March 14, 2025 • 16 mins
American Idol Season 23 contestant Baylee Litrell talks about making it through to Hollywood week, why he chose to audition with an original song and Carrie Underwood "Fangirling" over his Dad, Brian Litrell of The Backstreet Boys.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, it's Angie Ward. Thanks for checking out my podcast today.
You know what, I'm all over the place. I love
talking to people, so you may hear me talking to
sports athletes, country music stars, even travel experts. So like
subscribe and download today. I want to give you a
little backstory about my next guest. About let's say five
(00:20):
six years ago. I had this incredibly talented young man
stopped by the studio. We did an Instagram live for iHeartRadio.
He sang a few songs, I met his mom, and
I fell in love with him. His name is Bailey
Literal and now he just got his ticket to Hollywood.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
On American Idol. Bailey, how are you, my friend?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
I'm good? How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I am so good. I gotta be honest with you.
I saw you pop up on American Idol. I was like,
Bailey's all grown up. We've been following you for so
long here on ninety four point nine The Villain.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
We're so proud of you, man. Congratulations.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Thank you guys so much. I really appreciate it. I
love being able to talk to you again. It's been
a long time, and you guys have Yeah, you've been
with me since the very beginning.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
So we've played you on Backyard Country on ninety four
point nine The Bulls, and you perform at Eddie's Attic
and a lot of other local venues. But they did
point this out on your audition on American Idol. Is
the only reason I'm bringing it up because he was
he had a little part, a little cameo in your audition,
but your dad is Brian from the Backstreet Boys, and
Carrie Underwood noticed the resemblance and called that out.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I got a note. Did she fan girl over your
dad when he came in the audition?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
You know what? Maybe just a little bit?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, I mean they showed the picture on TV of
her having his poster in the room, and then Luke
made that comment. So I was like, I know, my
girl had to go Brian. Could I have a picture?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
You know? It was the best thing was I was
losing my mind over the fact that I was standing
in front of carry Underwood, and Carrie Underwood was losing
her mind over the fact that she was standing next
to my dad right and it was it was like
a whole trifecta going on of emotion.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I'm gonna tell you a little secret here.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
The first time you and I met and your dad
came into the studio to do that interview. I was
doing the interview with you, and your dad was in
there in my head, I was doing like Carrie Underwood did. Okay,
so we try to keep it cool, but come on,
it's the Backstreet Boy.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
They're legends, right, Oh my god?
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Yeah, okay, So let's talk about the audition.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
You're a great singer songwriter.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
You chose to do an original song in your American
Idol audition.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
I did? Did it? Was It was nerve wracking, like
it was definitely taking a chance. You know. I feel
like a lot of people like told me, especially in
the process, They're like, you're doing an original song and
I'm like yeah, and I'm like is that bad? And
they're like, you know, you're taking a risk and I'm like,
I'm I mean, I'd have to stay uncomfortable to tell
(03:03):
you the truth, to keep growing like as an artist.
So like putting myself out there like that and taking
a chance and getting lucky that the judges said they
enjoyed it was was everything. It was amazing.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I loved what Carrie Underwood said, because you know, your dad,
Brian came in and you guys sang and she gave
you the biggest compliment about how you still like, you
still shine. I'm not going to say you outshined your
dad because he would be mad at me.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
But you, you guys, just you know you.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
I've seen you guys sing together a lot, and you
know what I love is that your dad doesn't mind
stepping back and letting you take the lead and you
hold your own just so awesome.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
So, actually, what is the process?
Speaker 1 (03:48):
How long did it take for you to get to
the point where you were standing in front of the judges?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
It was about a whole day's wait. It was a
lot of us I would say somewhere upwards of like
six seven hours to get in that room. Wow. And
then too it was you know, it's a lot of
sitting and waiting. Like sometimes you're doing interviews like right
before you even audition, and so it's kind of like
this this thing where it's it's scary because half of
(04:12):
us are doing interviews and we don't know if we're
going to get through or not right, you know, So
then you really, like I don't know, it kind of
makes you want to do better or like puts you
in a position like it is pressure, but all of
us doing interviews and a little bit of press stuff
and filming just before you know, you're kind of like
I just I really need to get through. I want
(04:34):
to get It's one of those things. Obviously your nerves
are as high as they can be in those situations.
But everybody, I mean, we've got so many amazing, amazing
talents to artists on the show, and it's everybody's seriously incredible.
I walked through the through the doors of this place
when we went to audition in Nashville, and I was
(04:54):
just blown away at the talent immediately upon just sitting
down and waiting to to get started for the day,
Like it was amazing.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
And not everybody gets even to audition in front of
the three judges, right, I mean, there's a process that
you have to go through, if I remember correctly, and
then when you finally get in front of Lionel, Ritchie,
Carrie Underwood, Luke, Brian, these three icons.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I mean, had you ever met any of them before
with your dad being in the.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Business, you know what, I'd met Luke before, yeah, and
it had been a couple of years so and we
met so fast. I was like, you know, this guy
probably will not remember meeting me because it was like
three seconds. Yeah, but that was like, you know, that
was almost a relief because I wanted to be fresh
yeah to the judges, like I wanted to that to
(05:45):
be our initial like meeting. And it was amazing. Like
I'm not going to lie to you, watching the audition
on TV with my family was literally me experiencing it
for the first time, blacked out as soon as I got.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
In the room.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
That's what a lot of me and like my fellow
contestants have been talking about were like. I was like, guys,
did do you remember anything in your audition? And They're like, Nope,
not really, I I do, And I'm like, okay, it's
not just me. Uh yeah, it was. It's such an
honor though, to be amongst all of them. They all
have such a significant role in music history and just
(06:26):
who they are artists. I mean, I feel like Luke
Bryan truly paved the way for a lot of modern
day country and what we love now. I feel like
he kind of like pushed like bro country along too
in the beginning and made way for Morgan and Hardy
to develop. And now look at what Hardy's doing. I
(06:46):
don't want to get up on a tangent, but he's
created like his own subgenre himself. But I mean, seriously,
without people like that to tell you the truth, like
Luke to me is like one of the founding fathers
of my modern day country. You've got Carrie doing the
same thing she's like, I mean, without those Carrie Underwood
(07:07):
songs when she first came out, like again, you wouldn't
have modern day countries. It is both of those two
like shaped what country is a genre is right now today.
And then you've got Lionel, who you know, like he's
an incredible human being and like coming from like the
Commodores and to being a solo artist and doing what
(07:30):
he did and a whole lot of people did not
believe in him, and he stuck true to himself and
he became a household name and he became a legend.
So it's just their stories, their perseverance as artists, like
it's inspiring to all of us, like, and it just
makes it easy when you get in that room, because
you know, you feel that pressure like that you want
(07:50):
to make them proud that you you want to get through,
but you know, that they've been where you're at. I've
had to fight for every opportunity. Yeah, it's just it
was amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
We saw your dad tear up on TV when you
got your ticket and all the three yes's, And how
was your mom? Tell me how your mom reacted when
you made it through?
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Oh man, she was so happy, but she was also
like she was as nervous as I was. And it
was funny because they sent they sent dad in and
we sang or do it, and I still they hadn't
told me my decision yet. They were like it was
still like very nerve wrecking. So it was like even
(08:30):
though they they eluded that I was, and I was
like getting a yes, I'd still I don't remember it.
So I was nervous. I was like, there's no way
I'm getting I'm getting sent home and that's it. And
like that was just my mindset. Like I was like,
you know, I tried my best, and Mom was literally
like peeking through the door. She was trying to see
(08:52):
through the door, what's going on in there? She was
she was so nervous. She's like, when are they gonna
let me in? I need to know what's going on.
And it was they were filming her reaction like on
the outside, so she was like she didn't know what
to do. She was like, I don't know how to act.
She's like, there, they've got the cameras on me. I'm
on the side of the door. I can't see through them.
(09:14):
It was so funny. She's just trying to see through
the middle of the crack of the door. But she
was so relieved when we when I got through, like, yeah,
you know, obviously Dad doing this a million times, you know,
he he was happy, he was he was prepared for
either answer, and then you have me and Mom just
kind of like, you know, it was still hitting us.
As soon as we were leaving, We're like, oh, that
(09:36):
just happened.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
That did exactly well.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
And your mom is usually like she has been there.
I mean, both of them have been there every step
of the way. But I know your mother has been
such a huge supporter and always there for you. And
she kind of likes to stay in the background too.
We don't see Miss.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Lee An very much.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
She lets you guys take front and center, so I
know she is just so proud she does.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
And she seriously is the strongest woman I know. And
I mean she's seen it all. She's seen the highs,
she's seen the lows, you know, with my dad, with
me and just our careers and the things that we've
gone through. She really is like she's both of our
champion and we couldn't do what we do without her.
(10:23):
And she was telling you this experience, she's she's seen
it all with me from you know, like the American
Idol experience in Nashville too, you know, endless record label
meetings not going too well, you know. So she's she's
seen it all, and I love her so much for that.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
All Right, So you got your golden ticket to Hollywood.
What happens next?
Speaker 3 (10:46):
So y'all just have to stay tuned. We've got a
couple a couple more weeks of auditions and stuff that
are coming up. But when the time comes, we'll just
need everybody to you know, if I make it through
far enough, yeah, we gotta start voting.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
We're just really proud of you. I love your family.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
I love the faith that your family has and how
you share that with the world. And I'm just so
excited to be able to watch your star continue to rise. Bailey.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I mean it with from the bottom of my heart.
You gotta make it to that next round so we
can vote. I promise I'll wear out my thumbs. I'm
even break a nail voting for you. We're going to
be cheering for you.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Hopefully you'll make it to the top three. You'll come
back home. We'll have a big pizza party for you
and celebrate. I believe there's two more audition episodes before
we had the Hollywood Week where we will just cheer
you on.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Bailey, Good luck, Bailey. We're rooting for you.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
It's a big, big deal for you to even get
the audition in front of the judges, but then to
wow them like you did was just amazing. I had
chills watching the whole thing. I was just I don't know.
I was just so proud of you because I know
how hard you've been working all these years since you
were I mean, I met you when you were teenager,
(16:00):
but I've just watched you grow and persevere and go
through so many things and work so hard, and I'm
just so proud of you.
Hey, it's Angie Ward. Thanks for checking out my podcast today.
You know what, I'm all over the place. I love
talking to people, so you may hear me talking to
sports athletes, country music stars, even travel experts. So like
subscribe and download today. I want to give you a
little backstory about my next guest. About let's say five
(00:20):
six years ago. I had this incredibly talented young man
stopped by the studio. We did an Instagram live for iHeartRadio.
He sang a few songs, I met his mom, and
I fell in love with him. His name is Bailey
Literal and now he just got his ticket to Hollywood.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
On American Idol. Bailey, how are you, my friend?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
I'm good? How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I am so good. I gotta be honest with you.
I saw you pop up on American Idol. I was like,
Bailey's all grown up. We've been following you for so
long here on ninety four point nine The Villain.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
We're so proud of you, man. Congratulations.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Thank you guys so much. I really appreciate it. I
love being able to talk to you again. It's been
a long time, and you guys have Yeah, you've been
with me since the very beginning.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
So we've played you on Backyard Country on ninety four
point nine The Bulls, and you perform at Eddie's Attic
and a lot of other local venues. But they did
point this out on your audition on American Idol. Is
the only reason I'm bringing it up because he was
he had a little part, a little cameo in your audition,
but your dad is Brian from the Backstreet Boys, and
Carrie Underwood noticed the resemblance and called that out.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I got a note. Did she fan girl over your
dad when he came in the audition?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
You know what? Maybe just a little bit?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, I mean they showed the picture on TV of
her having his poster in the room, and then Luke
made that comment. So I was like, I know, my
girl had to go Brian. Could I have a picture?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
You know? It was the best thing was I was
losing my mind over the fact that I was standing
in front of carry Underwood, and Carrie Underwood was losing
her mind over the fact that she was standing next
to my dad right and it was it was like
a whole trifecta going on of emotion.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I'm gonna tell you a little secret here.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
The first time you and I met and your dad
came into the studio to do that interview. I was
doing the interview with you, and your dad was in
there in my head, I was doing like Carrie Underwood did. Okay,
so we try to keep it cool, but come on,
it's the Backstreet Boy.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
They're legends, right, Oh my god?
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Yeah, okay, So let's talk about the audition.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
You're a great singer songwriter.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
You chose to do an original song in your American
Idol audition.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
I did? Did it? Was It was nerve wracking, like
it was definitely taking a chance. You know. I feel
like a lot of people like told me, especially in
the process, They're like, you're doing an original song and
I'm like yeah, and I'm like is that bad? And
they're like, you know, you're taking a risk and I'm like,
I'm I mean, I'd have to stay uncomfortable to tell
(03:03):
you the truth, to keep growing like as an artist.
So like putting myself out there like that and taking
a chance and getting lucky that the judges said they
enjoyed it was was everything. It was amazing.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
I loved what Carrie Underwood said, because you know, your dad,
Brian came in and you guys sang and she gave
you the biggest compliment about how you still like, you
still shine. I'm not going to say you outshined your
dad because he would be mad at me.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
But you, you guys, just you know you.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
I've seen you guys sing together a lot, and you
know what I love is that your dad doesn't mind
stepping back and letting you take the lead and you
hold your own just so awesome.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
So, actually, what is the process?
Speaker 1 (03:48):
How long did it take for you to get to
the point where you were standing in front of the judges?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
It was about a whole day's wait. It was a
lot of us I would say somewhere upwards of like
six seven hours to get in that room. Wow. And
then too it was you know, it's a lot of
sitting and waiting. Like sometimes you're doing interviews like right
before you even audition, and so it's kind of like
this this thing where it's it's scary because half of
(04:12):
us are doing interviews and we don't know if we're
going to get through or not right, you know, So
then you really, like I don't know, it kind of
makes you want to do better or like puts you
in a position like it is pressure, but all of
us doing interviews and a little bit of press stuff
and filming just before you know, you're kind of like
I just I really need to get through. I want
(04:34):
to get It's one of those things. Obviously your nerves
are as high as they can be in those situations.
But everybody, I mean, we've got so many amazing, amazing
talents to artists on the show, and it's everybody's seriously incredible.
I walked through the through the doors of this place
when we went to audition in Nashville, and I was
(04:54):
just blown away at the talent immediately upon just sitting
down and waiting to to get started for the day,
Like it was amazing.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
And not everybody gets even to audition in front of
the three judges, right, I mean, there's a process that
you have to go through, if I remember correctly, and
then when you finally get in front of Lionel, Ritchie,
Carrie Underwood, Luke, Brian, these three icons.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I mean, had you ever met any of them before
with your dad being in the.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Business, you know what, I'd met Luke before, yeah, and
it had been a couple of years so and we
met so fast. I was like, you know, this guy
probably will not remember meeting me because it was like
three seconds. Yeah, but that was like, you know, that
was almost a relief because I wanted to be fresh
yeah to the judges, like I wanted to that to
(05:45):
be our initial like meeting. And it was amazing. Like
I'm not going to lie to you, watching the audition
on TV with my family was literally me experiencing it
for the first time, blacked out as soon as I got.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
In the room.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
That's what a lot of me and like my fellow
contestants have been talking about were like. I was like, guys,
did do you remember anything in your audition? And They're like, Nope,
not really, I I do, And I'm like, okay, it's
not just me. Uh yeah, it was. It's such an
honor though, to be amongst all of them. They all
have such a significant role in music history and just
(06:26):
who they are artists. I mean, I feel like Luke
Bryan truly paved the way for a lot of modern
day country and what we love now. I feel like
he kind of like pushed like bro country along too
in the beginning and made way for Morgan and Hardy
to develop. And now look at what Hardy's doing. I
(06:46):
don't want to get up on a tangent, but he's
created like his own subgenre himself. But I mean, seriously,
without people like that to tell you the truth, like
Luke to me is like one of the founding fathers
of my modern day country. You've got Carrie doing the
same thing she's like, I mean, without those Carrie Underwood
(07:07):
songs when she first came out, like again, you wouldn't
have modern day countries. It is both of those two
like shaped what country is a genre is right now today.
And then you've got Lionel, who you know, like he's
an incredible human being and like coming from like the
Commodores and to being a solo artist and doing what
(07:30):
he did and a whole lot of people did not
believe in him, and he stuck true to himself and
he became a household name and he became a legend.
So it's just their stories, their perseverance as artists, like
it's inspiring to all of us, like, and it just
makes it easy when you get in that room, because
you know, you feel that pressure like that you want
(07:50):
to make them proud that you you want to get through,
but you know, that they've been where you're at. I've
had to fight for every opportunity. Yeah, it's just it
was amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
We saw your dad tear up on TV when you
got your ticket and all the three yes's, And how
was your mom? Tell me how your mom reacted when
you made it through?
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Oh man, she was so happy, but she was also
like she was as nervous as I was. And it
was funny because they sent they sent dad in and
we sang or do it, and I still they hadn't
told me my decision yet. They were like it was
still like very nerve wrecking. So it was like even
(08:30):
though they they eluded that I was, and I was
like getting a yes, I'd still I don't remember it.
So I was nervous. I was like, there's no way
I'm getting I'm getting sent home and that's it. And
like that was just my mindset. Like I was like,
you know, I tried my best, and Mom was literally
like peeking through the door. She was trying to see
(08:52):
through the door, what's going on in there? She was
she was so nervous. She's like, when are they gonna
let me in? I need to know what's going on.
And it was they were filming her reaction like on
the outside, so she was like she didn't know what
to do. She was like, I don't know how to act.
She's like, there, they've got the cameras on me. I'm
on the side of the door. I can't see through them.
(09:14):
It was so funny. She's just trying to see through
the middle of the crack of the door. But she
was so relieved when we when I got through, like, yeah,
you know, obviously Dad doing this a million times, you know,
he he was happy, he was he was prepared for
either answer, and then you have me and Mom just
kind of like, you know, it was still hitting us.
As soon as we were leaving, We're like, oh, that
(09:36):
just happened.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
That did exactly well.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
And your mom is usually like she has been there.
I mean, both of them have been there every step
of the way. But I know your mother has been
such a huge supporter and always there for you. And
she kind of likes to stay in the background too.
We don't see Miss.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Lee An very much.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
She lets you guys take front and center, so I
know she is just so proud she does.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
And she seriously is the strongest woman I know. And
I mean she's seen it all. She's seen the highs,
she's seen the lows, you know, with my dad, with
me and just our careers and the things that we've
gone through. She really is like she's both of our
champion and we couldn't do what we do without her.
(10:23):
And she was telling you this experience, she's she's seen
it all with me from you know, like the American
Idol experience in Nashville too, you know, endless record label
meetings not going too well, you know. So she's she's
seen it all, and I love her so much for that.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
All Right, So you got your golden ticket to Hollywood.
What happens next?
Speaker 3 (10:46):
So y'all just have to stay tuned. We've got a
couple a couple more weeks of auditions and stuff that
are coming up. But when the time comes, we'll just
need everybody to you know, if I make it through
far enough, yeah, we gotta start voting.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
We're just really proud of you. I love your family.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
I love the faith that your family has and how
you share that with the world. And I'm just so
excited to be able to watch your star continue to rise. Bailey.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I mean it with from the bottom of my heart.
You gotta make it to that next round so we
can vote. I promise I'll wear out my thumbs. I'm
even break a nail voting for you. We're going to
be cheering for you.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Hopefully you'll make it to the top three. You'll come
back home. We'll have a big pizza party for you
and celebrate. I believe there's two more audition episodes before
we had the Hollywood Week where we will just cheer
you on.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Bailey, Good luck, Bailey. We're rooting for you.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
It's a big, big deal for you to even get
the audition in front of the judges, but then to
wow them like you did was just amazing. I had
chills watching the whole thing. I was just I don't know.
I was just so proud of you because I know
how hard you've been working all these years since you
were I mean, I met you when you were teenager,
(16:00):
but I've just watched you grow and persevere and go
through so many things and work so hard, and I'm
just so proud of you.
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