Landon Hughes is proud of where he’s from. During the 19-year-old college soccer player’s audition for American Idol, he expressed pride in his Appalachian hometown.
“As Appalachians, we have a very unique experience in life. I used to hate home growing up,” he admitted. “… When I first moved out of Kentucky, started playing college soccer, I started missing home.”
Videos by American Songwriter
As he became homesick, Hughes turned to music, specifically bluegrass music, to get him through.
“Every time I hear it, it transports me back… home,” he said. “Bluegrass made me realize I took Appalachia for granted for many years when I lived there, and now I’ve changed.”
“I’m here 100 percent to represent Appalachia. When I play the music, that’s the sound of home. When they see me, that’s the look of home,” Hughes added. “I walk with it every day. I carry dirt from home on my boots. I carry home with me. I carry it here to American Idol, because I’m proud of it. I genuinely appreciate this audition more than a lot of people will ever know.”
With that, Hughes performed The Stanley Brothers’ “Little Maggie” in impressive fashion.
Landon Hughes Earns His Golden Ticket
“You made me happy,” Underwood told the teen, before expressing concern over how he’d fare in a competition that requires contestants to try out other genres.
It was a worry Richie shared, though he told Hughes, “You’re old school as you can be. I like your vibe.”
Bryan, meanwhile, said he was “a little skeptical” about Hughes’ vocals. Underwood, though, wanted to give him a chance.
“I feel like you deserve a chance to prove yourself,” she said, “but if you should make it through, you’ll have to work on your delivery and pulling us in and some of the softer tones, just really emoting.”
All three judges decided to give Hughes his ticket to Hollywood Week, which prompted the teen to break out in tears.
“Thank you. This means the world to me,” Hughes said as he cried. “For so long, I was afraid of kind of exploring who I was and where I was from. I can finally be who I am and be proud of it.”
“Don’t be afraid,” Richie advised.
Speaking to the cameras with his Golden Ticket in hand, Hughes said, “I know my audition wasn’t perfect, but I appreciate you giving me the confidence that I need, giving me the ability to change my life. This has my heart. It’s everything. I’m very proud to take this ticket back home.”
American Idol airs Mondays on ABC.
Photo by Disney/Eric McCandless
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 17: (L-R) Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn attend the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for ACM) -
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 27: Alexandra Kay performs on stage during BST Hyde Park at Hyde Park on June 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jo Hale/Redferns) -
Photo by John Anderson/The Austin Chronicle/Getty Images -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 28: Jennifer Nettles performs during the PAC NYC ICONS OF CULTURE Gala at Perelman Performing Arts Center on October 28, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)) -
NASHVILLE, TN – AUGUST 23: Honorees Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton attend the 11th Annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium on August 23, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for ACM) -
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL — Season: 2013 — Pictured: Carrie Underwood performs — (Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) -
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 10: Lainey Wilson performs during the Windy City Smokeout on July 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 11: Firefighters salute in front of a memorial at FDNY Ten House during a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2026 in New York City. The United States is marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when a group of al-Qaeda hijackers flew airplanes into the World Trade Center, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000 people. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)