Day: March 23, 2026

American Idol hopeful Lucas Leon has been performing songs made famous by his musical hero, Brad Paisley, at Nashville gigs for years and is admittedly one of the country star’s biggest fans. But the singer gained a new fan in Paisley himself after singing a heartfelt rendition of Tim McGraw’s “Just To See You Smile” at Disney’s Aulani.

In the midst of enjoying the exciting getaway in Hawaii with both of his parents by his side, Leon caught up with this season’s mentors Paisley and Keke Palmer. During their interaction, Leon explained that he has received tremendous support from his hometown, from his peers to his high school teachers and more, who all come out to see him perform around his hometown of Gallatin, TN.

He shared with Paisley that his rendition of the country star’s “I’m Gonna Miss Her” is a fan favorite at his shows and often brings in steady tips.

“I’m a massive Brad Paisley fan,” Leon acknowledged. “I’m a big fan of Brad just because his guitar playing, his singing, his songwriting, his stage presence, everything about him.”

Hearing how much support he receives from Leon, Paisley generously invited the singer to join him backstage at the Opry next time he plays the coveted venue.

“I’m sure I’ll be on the Opry in the next couple months. Maybe you can come to that and then we can walk around backstage,” he said with a smile.

Eventually, it was time for Leon to preview his next performance for the mentors and receive some helpful advice before he hits the stage in front of the judges. Paisley was first to praise the Tennessee native for his impressive ability to get “lost in the song” while offering his own “heartfelt interpretation” of McGraw’s hit.

“It doesn’t sound like Tim and it shouldn’t. It sounds like you and that’s hard to do. Differentiating yourself is the name of the game on a show like this,” Paisley added.

Reflecting on those words, Leon shared, “They say I don’t meet your heroes, but I’m really glad I met Brad. So hoping that I can take his advice with me on stage.”

The crowd clapped along as Lucas Leon launched into the song, looking completely at ease performing the beloved country tune. Strumming his guitar and fully leaning into the heartfelt lyrics, he proved that his age is no match for the depth of his talent. He hit every note with ease, leaving both the judges and his family beaming with pride.

Idol judge Lionel Richie echoed that statement when he emphasized how “comfortable” Lucas Leon looked up on that beachside stage.

“You made that so comfortable, I almost forgot that you were a contestant. That’s what you want. You want comfort. You want people to understand that this is what you do naturally. And what you just performed there was about as natural as you’re ever going to get. It was fantastic,” Richie gushed.

Although Keke Palmer had previously heard Leon deliver the tune, this was the first time she got to hear it live on stage with the full production behind him. It’s safe to say that she was more than happy with what she witnessed from him.

“I agree with everything that Lionel said because you literally transported us into your world. I felt like I was at a beach club. I was at a festival. I haven’t been in love in ages. I’m single as a pringle,” she joked, “And I felt romantic because you set the tone. You were making me smile. I mean, I just loved it. You are very much you and you did a fabulous job.”

Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood couldn’t have agreed with their fellow judges more. They each took a moment to share why they resonated so well with his delivery.

Underwood noted, “Your voice is so … It is powerful. It is beautiful. And there is something really special about the simplicity. You don’t try to over sing. You’re like laid back in the pockets and it’s just so easy to listen to you and to watch you. I loved it.”

Bryan encouraged him to “just keep delivering. Keep making us feel comfortable, but also keep adding the pressure and intensity and get songs that really pull you outside of your comfort zone, but you just keep knocking every performance out of the park.”

Fans who want to see Lucas Leon continue on in the Season 24 competition can vote for him two different ways. The first is by commenting “Lucas” on American Idol official voting posts on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The second is by texting “13” to 21523.

Voting closes at 6am ET on March 24, 2026. There is a limit of 10 votes protestant per method and it is open to all wireless carriers.

The “game-changing” results that determine who has made it into the Top 12 will be revealed next Monday (3/30) during the Songs of Faith night.

The post Lucas Leon Channels Musical Hero Brad Paisley With Show-Stopping Tim McGraw Cover on ‘American Idol’ appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now

If there’s one thing Nashville knows how to do, it’s have a good time and Country Now Live delivered just that at 6th & Peabody on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). The evening mixed great music with an even greater cause as each act on the lineup generously donated their time in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Despite chilly conditions outside, the atmosphere inside was warm and lively, as fans and members of the industry packed out the venue to see headliner Dustin Lynch, as well as a lineup of rising acts including Cole Goodwin, Kayley Green, Kenny Whitmire, Jacob Hackworth, and Graham St. Clair.

Each artist took the stage for intimate sets, mixing fan favorites with new material and giving the crowd a closer look at the next wave of country talent. Country Now Live once again took place the night before CRS (March 18–20), setting the tone for the three-day event to come.

Graham St. Clair

Graham St. Clair kept things simple, taking the stage with just his guitar and letting the songs speak for themselves. His set featured several tracks, including his latest release, “Carry Me Home,” along with a brand-new, unreleased song titled “Bad Guy,” which he shared is set to be recorded in the coming months. Despite it being only his second time performing in Nashville, the Texas native made the moment count and likely walked away with a few new fans.

“It was incredible,” he admitted to us after getting off stage. “This is only my second time playing in Nashville, so it feels like a huge blessing to get to do this and to be in front of so many incredible talents that are coming up in the industry right now. It’s really cool.”

Jacob Hackworth

Up next, Jacob Hackworth brought a mix of fresh momentum and songwriting success to the stage during his Country Now Live set. The rising artist spotlighted his debut radio single, “What Took You So Long,” giving fans a first taste of this next chapter in his career as he makes his transition from songwriter to an artist in his own right. He also performed another recent release that’s heating up social media, “Bad As I Do.”

Toward the end of his set, Hackworth took a moment to reflect on his journey as a songwriter by delivering a cover of Corey Kent’s “This Heart,” which marked his second No. 1 hit as a writer. The full-circle moment added an extra layer of meaning to his time on stage.

“Well, the cause always makes it amazing and that’s something I always love to do and if I can do it, I’m there. But also Country Now always throws a good party and you can walk in the bar right now and see why…There’s people hanging out, best music in Nashville playing, so it comes together for a perfect night,” he shared about the event.

His appearance came just days before it was announced that he signed his first major label deal with MCA, in collaboration with Goat Island Sound.

Kenny Whitmire

Before Kenny Whitmire took the stage last week, he made one thing clear, his set was going to be “country,” because admittingly, that’s all he knows and it’s the kind of music that fuels him. He stayed true to that promise from the very first note, delivering a performance rooted in traditional storytelling and heartfelt lyrics.

While on stage, Whitmire showcased several of his recent releases, including “You’re Getting Colder,” and his life-changing track, “I Gave Her The Moon.” The latter of the two has taken on a life of its own online, becoming a viral moment on social media and even catching the attention of acclaimed pop singer-songwriter Charlie Puth, who helped bring it to a wider audience. It didn’t take long for him to connect with the crowd, proving that sometimes sticking to what you know is what resonates most.

Kayley Green

Kayley Green had the crowd on their feet and singing along, as she moved seamlessly between classic covers and her own powerful original songs. She was met with cheers while showcasing her vulnerable ballad, “A Little Bit Lonely,” and captured the hearts in the crowd with more originals like “Wedding Gown” and the storytelling-driven “Shadow of a Cowboy,” offering a deeper look at her songwriting.

She also delivered a show-stopping cover of Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” before bringing the house down with an epic rendition of Martina McBride’s “Independence Day,” that allowed her vocals to fill the room. By the end of her set, the South Carolina native had fully captivated the audience.

Cole Goodwin

Cole Goodwin admitted he was “tickled” to be part of Country Now Live and performing in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. During his time on stage, he used every minute to the fullest while giving fans a taste of his traditional country sound. The Georgia native briefly slowed things down with “Call Me Colorado,” before closing his set with his latest release, “Howdy.” This clever track earned plenty of smiles from the crowd once they caught on to the twist that turns the classic southern greeting into “how’d he” in the chorus, tying it to into the question of how he ended up with a girl like her.

Goodwin’s set perfectly balanced humor, heart, and his signature traditional country sound, proving he’s already making waves as a well-rounded entertainer.

Dustin Lynch

Dustin Lynch closed out Country Now Live with an unforgettable high-energy set featuring crowd favorites like “Hell of a Night,” “Seein’ Red,” “Thinking ‘Bout You,” and “Where It’s At.” He later turned things down a notch with the heartfelt “Cowboys and Angels,” after which he admitted he had missed performing the song and giving fans a tender, emotional moment amidst the upbeat tracks. He then picked the energy back up with “Small Town Boy” to wrap up the show.

Before exiting the stage, Lynch took a moment to highlight the night’s purpose and thanked everyone who came out on a Tuesday night to sing along and give back to a good cause.

“Thank you, Country Now. Thank you, St. Jude for doing all that you do…It’s changed so many lives and I think we’ve all been touched by what they’re trying to cure and they’re doing a great job of it. On top of all the doctors and nurses, just the amount of researchers they have in Memphis is incredible,” he proudly shared. “I’m a science nerd, so I appreciate all that fun stuff and I love to visit and we always are honored to get to ask to be a part of anything they touch. So thank you guys for honor to asking us to be here tonight.”

It may have been a fun-filled Tuesday night, but the impact of Country Now Live went far beyond the music. All proceeds from the evening were donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, supporting its lifesaving mission to treat and defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Thanks to fundraising efforts like this, families at St. Jude never receive a bill for treatment, housing, or food, allowing them to focus fully on what matters most.

Click HERE to learn more about St. Jude.  

The post Dustin Lynch, Cole Goodwin, & More Shine at Country Now Live Benefiting St. Jude appeared first on Country Now.

​Country Now