Seventeen-year-old Crews Wright is on a mission to keep traditional country music alive, and he’s proving just that during American Idol’s Hollywood Week.
Viewers first met Wright when he auditioned in front of superstar judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan. With an electrifying, honky-tonk-infused cover of George Strait’s “The Fireman,” Wright didn’t just catch their attention—he earned a coveted Golden Ticket to Hollywood.
Now, the pressure was on as Hollywood Week kicked off on March 31, with judges making some brutal cuts. Out of 144 contestants, only 62 survived the first round. The big question—did Wright make the cut?
Before stepping onto the stage, Wright spoke passionately about his love for country music and why he believes he has what it takes to be the next American Idol.
“I feel I should be the next American Idol because I believe in keeping traditional country alive,” he told the judges. “Music isn’t about something that’s trending—it’s about something that lasts. And I try to leave a little piece of me on every stage I walk across. So I’m going to give you a little bit of that today.”
With those words, Wright launched into a heartfelt performance of Conway Twitty’s “Goodbye Time.”
Originally released in 1988 as the lead single from Twitty’s album Still in Your Dreams, the song is a classic heartbreak ballad that soared to #7 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Wright’s rendition channeled all the raw emotion and soul of the original, delivering a performance that left a lasting impression.
So, did Wright’s tribute to classic country earn him a spot in the next round? Fans will have to stay tuned to find out!
