Who is Conall Gorman? Indie-folk singer from Montclair fails to impress 'American Idol' Season 22 judges
MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY: On Sunday, March 17th, audiences from New Jersey and 'American Idol' fans worldwide will eagerly tune in to witness Montclair's very own Conall Gorman audition for the judges.
He auditioned with one of his original songs, but it didn't go as planned. In response, at the request of Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, Conall ended up performing a second song. "I chose 'Freebird' of all songs, and I sang a folkier, more slowed-down version of it. I was so incredibly nervous; I was sleep-deprived; I was like shaking. I'm kind of scared to watch it, if I'm being honest with you, but it was surreal for sure," Conall revealed.
Did 'American Idol's Conall Gorman win Golden Ticket?
When asked if he connected with any of the judges more than the others, he remained impartial. "I'm just incredibly grateful to have performed for all three of them. They're each profusely talented in their own right, and I'm just glad to have gotten to have met them and gone through that experience," he stated.
Conall stated that the best part of the audition process was hearing from the judges. "Getting advice from them and getting feedback from them was the best part of the audition for me," he told abc7ny. In the end, he simply wants to make a difference. "I hope that my song can resonate with people in the same way that my heroes' songs have resonated with me."
'American Idol's Conall Gorman grew up listening to Irish folk
Conall is 19 years old and attends Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He'll be watching his audition live from his dorm room!
"I was born in New York City, but I grew up just outside in Montclair, New Jersey," he told the outlet. "My mom's family is from Ireland, and I feel like that's had a pretty big influence on my music, growing up hearing Irish folk music in the house and things of that nature." He describes his style of singing as largely folk. "I don't have a lot of classical training, but it's indie-folk," he added.
When will 'American Idol' Season 22 Hollywood Week begin?
Season 22 of 'American Idol' will resume on Sunday, March 17, with another audition episode following a week break for the Oscars. According to The Futon Critic, another audition episode will air on Sunday, March 24.
After that, Hollywood Week begins on Sunday, March 31. Following Hollywood Week comes the Hawaii Round, in which the top 24 compete for America's votes for the first time. Music luminaries Tori Kelly and Jelly Roll will serve as mentors. Following the Hawaii Round, the live presentations feature a variety of themes, including the famous annual Disney Night.
To find out if Conall moves on to the next round, watch 'American Idol' on Sunday, March 17 at 8 pm on ABC and the following day on Hulu.