Boyband legend’s lookalike son, 21, blows TV fans away with ‘beautiful’ performance

BGUK_3178833 - Los Angeles, CA - The son of Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell auditions on American Idol ??? and leaves his famous dad choking back tears. Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell got emotional watching his son, Baylee Littrell, chasing his American Idol dreams. The 22-year-old walked into the audition room and new judge Carrie Underwood said she noticed something ???familiar??? about Baylee before he revealed his dad???s identity. ???You must forgive me, I didn???t have your dad???s posters in my room,??? Luke Bryan teased as Underwood, 41, exclaimed that Baylee resembled his father ??? and the show flashed up a photo of Carrie in her bedroom as a kid with a Backstreet Boys??? poster on her wall! Baylee opened up to the Idol cameras about growing up in the spotlight at the height of the Backstreet Boys??? success, joking that while he inherited his singing abilities from his dad, the same couldn???t be said for dancing. ???Following in my dad???s footsteps is scary because his career to me is one of the most extraordinary in music history. No one can ever compare,??? Baylee gushed. ???I remember being 8 or 9 years old and they sold out this huge arena and I got to open up for them. I just had my two little songs and I came off stage and when the guys went on, the screams and the lights went down. I was just mesmerized.??? Outside of the audition room, Brian teared up while praising Baylee???s hard work. ???We???re super proud. I think he???s cut out for it,??? he added. Baylee went on to perform an ???emotional??? original song for judges Bryan, Underwood and Lionel Richie. ???This song is about me personally wanting to give up and not giving up yet,??? he told the cameras. ???Trust me, I wish I wanted to do something completely different. But if I???m not doing music, there???s no way I can really exist.??? His performance left Underwood stunned - even more so due to the fact that he wrote the song himself. ???I think you could go very, very far in this competition,??? she said. Bryan subsequently invited Baylee???s dad to sing the chorus with him and following the surprise duet, Underwood reiterated that Baylee???s talent spoke for itself. ???For your superstar singer dad to come in here, I feel like for anybody else, it would make you look bad. But it didn???t. You were right there with him,??? she said. ???You didn???t pale, you didn???t shy away. You were like: ???This is my moment???.??? When all three judges agreed on sending Baylee to Hollywood, Brian said proudly: ???I???m gonna cry. I???m crying.??? *BACKGRID DOES NOT CLAIM ANY COPYRI Pictured: Baylee Littrell BACKGRID UK 9 MARCH 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: ABC / BACKGRID *BACKGRID DOES NOT CLAIM ANY COPYRIGHT OR LICENSE IN THE ATTACHED MATERIAL. ANY DOWNLOADING FEES CHARGED BY BACKGRID ARE FOR BACKGRID'S SERVICES ONLY, AND DO NOT, NOR ARE THEY INTENDED TO, CONVEY TO THE USER ANY COPYRIGHT OR LICENSE IN THE MATERIAL. BY PUBLISHING THIS MATERIAL , THE USER EXPRESSLY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND TO HOLD BACKGRID HARMLESS FROM ANY CLAIMS, DEMANDS, OR CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED IN ANY WAY WITH USER'S PUBLICATION OF THE MATERIAL* UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com *Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
The son of a boyband legend auditioned for American Idol (Picture: ABC / BACKGRID)

The son of a boyband legend has proven the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as he left fans blown away with an incredible performance.

Baylee Littrell auditioned for American Idol to start his own journey to fame, only to be joined by his dad, Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell.

The 21-year-old took to the stage in front of Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood, who remarked: ‘There’s something about you that looks familiar.’

After revealing that his dad was in fact Backstreet’s Back singer Brian, Baylee shared: ‘I believe I get my voice from my dad and hopefully I can do him justice today.’

He continued: ‘I guess you could say music runs in our family. Dance moves-wise, that’s the one thing genetically that did not pass down.’

Baylee admitted following in his dad’s footsteps was ‘scary’, adding: ‘His career to me is one of the most extraordinary in music history. No one can ever compare.’

ALPHARETTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Singer Brian Littrell of Backstreet Boys pose with his Baylee Littrell at Baylee Littrell's 16th Birthday Celebration on December 1, 2018 in Alpharetta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BL)
Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell’s son has followed in his footsteps (Picture: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BL)

The country singer had previously sung to thousands of people, opening for the Backstreet Boys.

But he was now hoping for a new level of fame, auditioning for American Idol with a song he wrote titled Waiting On Myself To Die.

‘If I’m not doing music, there’s no way I can really exist,’ he introduced his song by saying.

Following his performance, the college student was widely praised by the judges.

BGUK_3178833 - Los Angeles, CA - The son of Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell auditions on American Idol ??? and leaves his famous dad choking back tears. Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell got emotional watching his son, Baylee Littrell, chasing his American Idol dreams. The 22-year-old walked into the audition room and new judge Carrie Underwood said she noticed something ???familiar??? about Baylee before he revealed his dad???s identity. ???You must forgive me, I didn???t have your dad???s posters in my room,??? Luke Bryan teased as Underwood, 41, exclaimed that Baylee resembled his father ??? and the show flashed up a photo of Carrie in her bedroom as a kid with a Backstreet Boys??? poster on her wall! Baylee opened up to the Idol cameras about growing up in the spotlight at the height of the Backstreet Boys??? success, joking that while he inherited his singing abilities from his dad, the same couldn???t be said for dancing. ???Following in my dad???s footsteps is scary because his career to me is one of the most extraordinary in music history. No one can ever compare,??? Baylee gushed. ???I remember being 8 or 9 years old and they sold out this huge arena and I got to open up for them. I just had my two little songs and I came off stage and when the guys went on, the screams and the lights went down. I was just mesmerized.??? Outside of the audition room, Brian teared up while praising Baylee???s hard work. ???We???re super proud. I think he???s cut out for it,??? he added. Baylee went on to perform an ???emotional??? original song for judges Bryan, Underwood and Lionel Richie. ???This song is about me personally wanting to give up and not giving up yet,??? he told the cameras. ???Trust me, I wish I wanted to do something completely different. But if I???m not doing music, there???s no way I can really exist.??? His performance left Underwood stunned - even more so due to the fact that he wrote the song himself. ???I think you could go very, very far in this competition,??? she said. Bryan subsequently invited Baylee???s dad to sing the chorus with him and following the surprise duet, Underwood reiterated that Baylee???s talent spoke for itself. ???For your superstar singer dad to come in here, I feel like for anybody else, it would make you look bad. But it didn???t. You were right there with him,??? she said. ???You didn???t pale, you didn???t shy away. You were like: ???This is my moment???.??? When all three judges agreed on sending Baylee to Hollywood, Brian said proudly: ???I???m gonna cry. I???m crying.??? *BACKGRID DOES NOT CLAIM ANY COPYRI Pictured: Baylee Littrell BACKGRID UK 9 MARCH 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: ABC / BACKGRID *BACKGRID DOES NOT CLAIM ANY COPYRIGHT OR LICENSE IN THE ATTACHED MATERIAL. ANY DOWNLOADING FEES CHARGED BY BACKGRID ARE FOR BACKGRID'S SERVICES ONLY, AND DO NOT, NOR ARE THEY INTENDED TO, CONVEY TO THE USER ANY COPYRIGHT OR LICENSE IN THE MATERIAL. BY PUBLISHING THIS MATERIAL , THE USER EXPRESSLY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND TO HOLD BACKGRID HARMLESS FROM ANY CLAIMS, DEMANDS, OR CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED IN ANY WAY WITH USER'S PUBLICATION OF THE MATERIAL* UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com *Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Baylee blew fans and the judges away with his own song (Picture: ABC / BACKGRID)

‘You’re really good,’ Carrie said, adding: ‘You went there emotionally and I think you could go very far in this competition.’

But his impressive vocals didn’t turn out to be the only surprise he had in store as Baylee brought his dad Brian, 50, in to sing with him, with the pair offering a duet for the judges.

‘For your superstar singer dad to come in here, for anybody else it would make you look bad, but it didn’t, you were right there with him,’ Carrie commented.

BGUK_3178833 - Los Angeles, CA - The son of Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell auditions on American Idol ??? and leaves his famous dad choking back tears. Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell got emotional watching his son, Baylee Littrell, chasing his American Idol dreams. The 22-year-old walked into the audition room and new judge Carrie Underwood said she noticed something ???familiar??? about Baylee before he revealed his dad???s identity. ???You must forgive me, I didn???t have your dad???s posters in my room,??? Luke Bryan teased as Underwood, 41, exclaimed that Baylee resembled his father ??? and the show flashed up a photo of Carrie in her bedroom as a kid with a Backstreet Boys??? poster on her wall! Baylee opened up to the Idol cameras about growing up in the spotlight at the height of the Backstreet Boys??? success, joking that while he inherited his singing abilities from his dad, the same couldn???t be said for dancing. ???Following in my dad???s footsteps is scary because his career to me is one of the most extraordinary in music history. No one can ever compare,??? Baylee gushed. ???I remember being 8 or 9 years old and they sold out this huge arena and I got to open up for them. I just had my two little songs and I came off stage and when the guys went on, the screams and the lights went down. I was just mesmerized.??? Outside of the audition room, Brian teared up while praising Baylee???s hard work. ???We???re super proud. I think he???s cut out for it,??? he added. Baylee went on to perform an ???emotional??? original song for judges Bryan, Underwood and Lionel Richie. ???This song is about me personally wanting to give up and not giving up yet,??? he told the cameras. ???Trust me, I wish I wanted to do something completely different. But if I???m not doing music, there???s no way I can really exist.??? His performance left Underwood stunned - even more so due to the fact that he wrote the song himself. ???I think you could go very, very far in this competition,??? she said. Bryan subsequently invited Baylee???s dad to sing the chorus with him and following the surprise duet, Underwood reiterated that Baylee???s talent spoke for itself. ???For your superstar singer dad to come in here, I feel like for anybody else, it would make you look bad. But it didn???t. You were right there with him,??? she said. ???You didn???t pale, you didn???t shy away. You were like: ???This is my moment???.??? When all three judges agreed on sending Baylee to Hollywood, Brian said proudly: ???I???m gonna cry. I???m crying.??? *BACKGRID DOES NOT CLAIM ANY COPYRI Pictured: Baylee Littrell, Brian Littrell BACKGRID UK 9 MARCH 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: ABC / BACKGRID *BACKGRID DOES NOT CLAIM ANY COPYRIGHT OR LICENSE IN THE ATTACHED MATERIAL. ANY DOWNLOADING FEES CHARGED BY BACKGRID ARE FOR BACKGRID'S SERVICES ONLY, AND DO NOT, NOR ARE THEY INTENDED TO, CONVEY TO THE USER ANY COPYRIGHT OR LICENSE IN THE MATERIAL. BY PUBLISHING THIS MATERIAL , THE USER EXPRESSLY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND TO HOLD BACKGRID HARMLESS FROM ANY CLAIMS, DEMANDS, OR CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED IN ANY WAY WITH USER'S PUBLICATION OF THE MATERIAL* UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com *Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Brian even joined him for a special performance (Picture: ABC / BACKGRID)

‘If there was a better word for yes, I’d use that word, but yes,’ she added.

Reduced to tears, proud dad Brian had earlier said in a VT: ‘I’ve always told him everybody that he’s 10 times more talented than I ever was.’

Fans were just as emotional, with @Fiery_Nugget writing on X: ‘I am sobbing.’

‘I absolutely LOVED this,’ Amanda agreed, as Chelley replied: ‘Such a beautiful moment.’

BGUK_3178833 - Los Angeles, CA - The son of Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell auditions on American Idol ??? and leaves his famous dad choking back tears. Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell got emotional watching his son, Baylee Littrell, chasing his American Idol dreams. The 22-year-old walked into the audition room and new judge Carrie Underwood said she noticed something ???familiar??? about Baylee before he revealed his dad???s identity. ???You must forgive me, I didn???t have your dad???s posters in my room,??? Luke Bryan teased as Underwood, 41, exclaimed that Baylee resembled his father ??? and the show flashed up a photo of Carrie in her bedroom as a kid with a Backstreet Boys??? poster on her wall! Baylee opened up to the Idol cameras about growing up in the spotlight at the height of the Backstreet Boys??? success, joking that while he inherited his singing abilities from his dad, the same couldn???t be said for dancing. ???Following in my dad???s footsteps is scary because his career to me is one of the most extraordinary in music history. No one can ever compare,??? Baylee gushed. ???I remember being 8 or 9 years old and they sold out this huge arena and I got to open up for them. I just had my two little songs and I came off stage and when the guys went on, the screams and the lights went down. I was just mesmerized.??? Outside of the audition room, Brian teared up while praising Baylee???s hard work. ???We???re super proud. I think he???s cut out for it,??? he added. Baylee went on to perform an ???emotional??? original song for judges Bryan, Underwood and Lionel Richie. ???This song is about me personally wanting to give up and not giving up yet,??? he told the cameras. ???Trust me, I wish I wanted to do something completely different. But if I???m not doing music, there???s no way I can really exist.??? His performance left Underwood stunned - even more so due to the fact that he wrote the song himself. ???I think you could go very, very far in this competition,??? she said. Bryan subsequently invited Baylee???s dad to sing the chorus with him and following the surprise duet, Underwood reiterated that Baylee???s talent spoke for itself. ???For your superstar singer dad to come in here, I feel like for anybody else, it would make you look bad. But it didn???t. You were right there with him,??? she said. ???You didn???t pale, you didn???t shy away. You were like: ???This is my moment???.??? When all three judges agreed on sending Baylee to Hollywood, Brian said proudly: ???I???m gonna cry. I???m crying.??? *BACKGRID DOES NOT CLAIM ANY COPYRI Pictured: Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan BACKGRID UK 9 MARCH 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: ABC / BACKGRID *BACKGRID DOES NOT CLAIM ANY COPYRIGHT OR LICENSE IN THE ATTACHED MATERIAL. ANY DOWNLOADING FEES CHARGED BY BACKGRID ARE FOR BACKGRID'S SERVICES ONLY, AND DO NOT, NOR ARE THEY INTENDED TO, CONVEY TO THE USER ANY COPYRIGHT OR LICENSE IN THE MATERIAL. BY PUBLISHING THIS MATERIAL , THE USER EXPRESSLY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND TO HOLD BACKGRID HARMLESS FROM ANY CLAIMS, DEMANDS, OR CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED IN ANY WAY WITH USER'S PUBLICATION OF THE MATERIAL* UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com *Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Some viewers questioned if the audition was ‘fair’ (Picture: ABC / BACKGRID)

@micortazonzz1 said: ‘This song brought tears. Touches the heart. How many kids feel this way with nobody to turn to. Record it. God’s blessings on your new life’s path.’

‘He definitely will have my votes every week when the voting starts,’ Ashley added.

Others questioned how ‘fair’ it was to have the son of a famous star on a national competition, with @alexandcowboys writing: ‘I feel like there’s a bit of unfairness- isn’t American idol a popularity vote? His daddy has the entire pull of backstreet nation.’

Marianne agreed, writing: ‘He does not need the exposure or opportunity from American Idol.’

American boyband The Backstreet Boys, circa 1995. They are Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson (Photo by Tim Roney/Getty Images)
Baylee previously opened for the Backstreet Boys, consisting of Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson(Picture: Tim Roney/Getty Images)

Baylee is the only child of Brian and Leighanne Littrell, and frequently featured on stage while the Backstreet Boys were on tour as a young child, before opening for their 2019 tour.

In a 2018 interview with People magazine, Brian said: ‘I hope that I can always be my son’s hero. It doesn’t really matter that I’m a pop star. You can call me what you want, but I just want to be my son’s hero.

Baylee also told the outlet in 2023 that some of his first memories were touring with the band, and how being their opening act was ‘the experience of a lifetime’.

American Idol airs Sundays at 8pm ET on ABC.

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