Baylee Littrell Reacts to American Idol Elimination (2025)

Brian Littrell’s son Baylee Littrell is saying goodbye to American Idol following his recent elimination from the reality competition show.

“My American Idol journey has come to an end💙,” Baylee, 22, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, April 22. “Thank you so much to all that supported me this season🙏🏼 I love you all 🙌🏼

Baylee was one of six contestants not selected to proceed to the singing competition’s top 14 round on the Monday, April 21 episode. His elimination comes one day after his emotional Easter performance that featured a special connection to his family. Baylee sang his dad’s song, “Gone Without Goodbye,” from the Backstreet Boy singer’s 2006 solo album, Welcome Home.

“It means a great deal to us,” Baylee told host Ryan Seacrest of the meaning behind his selection. “That song is really dedicated to [the] tragedy [of] 9/11, you know, all the victims that it affected.”

Baylee explained that his mother “was supposed to be on the second flight” that struck the World Trade Center in September 2001.

“I feel incredibly lucky,” he continued. “It’s an emotional song. I’m just glad I got through it.”

Brian, 50, and his wife, Leighanne Wallace, were shown tearing up as they sat in the audience watching Baylee sing. Judge Carrie Underwood told Baylee the song was “one of your best performances so far,” and that she was hopeful to hear more of his “powerful tone” in the future.

“I feel you growing and getting more confidence on stage in front of all these people the more we see you, which is really great,” the country singer, 42, said.

Brian has been by Baylee’s side throughout his American Idol journey. When Baylee auditioned for the show, he chose to perform an original song. After wowing the judges, Brian popped in to sing with his son.

“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,” Underwood said after the pair’s surprise duet. “You didn’t pale, you didn’t shy away. You were like, ‘This is my moment.’”

Baylee spoke about how pursuing a music career like his dad was initially intimidating, given the success of the Backstreet Boys.

“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.”

American Idolairs on ABC Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.