round out the Top 14: Desmond Roberts, Josh King, Ché, and Amanda Barise. Alongside Littrell, five other contestants—Isaiah Misailegalu, Drew Ryn, Olivier Bergeron, Zaylie Windsor, and Victor Solomon—were eliminated during the April 21 results show.
Baylee Littrell’s participation in American Idol included auditions, Hollywood Week, duet rounds, and live performances, concluding after his appearance in the Top 20 and the “save me” round.
Stay tuned for new episodes of American Idol every Sunday and Monday at 8 PM ET on ABC, with options available to stream on Hulu.