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Who is Nick Merico? Luke Bryan BOOED for telling 'American Idol' contestant his vocals aren't 'good enough'

Season 18's Nick Merico makes a stunning comeback with an original song but Luke Bryan didn't think it was the correct song choice as it didn't highlight his vocal strength

Nick Merico along with nine other contestants from 'American Idol' Season 18 graced the stage tonight for a fighting chance to make it to the competition. One of these contestants is about to join the Season 19 contestants and fight for the winning title and the recording contract. Last season was shot from home, given the Covid-19 restrictions, and these contestants didn't get the stage experience. So the show decided to give a couple of them a chance to live their fantasy. 

The full lineup of the returning contestants looks like this: Arthur Gunn, Makayla Philips, Louis Knight, Aliana Jester and Franklin Boone joined Cyniah Elise, DeWayne Crocker Jr, Faith Becnel, Olivia Ximines and Nick Merico to prove they deserve a shot to win the show. Last year, Merico's journey was sort of overshadowed by his famous past, but this year it looks like he's determined to win and he has the audiences on his side.

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Who is Nick Merico?

Nick Merico, 23, appeared in four seasons of Nickelodeon's 'Every Witch Way' as Daniel Miller. The series ran between 2014 and 2018 and was about a girl who moves to a new town and discovers she is a witch. Merico first appeared on 'American Idol' in Season 17 and he withdrew from the competition for personal reasons after Hollywood week. Then in Season 18, he made it to the Top 20 lineup but didn't get enough votes from the audiences and failed to secure his position in the Top 10. 

His comeback to Season 18 wasn't received well. His Season 17 exit didn't sit well with the judges, especially Lionel Richie who gave him a lesson in humility. "We have a big problem, because, honestly, I don't like you. For some weird reason, you're not sitting well with me. I don't like your voice. I'm being honest. I'm being very honest. I don't like your attitude and I don't really think you're going to make it in Hollywood," Richie said. 

Lionel asked Merico how he felt listening to what he just said and the latter replied he was hurt. Lionel replied saying, "Good, that's exactly what I want you to feel like. Because I want you to understand what it feels like when people don't adore you." Katy Perry had also agreed with Richie saying Nick would come out better if he learned to be a little more humble.

But that was last year and Merico's recent performance had Richie and Perry immediately drawn towards his singing and he received a lot of praise from them. However, Luke Bryan was of the opinion that Merico didn't pick the correct song and "vocally it wasn't quite there". The studio audiences immediately started to boo Bryan, letting him know that they were in disagreement. Richie and Perry didn't agree with Bryan as well but audiences watching from home were rallying behind Bryan and his opinion of Merico. 

Luke Bryan gets booed

"I agree with Luke Bryan. He may have been booed but he was right. #AmericanIdol," wrote a fan. "That was the first non positive comment out of these judges ever. Good job Luke. #AmericanIdol," another fan tweeted. "Nick has stage presence, but Luke is right, he isnt as good vocally as the other top 9. Maybe it was the original Idk. #AmericanIdol," wrote another fan. "Luke was being honest. He missed it vocally, because Nick isn't a strong lead singer. He should be a boy band backup singer. #AmericanIdol," another fan wrote.

'American Idol' airs Sunday and Monday at 8 pm ET on ABC.