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'What a joke American Idol is': Fans furious as another country singer Zachariah Smith wins golden ticket

While 'American Idol' judges loved Zachariah Smith's performance, fans appear to be sick of seeing so many country musicians on stage this year

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: After an outstanding 'American Idol' audition, Luke Bryan advises a 19-year-old burger flipper to burn his apron. Fans, on the other hand, appear to be sick of seeing so many country musicians on stage this year.

The first round of auditions from Nashville, Las Vegas, and New Orleans was aired tonight. Aspiring pop stars sing their hearts out in the hopes of winning a golden ticket to Hollywood, and a platinum ticket if they really stand out, which permits them to skip the first round of competition during Hollywood Week. Zachariah Smith, who grew up in the same town as fellow competitor Colin Stough, took the stage to wow the judges and make a huge career change. Nevertheless, the genre he selected is one that the fans of this show appear to be tired of.

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'You’re not flipping no burger!'

Zachariah Smith, 19, spends his days frying 400–500 burgers at Bill's Hamburgers in Amory, Mississippi, but he'll soon be trading in his apron and spatula for a microphone after his musical skills wowed the American Idol judges at the Season 21 premiere. Zachariah played a version of the John Mellencamp classic 'Hurts So Good' with his wife, Crysta, waiting in the hallway. His performance wowed the judges and had them dancing and singing along with him.

"Holy cr*p-oly," said Katy Perry. "Man, I love it," Luke said. "So good, he’s going to be so fun," Katy said. The judges made their verdict without hesitation. "Um, go back to Amory and get your damn apron, get a little lighter fluid… burn the Apron," Luke advised Smith. "Oh no!” Katy exclaimed loudly. "You’re not flipping no burger!" "... ever again," Lionel Richie said.

The Mississippi-based 19-year-old couldn't stop himself from asking, "I don’t have to flip burgers anymore?" While the judges chuckled, he had a big smile on his face. "You're fun!" Katy stated. "You’re so fun, but you know what it is? You are not a gimmick, you are so good," Lionel praised. "Like, you know how many guys walk into this room and say like we hope you have a sound, just like that, like that’s so authentic, it’s just oozing out of you," Katy continued to praise the Idol participant. "You can’t even control it, it’s just coming out.""You have a rasp, you have a growl, and then on top of it you’re having fun," Lionel continued. "Yes, that's what it's all about," Zachariah acknowledged.

Zachariah Smith learned his destiny after three 'yes'. "You're three for three," Luke Bryan said, officially confirming his Golden ticket to Hollywood.

'He's a NO'

Fans surprised to see Zachariah make it through, tweeted, "WTH this dude wouldn't get thru if Randy & Simon were on the judging panel." Seeing the bias on the show, another fan wrote, "The judges made Lucy Love sing a second number, but after that bombastic take on "Hurt So Good," they're not gonna ask Zachariah Smith to try something with the tiniest smidge of nuance? Alrighty then!" Another fan added, "Made Lucy work to hard she can sing and the yt contestants just ease on by to the next round and they be sounding horrible !" A fourth fan simply wrote, "Hes a NO."

One of the comments on Facebook read, "He's good but tried to hard to sound like him. Would of been much better if did more of his own." Calling out the judges for only taking Country singers, a fan quipped, "Country …. YOURE GOING TO HOLLYWOOD. What a joke American Idol is." Another fan added, "Please no more country if I hear one more country singer I'm gonna scream."

'American Idol' Season 21 airs on Sundays at 8 pm ET on ABC.

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