Brooks Rosser has undoubtedly become a standout among his American Idol peers thanks to his uniquely recognizable vocals. The singer-songwriter and guitarist from Bel Air, Maryland, brought his A-game and soaring falsetto to the stage on Monday evening (March 9) during the latest episode of American Idol Season 24, which took place in Hawaii at Disney’s Aulani resort.
For his performance, Rosser delivered a rousing rendition of “Everywhere, Everything” by Noah Kahan. Before beginning the performance, he shared with the audience — his family, the families of fellow contestants, the Idol judges, and a group of industry experts and tastemakers — why he chose the emotional song.
“Family is everywhere, and they mean everything,” he said, his heartfelt statement drawing a collective “awe” from the crowd before he began strumming his guitar and launching into the song.
Dressed in a striped shirt and tan pants, Rosser stood comfortably center stage with a quiet confidence. His guitar appeared slung comfortably across his shoulder. As he leaned into the performance, his airy falsetto rang out clearly across the venue. Members of the industry seating section exchanged surprised glances with one another, seemingly caught off guard by the unexpected height of his voice. The curiosity quickly turned into admiration as Rosser showcased his undeniable control during his emotional delivery.
Rather than simply covering the track, Rosser gave the folk hit his own vocal style. His high, delicate tone added a new dimension to the song while still honoring the original.
“Everywhere, everything, I wanna love you / ‘Til we’re food for the worms to eat / ‘Til our fingers decompose, keep my hands in yours / Everywhere, everything, I wanna love you / ‘Til we’re food for the worms to eat / ‘Til our fingers decompose, keep my hands in yours,” Rosser sang, transporting folks into a whole different world and earning a well-deserved standing ovation.
Carrie Underwood gushed over Rosser’s voice. Her admiration was evident in every word.
“Every time you open your mouth and sing, I want more. I feel like we’ve seen you already kind of stepping in, getting a little more confidence in yourself. Just keep leaning into that. And it’s so fun to watch, and it’s so fun to listen to,” she said.
Rosser can rest easy knowing he can sing again for the judges as he has entered into the Top 20 after finding out he was handpicked by his peers and family members, earning one of the coveted Platinum Tickets alongside Jordan McCullough (voted by peers), and Kyndal Inskeep (voted by industry tastemakers/experts). The three now join fellow Top 20 contestants — Genevieve Heyward, Philmon Lee, Madison Moon, Braden Rumfelt, Jake Thistle, Jesse Findling, Ruby Rae, Lucas Leon, Hannah Harper, Chris Tungseth, Julian Kalel, Rae, Daniel Stallworth, Abiyomi, Kutter Bradley, Makiyah, and Keyla Richardson.
Unfortunately, 10 contestants were eliminated from the competition. They were Chloe Lauren, Sheldon Riley, Bryant Thomas, Michael Garner, Bella Emry, Brenna Brigman, Kiera Howell, Brianna Yancey, Jacquie Lee, and Tianna.
American Idol returns on Mondays at 8/7c on ABC, bringing even more incredible performances and unforgettable moments fans have come to love.
