The episode, which marked the fourth week of Season 23 auditions, ended with a shifting efficiency from 19-year-old Freddie McClendon, whose father’s homicide turned a true-crime obsession.

On Might 7, 2023, Freddie’s father, Davis McClendon, was found on the facet of a street in Greenwood, South Carolina, after turning into trapped between his personal automobile and one other automobile.

Following an investigation and trial, it was decided that the incident was intentional, and the individual accountable was William “Bud” Ackerman Jr., the estranged husband of Meredith Haynie, whom Davis had been relationship for a number of months.

Davis was separated from Freddie’s mom on the time of the incident.

The hit-and-run not solely made headlines, it turned the topic of assorted true-crime podcasts and collection nationwide, and even made it into an episode of CBS’ 48 Hours earlier this month.

Due to the media consideration surrounding Davis’ loss of life and the ugly means through which he died, Freddie needed to inform folks extra about how he lived, recounting certainly one of his favourite reminiscences along with his late father.

“One among my favourite reminiscences — I used to be round 15-years-old and my dad took me to Nashville for the primary time,” he recalled. “Seeing music metropolis, seeing Broadway, he advised me, he mentioned, ‘Freddie, that is gonna be you in the future. You are gonna be that.”

Honoring his father’s reminiscence, Freddie penned and carried out a good looking unique music known as, “You By no means Liked Him,” that he says tells the story of his dad’s life.

“I miss him on daily basis. Whilst you’re already coping with his loss of life, you gotta cope with all of those folks speaking about the individual that he was after they did not know him like we did,” Freddie mentioned. “He was one thing a lot larger that simply the true crime story of the week. He was our dad and he meant the world to us.”

The shifting music had all three judges tearing up, with Carrie Underwood declaring that she wanted a second earlier than praising the 19-year-old.

“Thanks for bringing that and for sharing your coronary heart,” Underwood mentioned by means of tears. “It is so courageous of you to resolve that you simply wish to select the narrative — that you simply wish to bear in mind him; not what occurred, however him. And you should have an extremely supportive household, and also you guys lean on one another … It was a superb music, and you would really feel your coronary heart behind it.”

Luke Bryan praised Freddie’s “trustworthy” strategy to performing, calling him a “modern-day Paul Simon or one thing.”

“You had been in a position to translate that emotion, that feeling, to the purpose that you simply moved folks, and that is what you are on this enterprise to do,” Lionel Richie mentioned earlier than inviting Freddie’s household in to provide them the thrilling information that he was going to Hollywood.

With three yeses from the judges, Freddie advances to the subsequent spherical in his effort to make his goals come true.

“I am so proud that I used to be in a position to inform my dad’s story, and it meant the world that it resonated with Carrie Underwood. That was unimaginable,” Freddie gushed. “I am past blessed.”

American Idol airs Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.