After gaining national recognition on American Idol, Baylee Littrell is carving out his own path in the music industry.
The LSU online student and singer-songwriter is building momentum following his Top 14 finish on Season 23 of American Idol. Littrell, who has been immersed in music from a young age, first made his Broadway debut at 13 and later opened for the Backstreet Boys on their DNA Tour. With his rich musical background, Littrell is now pushing forward in his career, combining his love for music with his desire to connect with audiences on a deeper level.
Littrell’s musical journey began early. At six years old, he walked into his father’s dressing room as Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys was preparing for a show on the Unbreakable Tour. Baylee, who tried on his father’s oversized stage outfit, recalls the moment as the one that planted the seed for his own musical future.
“That’s when the seed was planted in my brain,” Littrell said. “I guess we’re going to do this, and it just kind of fell into place after that.”
Though exposed to music from an early age, Littrell’s path to where he is now was not instant. A lead role in the Broadway musical Disaster! at 13 gave him his first taste of show business, but it wasn’t until later that he realised his true passion was for music. After discussing it with his parents, Littrell was encouraged to focus on his voice and songwriting skills.
“My dad said, ‘Work on your voice, work on your songwriting, and get these things in order, and then we’ll talk,’” Littrell recalled. “I came back a year or two later, and they were like, ‘Alright, you’re ready.’”
To hone his craft, Littrell’s family relocated to Nashville, where he could immerse himself in songwriting, recording, and performing. The confidence to write music didn’t come easily, as Littrell struggled to perfect his lyrics before sharing them with others. However, he learned to finish a song in one sitting, which allowed his creativity to flow freely.
“It made writing like a button you can’t turn off in your mind,” Littrell said.
Due to his touring schedule with his father and performing his own shows, Littrell was often unable to attend school in person. Hungry for education, he decided to pursue a higher education despite his already established music career. Choosing to study sports management, LSU was the natural choice.
“I wanted to be prepared for a world without music as well,” Littrell explained.
In 2019, Littrell released his debut single “Boxes”, followed by his first album 770-Country. However, when the pandemic hit later that year, Littrell, like many musicians, was forced to stay home. During this time, he focused on writing new music, incorporating themes of faith, love, and personal struggles into his songwriting.
“All the songs I never thought people were going to like, they like,” Littrell said. “That’s been a big confidence booster.”
Littrell’s trust in his songwriting abilities grew, which ultimately led him to take a risk by auditioning for American Idol with an original song. When a casting director reached out to him, Littrell initially hesitated, thinking it might not be the right move.
“I got to a point where I was struggling in my career, and I was like, ‘This isn’t working. I want to stop,’” Littrell admitted. “I thought, alright, this is your last big push.”
His decision to audition with an original song, “Hey Jesus”, set him apart from other contestants. The judges, including Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Blake Shelton, were impressed by his performance, which was emotional and raw.
“It was that moment of, I need to show them that I’m my own person,” Littrell explained. “I’m not trying to emulate anybody else. There’s no influence driving me, just the want to succeed.”
The experience of having his father join him on stage during the audition was particularly emotional. When the judges discovered his father was Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys, they invited him to sing “Hey Jesus” with Baylee, creating a powerful moment for both father and son.
“He’s believed in me when I’ve had zero belief for myself,” Littrell said. “It’s crazy to see, but when we looked in each other’s eyes, we started to cry. He looked at me like ‘He did it’. Somebody finally believes in me other than us.”
Littrell made it all the way to the Top 14 on American Idol, and the experience has been transformative for his career. His time on the show not only helped him build a dedicated fan base, but it also gave him the opportunity to perform headlining shows across the country.
“It has helped me now build an independent fan base, which is great, and for the first time, I can actually go play a tour and headline it, not just open for someone,” Littrell said.
For Littrell, American Idol was just the beginning. He is excited to release new singles throughout the year, followed by an album that reflects his evolving sound. Though his last name connects him to the Backstreet Boys, Littrell is determined to make a name for himself in the music industry.
“You really have to run towards it and be proud of it,” Littrell said. “As soon as you come to peace with it, and you don’t resent it, you move forward, and it makes you more of your own person.”