IDOL: Christian Brown Carries On His Family’s Country Music Legacy With “Surprising” Audition
Week 3 of American Idol Season 24 auditions brought all the feels as Kentucky Music Hall of Famer Marty Brown broke down in tears watching his son sing.
Christian Brown, a country singer from Franklin, Tennessee, brought his dad along for his American Idol audition. Luke Bryan instantly recognized Christian’s dad, Marty Brown, a country singer who achieved success in the ’90s.
Marty Brown saw moderate success as a soloist but is perhaps best known as a songwriter. He penned Tracy Byrd’s “I’m From The Country” as well as songs for artists such as Perfect Stranger, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, and William Michael Morgan.
The apple didn’t fall far from the tree for the Browns. When Christian started singing, it was clear that he inherited his dad’s talent. The father and son treated the judges to an impromptu performance of “I’m From The Country” before Christian went solo with a cover of a song his dad wrote, “Wildest Dreams.”
“He had written that song about his children. It’s a song about how much you love somebody,” Christian said, adding that he was dedicating his performance to his dad. “I’m going to be singing it for my dad. It’s my way of telling him I love him, too. I would not be where I am today without him.”
The song was released in 1991 as a single from Marty’s debut studio album, High and Dry. Marty stood beside his son as he sang, overcome with emotion as he listened.
The judges voted unanimously to give Christian Brown a Golden Ticket to Hollywood Week.
“I could take both of them on the road right now and make a lot of money,” Lionel Richie joked, saying that he loved Christian’s enthusiasm for performing.
Carrie said she was surprised by Christian’s range. Luke agreed and predicted that the singer could “see some rounds in this competition.”
Marty beamed with pride as Christian was handed a Golden Ticket. He told cameras that seeing his son sing made him feel 22 again.
Watch Christian Brown sing “Wildest Dreams” on American Idol in the video below.
