Luke Bryan was booed after offering Tristen Gressett some constructive criticism on American Idol on Sunday, April 17.
The rocker delivered a unique rendition of The Weeknd’s “Sacrifice,” which earned praise as well as some critique from the Idol judges.
Gressett’s high-energy performance wowed Idol viewers across the nation and could earn him a spot in the Top 14.
Watch his Idol performance below.
“Love It!” Lionel Richie shouted as Gressett concluded his performance.
“My man was just born to be on the stage ladies and gentlemen,” Luke Bryan gushed, before adding, “I think in your audition we tried to put the reins on you, but you know what? You just broke through the reins and said ‘hell with it, I’m not listening to them, I’m gonna be me.’ And I love the energy you put out.”
Bryan then offer constructive criticism of Gressett’s performance, which was not received well by the live audience, who booed the country superstar.
“Now, it’s not that your vocals were bad, but y’all ain’t heard him like I’ve heard him,” Bryan added.
“I appreciate that he rolled the dice,” Katy Perry chimed in.
“Right, but what I’m saying is that song might’ve put you in a little box vocally and always make sure we hear those vocals,” Bryan continued. “Anyway, I’m talking a lot to try and climb myself out of a hole and it’s not working.”
“I can already see the comments on socials,” Bryan later joked.
“We have hostility in the room tonight,” Lionel Richie said. “But that hostility is passion. Remember I told you to take yourself serious? Well, you did it. You’re acting like an artist. I can’t keep my eyes off of you. I don’t know what you’re going to do next. The dynamics of your presentation is incredible! I love what you’re doing.”
“Okay, this is going to sound weird, but when I first met you, I was scared of you. I was like oh, I’m not sure, I’m scared. I can’t stop watching though. Then, when you were kind of creeping down, it was feeling a little bit like Michael Jackson. You were like really possessed in it. I was like is this Jack Nicholson in The Shining? I was like is this Joaquin Phoenix in Joker? But like, you can’t stop watching and it’s dynamic. You are using the energy in the room and when I see you move, you are like cutting the air like an X-Man.”
“Those are some of my favorite movies,” Perry added.
Tristen Gressett and his fellow Top 20 contestants are vying for a spot in the Top 14, which will be revealed on Monday (April 18).
To vote for Tristen Gressett, visit AmericanIdol.com/Vote, Text 3 to 21523 or use the American Idol app. Voting opens at the end of the show and is open till 9 a.m. EST.
How to vote for @TristenGressett
➔ Text 3 to 21523
➔ Use the #AmericanIdol App
➔ Go to https://t.co/zflQXnK76e pic.twitter.com/jZW5u0Yeyn— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) April 18, 2022
American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.
