Who is Graham DeFranco? Luke Bryan called this 'American Idol' contestant's voice one of the 'most listenable'

The 27-year-old from Texas came into the competition with very low confidence but left with the assurance from all three judges that he's got a great voice.
PUBLISHED MAR 1, 2021
Graham DeFranco in 'American Idol' (ABC)
Graham DeFranco in 'American Idol' (ABC)

Graham DeFranco from Rockwall, Texas, auditioned for 'American Idol' on Sunday (February 28) night. He joked a lot about how surreal it was to audition for the show with all those mikes and lights. So far, the only performing he had done was at open nights and DeFranco joked about finally getting to experience what it's like with "people actually paying attention to me."

Who is Graham DeFranco?

DeFranco is a 27-year-old Texan who grew up with two dreams, being a pilot and second was being a really famous singer. His father is a pilot and that's where DeFranco picked his career path from and successfully became a survey pilot. He had started singing at a young age and DeFranco's dad completely supported his dreams to become a musician. "(My dad) is not usually nice to me but somehow with my music he is really sweet," he had said in the video package that played before he went inside the audition room. 

RELATED ARTICLES

Who is Cecil Ray Baker? Meet 'American Idol' contestant who Katy Perry called a 'country Justin Bieber'

Who is Celeste Butler? Meet the 'American Idol' contestant who has sung alongside Diana Ross and Chaka Khan



 

DeFranco is a naturally goofy person and he joked a lot to shake off his nervousness before going in front of the judges to perform. "Once I go into the room with three megastars I am kinda gonna throw up. Once the cameras start rolling people are going to see if I am full of myself or not," he said.

For the auditions, he sang 'Part One' by Band of Horses. The judges loved what he did with the song but also noticed his lack of confidence. "You have one of the most listenable voices in the competition," Luke Bryan said with a little bit of frustration about how unaware DeFranco was about his own talent. Lionel Richie told him about his every morning ritual where he stands in front of the mirror and says "Oh my God, I am Lionel Richie!" The judges asked DeFranco to follow the same ritual to build his confidence. At the end of his audition, DeFranco left the room with three yeses, a golden ticket, and a lesson to work on building his confidence and belief in his voice. 

Graham DeFranco in 'American Idol' (ABC)

Catch new episodes of 'American Idol' Sundays at 8 pm ET on ABC.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Eyed is Nicolas Cage's services as season 4 showrunner Issa López returns to direct the fifth season
3 hours ago
Along with the first look was also the introduction of the cast, with the series added 13 recurring names.
4 hours ago
From Alex's identity to the Henry Miller's death's ramifications, 'Paradise' Season 2 finale has some questions to answer
5 hours ago
CBS axed a rising drama mid-story, leaving major twists unresolved and fans wondering how, or if, everything will be tied up in time.
10 hours ago
'Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen' dealt with Rachel Harkin's existential crisis of commitment
12 hours ago
'The Pitt' recently aired its 12th episode, making viewers question exactly how many episodes are left before the season finale
12 hours ago
NBC just made a major move with its ‘Chicago’ lineup, and fans are about to feel the impact with the network's latest announcement.
15 hours ago
'NCIS' Episode 500 delivers a shocking death, a surprise younger cameo, and a subtle callback to a beloved former character
1 day ago
'Grey’s Anatomy' Season 22 episode 16 teases a life-threatening crisis for Owen Hunt’s mother, leaving her fate uncertain.
1 day ago
From Burton-Taylor to Davis-Dee, here's who we think should get the spotlight in Ryan Murphy's 'Love Story' Season 2
1 day ago