Moss Point native Daniel Stallworth sang “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey during the season 24 premiere of “American Idol” on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (Eric McCandless/Disney)

Eight months after Meridian native Jamal Roberts won it all on “American Idol,” it didn’t take long for another Mississippian to take the first step in trying to do the same during Monday night’s season 24 premiere.

Within minutes of the episode airing, Daniel Stallworth took the stage with his version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The Moss Point native used the piano to accompany his easygoing voice and had the judges loving every second of it. Three yeses from Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood unanimously advanced the aspiring star.

Stallworth graduated from Moss Point High School before continuing his education at Alcorn State University, where he graduated in 2021 and was chair of the gospel choir. He now works as an elementary music teacher.

“I absolutely love working with kids. They are my joy,” Stallworth said before the performance. “And I’m doing this for my students to let them know you can reach your goals, never give up, and don’t stop believing.”

Afterward, the judges agreed on another thing: Stallworth’s students are lucky to have such a talent teaching them.

“Your students are going to hail you as the greatest thing to ever show up in their lives,” Bryan said as Underwood added, “My cheeks hurt because I’m smiling so much.”

While Stallworth’s golden-ticket audition may be the first the masses of ABC viewers have seen of his talent, he’s no stranger to going viral. He has over 66,000 followers on Instagram and another 12,000-plus on Facebook and often posts videos of himself singing.

On Oct. 3, 2025, he posted a rendition of “Jesus Is Love” by Richie – garnering over 885,000 views and 126,000 likes before Monday’s episode aired.

The next step of Stallworth’s “Idol” journey will be Hollywood Week in Music City, which has already been filmed but won’t be available to viewers until Monday, Feb. 23, and Monday, March 2. In the meantime, viewers will have three more Mondays of auditions to tune in to.

Another Mississippian impresses but not enough

15-year-old Tate Emmons didn’t show many nerves when taking the stage during Monday night’s season premiere. Currently being trained by season 23 finalist Breanna Nix’s uncle, the teenager from Lake sang “Hard Fought Hallelujah” by Brandon Lake. He played guitar, too, and got help from Bryan in hitting the chorus. The judges were overall impressed but not enough to send him on.

Even after Nix urged them to push him through, Underwood was the lone yes while both Bryan and Richie were noes. Don’t be surprised if you see Emmons back on the “Idol” stage in a season or two, as the judges encouraged him to do just that.

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