By the time Philmon Lee stepped out to center stage for a shot at entering the Top 20 on Season 24 of American Idol, judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, along with contestant families and industry experts, had already witnessed a night full of fresh talent.
But being one of the final performers of the evening didn’t keep Lee from blowing everyone away. He poured every ounce of heart and soul into his rendition of “All I Want” by Kodaline, dedicating the emotional performance to his late grandmother, Nancy.
“Her name was Mama Rice to me, but to everybody else, she was Nancy,” Lee, a native of Georgia, explained before taking the stage at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, on Monday, March 9.
“She was a huge supporter of me, and this was one of the songs she loved for me to sing to her,” he continued. “I sang it in hospice before she passed away, so hopefully y’all like it.”
The evening, known as the All-New “Ohana Round” saw the Top 30 whittled down by 10 contestants, and Lee was prepared to give it his all. Dressed in a deep blue shirt, he launched into the ballad, stunning the judges and audience alike with his control, gentle rasp, and emotional depth. Every note carried the weight of his dedication, drawing the crowd into the intimate story behind the song.
“But if you loved me / Why did you leave me / Take my body / Take my body / All I want is / All I need is / To find somebody / I’ll find somebody,” he crooned during the chorus, which showcased his voice soaring with perfect emotional timing.
The entire outdoor audience erupted into a standing ovation, with Lee’s father shouting, “I love you, boy!” — a moment that brought tears to Lee’s eyes.
Industry insiders compared Lee’s tone to Teddy Swims and Chris Stapleton, high praise for any performer.
Carrie Underwood, meanwhile, applauded, saying, “You just took us on a journey. You brought us in when it was meant to feel intense, and then on the soaring notes, you kind of took us to this whole other place where we could just feel that swell. That’s a gift.”
Lionel Richie added, “Great job,” while Luke Bryan remarked, “I didn’t realize his voice could go that high for that long.”
“I can’t talk right now — I can’t even breathe,” Philmon Lee said afterward, still overwhelmed by the reaction.
His performance was enough to secure his spot in the next round, giving him another opportunity to compete for the grand prize after grueling weeks of auditions and Hollywood rounds, which took place at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Meanwhile, other talented contestants were eliminated, including Chloe Lauren, Sheldon Riley, Bryant Thomas, Michael Garner, Bella Emry, Brenna Brigman, Kiera Howell, Brianna Yancey, Jacquie Lee, and Tianna.
Over the next two weeks, the remaining Idol hopefuls will continue performing for America’s votes at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa, vying for the chance to advance further, guided by superstar mentors Brad Paisley and KeKe Palmer.
American Idol airs every Monday night at 8/7c on ABC and is available to stream the next day on Hulu.
