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.’
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.
‘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.
‘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.’
@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.’
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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