Dallas, Georgia, native Caleb Lee Hutchinson proved to be a breath of fresh air during Sunday night’s American Idol auditions. The soft-spoken 18-year old stood unassumingly before the celebrity judging panel. He seemed somewhat nervous as the judges chatted with him, but only until he offered to do an impression of country star Luke Bryan.
“Hi, I’m Luke Bryan on 94.9 The Bull,” Caleb said in a flawless Luke Bryan drawl. Bryan was impressed and, when prompted by Katy Perry, gave his own interpretation of the phrase.
The banter seemed to break the ice for Hutchinson who knocked out his rendition of the Steeldrivers “If It Hadn’t Been For Love.” Lionel Richie praised the maturity of the teen’s voice saying, “I smile when you sing. Your voice is very strong, very powerful.”
Katy Perry agree with Richie and added that she loved the unusual qualities in his voice, such as his fast vibrato and unique “texture.” Luke Bryan was an obvious fan of Hutchinson and praised his talent while offering some friendly advice.
Hutchinson earned a unanimous “yes” from the judging panel and will move on to the next round in Hollywood. Congratulations, Caleb!
Hear Caleb Lee Hutchinson impersonate Luke Bryan and sing “If It Hadn’t Been For Love” in the video below.