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Baylee Littrell’s Vulnerable Cry Out to Jesus Captures American Idol
CCM magazine ^ | 4/1/2025 | ccm

Posted on 04/02/2025 4:27:00 PM PDT by RummyChick

Baylee Littrell, son of Backstreet Boys member and CCM solo artist Brian Littrell, is making a name for himself in his own right — not just as a singer-songwriter, but a bold unfiltered voice for faith in the next generation.

The 22-year-old Atlanta native took to the American Idol stage this week and stunned the judges and audience alike with an emotional original song titled “Hey Jesus.” With his parents cheering him on from the crowd, Baylee delivered a powerful performance while playing acoustic guitar.

WATCH THE PERFORMANCE HERE: YouTube player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-Hq2NaWnWE

“I wrote this song when I was going through a pretty tough time in my life,” Baylee shared before his performance. “I lost somebody I’d loved. My grandma was my best friend.”

Baylee opened up about the pain of losing his grandmother three years ago — a loss that deeply shook his world and faith.

“With my dad being away on tour, she would always step in. She understood me like not many people do… I thought she was going to be around for moments like this. I never expected to lose her. So when I did, I questioned everything.”

In a moment of raw vulnerability, Baylee admitted that the grief led him to distance himself from his faith — a feeling many can relate to. But in his struggle, he found healing through songwriting.

“I had pushed away faith, thought I would not find it again. This song kind of helped me find it.”

“Hey Jesus” is a heartfelt prayer in musical form — a call for help, a surrender, and a recognition of God’s presence in the darkest moments. With lines like:

“Hey Jesus, I broke my wings again / Could you help me up one last time, old friend?”

and

“In the dark depths of the night / It’s where I’d be without Your beautiful light,”

The performance visibly moved the judges and his parents, Brian and Leighanne Littrell, who watched with misty eyes from the audience.

“When your family’s in the music business, it opens a lot of doors. But it also creates a lot of animosity,” Baylee acknowledged. “So my big thing here is I’m here to make this on my own.”

With authenticity and vulnerability, Baylee Littrell has set himself apart. He’s not chasing fame — he’s chasing purpose. And in a culture that often shies away from public displays of faith, Baylee’s fearless proclamation is refreshing and needed.

Carrie Underwood summed it up best after the performance:

“Baylee, you’re so good. Your heart and your genuineness is just coming through.”

We couldn’t agree more. He has our vote.


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: christianmusic
this was his audition with another christian music song where he sang with his dad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fipfrM7_NM

I really like both of these songs

Another one that might make you cry is the one about Carter Davis who was killed several years ago. Anyone can take this song and relate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYxSCcTuC7I&t

Nepo baby Beachboys granddaughter was terrible.

I havent watched AI since the first few seasons but I want to hear the songs from these two young men.

"Now you visit me in shadows I can't reach and I can't run In the dark night you always found the sun

[Chorus] A moment breaks and you appear And for a second I swear you're standing right here I'd give anything for love to be enough to makе it true As the memoriеs come racing into view These traces of you"

1 posted on 04/02/2025 4:27:00 PM PDT by RummyChick
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To: RummyChick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-Hq2NaWnWE


2 posted on 04/02/2025 4:40:35 PM PDT by airborne (Thank you Rush for helping me find FreeRepublic! )
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To: RummyChick

He was good, the second song was fantastic. Just good stuff.

I’m old enough to remember when something good was seen as good by anyone who saw it. Unfortunately, many people have lost the ability to do that today. It’s like blackness has creeped into their hearts and is just stuck there. Because of that they can easily refuse to stand up for a GOOD young man dying of brain cancer who just wants to collect badges of goodness. They can applaud people that have come into this country to kill and maim. They can smile when a child’s body is destroyed by chemicals and cuts by the black hearted who think gender can be changed at a thought. They can’t see that the unborn are going to be born and turn their faces away to murder. They applaud a man being shot at and weep when he isn’t killed. They relish in a person being dragged through the legal system and cheer the liars that are doing that. They spit at a man of genius and call him a Nazi and hope for his death. They destroy what others have worked for without a thought. These people could never listen to 5 seconds of the two songs you posted here.

It used to be evil hid in the shadows, today it holds up signs and cheers itself.


3 posted on 04/02/2025 4:52:32 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (UD" )
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To: RummyChick

Absolutely gorgeous. 🙂👍


4 posted on 04/02/2025 4:56:40 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: RummyChick
Here's another one you may enjoy: Thunderstorm Artis Wrote & Sings "My Last Dying Breath" For His Wife
5 posted on 04/02/2025 5:01:13 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: Robert DeLong

I dont listen to honky tonk but if anyone here is a fan this guy might be pretty good. Luke Bryan got up and sang Fireman with him. Dude looks old but is still a minor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXoEKSYg3pA

has a lot of personality


6 posted on 04/02/2025 5:04:52 PM PDT by RummyChick
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To: RummyChick

Culture change that the left never saw coming.


7 posted on 04/02/2025 5:08:01 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
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To: TornadoAlley3

here is what kind of blew me away:

during hollywood week they have contestants stand up and put their hands in the air like they are feeling jesus.

sometimes they kind of stand up together as if cued. Looks so fake to me although some might feel it.

the fact that they are promoting and allowing this to happen is a mind bending shift


8 posted on 04/02/2025 5:12:37 PM PDT by RummyChick
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To: TornadoAlley3

My son says his church is peopled by many young men 20 thru 40s

Reminds me of the 80s


9 posted on 04/02/2025 5:18:56 PM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: RummyChick

I’m around college age yoots. Been saying on this forum they are the most pro Trump. Pro Christian. Pro family. It’s Oklahoma and not Columbia yoots, so anecdotal, but definitely a culture shift.


10 posted on 04/02/2025 5:21:08 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
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To: RummyChick
I like some Honky Tonk music, and that was okay, but I do like Luke Bryan:

Play It Again

11 posted on 04/02/2025 5:46:35 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: RummyChick

He’s very good


12 posted on 04/02/2025 6:05:55 PM PDT by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://youtu.be/wH-pk2vZG2M)
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To: Vendome

the people that can really make money in the music biz are the writers like Dolly Parton. I have HBO max and there is an AirBNB commercial that ends “OMG we’re back again”. Backstreet boys. But they didn’t write it. I have probably heard that commercial at least 10 times today.

This singer from the show is a minor but he can write songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjKxc4jMiJI

I have met a few guys like the one he is singing about in Foolish Pride


13 posted on 04/02/2025 6:22:01 PM PDT by RummyChick
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To: All

Pinging myself to listen later


14 posted on 04/02/2025 6:53:46 PM PDT by Persevero (You cannot comply your way out of tyranny. )
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To: isthisnickcool

So true.


15 posted on 04/03/2025 5:15:45 PM PDT by TXBlair (We will not forget Benghazi.)
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