American Idol 2025: Luke Bryan documentary inspired postal worker Brajawn Upshaw to audition
American Idol 2025 judges audition round continues Sunday (March 16) with more hopefuls singing in front of judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan. In a new preview, postal worker Brajawn Upshaw captivates the panel with a soulful rendition of “lovely” by Billie Eilish and Khalid.
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The 21 year old Georgia native explains that he works an overnight shift at the US Postal Service handling mail alongside his mother and brother. He’s been working the job for three years, and he admits to Carrie that he often sings while he works.
Initially, it took a push from his mom to get him to audition for the show. She signed him up “without me knowing.” His mom, Tasha attended the audition to cheer her son on. “Don’t be crying now,” Brajawn warns her, while his little brother looks on.
After watching a Luke Bryan documentary, Dejawn cried and spoke to God.
“I’ve held myself back a lot,” Brajawn admits in his video package. “I didn’t think I could do a lot.” In front of the judges, the singer thanks Luke. “I woke up one day to your documentary, and your dad was telling you to go out and live your dream.” Luke’s father Tommy, who runs a peanut farm, told him if things didn’t work out, he could come back home.
Dejawn cried and spoke to God. “I’m trying but maybe I’m not trying hard enough.” Luke remarks that life is about “taking the big swings.” Brajawn wants to make his family proud.
The clip ends with Brajawn’s beautifully rendered performance to piano accompaniment of the Billie Eilish hit. It’s not a perfect vocal. Brajawn needs to work on enunciation and tuning. But it’s a raw and emotional performance.
Will the judges hand Brajawn a golden ticket to Hollywood? Fans will have to wait until Sunday March 16 at 8 PM ET/PT to find out their verdict. The episode will also stream on HULU.
