American Idol Season 23: Baylee Littrell’s Performance Highlights
The 23rd season of American Idol returned on April 13, 2025, featuring the Top 24 contestants live from Hawaii. This episode showcased performances guided by the talented singer Ashanti, who offered mentorship as contestants aimed to leave a lasting impression on both the judges and viewers. Among the standout performers was Baylee Littrell, who delivered an engaging rendition of Pharrell Williams’ hit “Happy.”
As the son of Backstreet Boys’ member Brian Littrell, Baylee opted for a unique approach, beginning the song with a slower ballad style before seamlessly transitioning to the original upbeat tempo. His performance caught the attention of the judging panel, which included Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. The judges praised his ability to explore a different musical style compared to his usual mellow songs.
Both Lionel and Luke were impressed with Baylee’s strong connection to the audience, while Carrie commended his stage presence, highlighting his dynamic movement during the performance. Although Baylee received positive feedback from some, opinions were mixed among fans on the social media platform X, with many expressing disappointment regarding his song choice and overall execution.
“Baylee seems to be such a sweet boy. But today he wasn’t good. Sonny Tennet deserved better,”a fan wrote.
“Way to go Baylee! !! Great Happy vibes! ! Coaches are giving advice! !!”another fan commented.
“That was fun but didn’t really showcase Baylee’s voice the way it should’ve,”a netizen tweeted.
Despite the mixed responses, many fans were hopeful for Baylee’s progression in the competition, citing his unique approach to music and emotional delivery.
“I’m going for @littrell_baylee. Not because he’s related to the Backstreet Boys, but because he’s his own musician who makes every song his own and he sings with passion. That was the best cover of Happy by Pharrell,”a user reacted.
“@littrell_baylee great performance keep up the amazing work @JellyRoll615 keep on pushing him to do well he is going places,”a person commented.
“BAYLEE DID A VERY GOOD JOB. GOT TO SEE HIM STEP OUT OF HIS SHELL MORE TONIGHT. AND HE WILL EVENTUALLY OWN THE STAGE MORE IF HE CONTINUES ON. AND IF I HAVE TO BE REALISTIC, HE’S GONNA BE IN THE LIVE SHOWS WITHOUT A DOUBT,”another fan wrote.
On the other hand, several viewers expressed their views critically, suggesting that Baylee’s current trajectory may not merit a spot in the Top 24.
“I still think Baylee took a spot from someone who was more deserving, but that’s just my opinion,”one user posted.
“I reeeaaalllyyy want to root for him. I really do but this song choice was no good and this was just not good overall. UUGGGHH Baylee! Come on dude!”a person reacted.
“I like Baylee, but he should have picked a different song,”another netizen commented.
Judges Reflect on Baylee Littrell’s Performance
Baylee chose to sing “Happy”during his live performance as it was a song he had previously performed when he opened for the Backstreet Boys. His mother, Leighanne Littrell, attended the performance, singing along with pride.
Richie made headlines during the episode when he famously remarked that he felt “jealous”of Baylee. “I’m jealous. He hasn’t started his career yet, he walks out on stage and the girls start screaming,”he commented, reflecting on the young performer’s immediate appeal.
“I’m jealous. He hasn’t started his career yet, he walks out on stage and the girls start screaming,”Lionel said.
Richie pointed out that it took him 40 years to achieve similar fame, praising Baylee for his comfort and confidence on stage. Carrie Underwood echoed this sentiment, lauding his vocal ownership and encouraging him to continue interacting with his audience. Luke Bryan commended Baylee for embracing the challenges of the show and pushing himself beyond his comfort zone.
American Idol airs every Sunday at 8 PM ET exclusively on ABC, providing a platform for aspiring talents to shine. Tune in to catch all the exciting moments of Season 23.