Michael Garner; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless

At just 16 years old, Michael Garner stepped into his American Idol audition in pursuit of a longtime dream. Even at a young age, it was clear from the start that this opportunity means so much to him and he’s willing to do anything to prove it.

The aspiring artist admitted to viewers that the moment he learned he would be auditioning for the singing competition show, he “busted out crying.”

“This audition could definitely change my life and my family’s lives,” he shared. “I’ve watched Idol with my family for a long time. This has always been mine and their dream. I always said that I was going to be on there someday and here I am.”
Michael Garner; Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless

When the time finally came to step in front of the Idol judging panel, consisting of Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, Garner appeared with a quiet confidence. He told Bryan about growing up in Forrest City, AR, where his days are filled with deer and duck hunting, joking that there’s not much to do in his small town besides music, football games and back roads.

Naturally, he revealed his main genre of interest is country music, leading him to sing “I’m Still Fine” by the Red Clay Strays.

As Richie would later point out, Garner’s nerves appeared to get the best of him at the very start of his delivery. But once he settled in, his voice revealed a steady control and emotional depth that immediately shifted the room. The young singer leaned into the song’s raw honesty, letting each lyric flow out straight from his heart while creating a stripped-down sound with his acoustic guitar. By the end of the performance, his confidence grew, and the maturity in his delivery became hard to miss.

The judges were clearly impressed by his talent, though they expressed some hesitation about sending him into such a demanding competition at his young age.

Underwood told him, “I wish you were like 20 years old…You’re really good. Whatever happens today, you’re on the right path.”

Garner quickly jumped in to assure the superstar judge, “I believe I’m ready. I’m willing to give y’all everything I got.”

“What you do with your voice is definitely beyond 16,” Underwood added. “I feel like you have a control and a composure about yourself. I think I’m going to be wrestling over here.”

Richie mirrored her thoughts, letting him know that his appearance hasn’t caught up to the maturity in his voice. He passed the mic to Bryan, wanting to hear his fellow judge’s thoughts before making his final decision.

The country star was immediately pulling for the young boy standing before them as he questioned, “If we say no to him, what are we doing here?”

“I know he’s young, but we’re all saying that he sings great,” Bryan pointed out. “He’s just playing guitar great, and he’s singing pretty dang good.”

Underwood stuck to her mom instincts and gave Garner a “no.”

“So I look at you and I see my son, and I would not throw him in the middle of it where you are at 16. So that’s where I’m coming from,” she explained.

Even though Bryan wasn’t able to convince Underwood, he did manage to get Richie on his side, as they both offered the boy a “yes,” earning him a golden ticket.

The “Before He Cheats” singer later added that Garner reminds her of a “country Justin Bieber,” while Bryan saw a Justin Timberlake sound in him.

With the golden ticket in hand and an excitement in his eyes, Garner showed that he’s ready to tackle the next phase in the competition.
Michael Garner American Idol; Photo via Instagram

“Miss Carrie I just want to say I’m going to prove to you that I have what it takes,” he told the camera.

Catch even more heartfelt golden ticket moments next week when a new episode of American Idol airs Monday, Feb. 9 on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu.

Source: countrynow.com