Millennials like myself who grew up ready for *NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys and 98 Levels to return on TRL and who proceed to achieve high quantity with renditions of “I’ll By no means Break Your Coronary heart” received a deal with after they tuned into American Idol on the 2025 TV schedule. Baylee Littrell, son of the Backstreet Boys’ Brian, was a contestant on Season 23, and whereas the proud pop received emotional speaking about his son’s journey, I really like bandmate AJ McLean’s response simply as a lot.
American Idol Season 23 was an enormous one within the singing competitors’s historical past as a result of it noticed Carrie Underwood changing Katy Perry as a choose 20 years after Underwood’s personal victory on the present. Amongst those that auditioned in entrance of Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and the Season 4 winner was 22-year-old Baylee Littrell. However it seems that wasn’t the trail to fame his dad had initially pictured for him. Brian Littrell advised Parade:
To be sincere with you, I didn’t need him to do it at first, however they courted him for a few years. They had been like, ‘Come and audition,’ and he was like, ‘Nah.’ I don’t suppose he was prepared at the moment, however he did effectively. He stepped up. He’s tremendous skilled. He’s only a nice particular person. He’s only a nice particular person. He has a coronary heart of gold, and he’s tremendous gifted.
It’s simple to grasp why Brian Littrell might need been cautious of Baylee happening American Idol, particularly given the response Carnie Wilson’s daughter Lola Bonfiglio acquired. It sounds prefer it was finally Baylee’s selection although, and he rode the chance to the High 20, the place some main cuts had been made.
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The entire thing nonetheless makes Brian tear up, as he stated:
I get choked up a bit of bit after I speak about my boy. He’s simply [the] most inspiring factor in my life proper now. He conjures up me greater than something. High 20 isn’t a nasty factor out of 124,000. Let me simply take this shameless plug actually fast: His first single comes out [July 24]. It’s known as ‘Hey Jesus.’ Verify that out.
There’s no disgrace on this dad’s recreation, and it makes me smile to listen to simply how proud Brian Littrell is of his son. It’s not simply Brian, both, however the remainder of the Backstreet Boys, who had been collectively lengthy earlier than Baylee got here into the world. AJ McLean admitted to “bawling his eyes out” when he watched Baylee on American Idol, saying:
We’ve recognized Baylee his complete life, so to look at him come from singing with us throughout soundcheck to opening up for us again within the day to now, having his personal profession… He’s an unbelievable songwriter. It’s unbelievable, the extent of expertise. Clearly, the apple didn’t fall far. Actually, he did improbable for my part.
How cool wouldn’t it be to have the Backstreet Boys as a pack of dads? Baylee Littrell could not have made it to the tip of Season 23, however hopefully, American Idol was an expertise that he realized from in his budding profession.
As for whether or not or not we’ll see extra celeb children when the singing competitors returns in 2026, solely time will inform, and as of now, we don’t even know who the judges can be. Rumors have circulated that Carrie Underwood could also be leaving American Idol already, so we may even see a brand new face on that facet of the desk. If you wish to relive Baylee Littrell’s American Idol journey, Season 23 is offered to stream with a Hulu subscription.