Country songwriter Marty Brown shared the spotlight with his son during a touching audition on Monday night’s episode of American Idol.
The Kentucky-born singer and songwriter, best known for co-writing Tracy Byrd’s 1994 hit “I’m From the Country,” appeared alongside his 22-year-old son Christian during the Feb. 9 episode of the ABC competition series.
Christian, a delivery driver from Franklin, Kentucky, described his father as “a great songwriter, a great singer and a great dad” ahead of their performance.
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The father-son duo began their audition together, performing Brown’s song “Wildest Dreams” for judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood. What started as a duet quickly turned into an emotional moment when Bryan briefly joined in, harmonising with the pair from the judges’ table.
After the performance, Christian explained that choosing one of his father’s songs was deeply personal.
“It’s my way of telling him I love him,” he said on the show. “I would not be where I am today without him.” As Christian sang, Brown stood nearby, visibly emotional, watching his son take centre stage.
When the final notes ended, Brown proudly exclaimed, “That’s my boy,” drawing applause from the judges and audience.
All three judges voted to send Christian through to Hollywood Week, though they encouraged him to continue developing his vocal confidence and stage presence. Richie told him he wanted to hear more from his vocals moving forward, while Bryan added that he was looking forward to seeing Christian grow throughout the competition.
Marty Brown is no stranger to televised talent competitions. He previously appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2013, where he advanced to the semifinals during Season 8. His songwriting career spans decades, with “I’m From the Country” becoming a staple of ’90s country radio after its release by Byrd.
American Idol, now in its 24th season, has increasingly leaned into personal storytelling during its audition rounds, spotlighting family connections alongside vocal performances. Brown and his son’s appearance marked one of the most emotional moments of the season so far.
American Idol airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu.