By India McCarty
Canaan James Hill, a 17-year-old aspiring preacher, just gave an “unbelievable” gospel performance that earned him a spot in AMERICAN IDOL’s Top 12.
“How can I ‘church up’ a rock song?” Hill wondered in a recent episode of the singing competition show. AMERICAN IDOL’s contestants were tasked with choosing and performing a song that fit the theme of “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
Hill chose Aretha Franklin’s “Mary, Don’t You Weep,” telling guest mentor James Taylor, “It’s a popular song for me and my family.”
After performing the song, judge Lionel Richie told Hill, “Aretha didn’t sing like that. That was unbelievable.”
His performance earned him a spot in AMERICAN IDOL’s Top 12, and Hill has since gone on to the show’s Top 10 with a performance of CeCe Winans’ “Goodness of God.”
The teenager has been impressing the AMERICAN IDOL judges and viewers since his audition, where he performed Earnest Pugh’s “I Need Your Glory.”
At the end of his performance, Richie told Hill it was “powerful,” to which Hill responded, “Thank you so much. To God be the glory.”
“That was something so spectacular. I just can’t even describe what I heard,” Richie added, while fellow judge Carrie Underwood said she was “kind of speechless.”
Related: Aspiring Preacher Continues to Amaze AMERICAN IDOL Judges
“Where have you been the last 17 years?” Underwood continued. “You have a gift. Thank you for bringing your gift to us.”
The AMERICAN IDOL judges were so impressed with Hill’s audition they gave the 17-year-old the platinum ticket, a special ticket given to just three lucky contestants that allows them to immediately move past the first round of Hollywood week.
Hill has been very vocal about his faith, writing in his YouTube bio, “I am a Christian, I sing, preach, and give encouraging words. I love to encourage people to trust God because he can do more with it than we can.”
He has also shared his desire to one day become a preacher, telling AMERICAN IDOL host Ryan Seacrest he wants to “go forward with my gift and do what God has called and chosen me to do.”
Hill is appreciative of the support he’s gotten from AMERICAN IDOL viewers. In a recent Facebook video, he said, “To have all of you amazing people tuning in and voting and being so kind to me. People don’t have to be kind. People don’t have to support you. For y’all to actually be there for me, supporting me, it means so much.”
AMERICAN IDOL fans are loving Hill’s faith-based performances and can’t wait to see if the teen ends up winning big!
Read Next: Faith Takes Center Stage on AMERICAN IDOL This Season
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