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Mike Parker brought country singer Jimmie Allen to tears on Sunday’s episode of American Idol when he told him that he inspired him to pursue his own career as a Black artist in country music.

‘His journey is what inspires millions of people that look like me,’ Mike Parker, 27, a carpenter from Warrenton, Virginia, said in a confessional of Jimmie, who was serving as a guest mentor on the show.

Mike, who was one of the 12 contestants competing on the episode that was filmed on location at Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii, picked to sing one of Jimmie’s hit songs without even knowing that his idol would be on the show.

Getting emotional: Mike Parker brought country singer Jimmie Allen to tears on Sunday’s episode of American Idol when he told him that he inspired him to pursue his own career as a Black artist in country music

Mike told Jimmie that as he was working on discovering his identity as a country singer that he watched a lot of Jimmie’s interviews on the subject and that he was going to sing his hit song Best Shot.

‘You’re going to sing that terrible song?’ Jimmie joked. ‘That song, I was the first Black Country artist to start off in country and launch a career with a debut number one. To have you sing that song right now, bro, is so dope.’

‘Best Shot, it is life changing, bro,’ Mike said.

‘My mom would also tell me ”you are not just doing this for you”,’ Jimmie said as tears ran down his face. ‘Hearing you tell me that I’m an inspiration reminds me of my purpose.’

Tears flowing: ‘My mom would also tell me ”you are not just doing this for you”,’ Jimmie said as tears ran down his face. ‘Hearing you tell me that I’m an inspiration reminds me of my purpose’

Mike said in a confessional that he felt similarities in his journey to Jimmie’s.

‘He made me feel that there is a spot for me in country music,’ Mike said to the camera. ‘I am going to remember this day until I leave this earth.’

Jimmie watched Mike’s performance for the crowd and the judges from the audience. After he was done, Host Ryan Seacrest, 47, asked Mike if it was true that he didn’t know Jimmie was going to be the mentor when he picked that song.

Similar journey: ‘He made me feel that there is a spot for me in country music,’ Mike said to the camera. ‘I am going to remember this day until I leave this earth’

‘I had no idea he was going to be the mentor,’ Mike said. ‘Another dream came true and it was amazing. Thank you, Jimmie.’

Ryan then asked Jimmie how it felt to watch Mike sing his song.

‘For him to tell me that I mean to him what Charley Pride meant to me it’s more than I could have asked for,’ Jimmie said as he started crying. ‘So thank you and thank you for continuing what me, Charley, Mickey, Kane and Darius want to see in this genre of music. So thank you.’

Looking on: Jimmie looked on from the audience as Mike performed

‘I hope I made you proud,’ Mike said.

‘Thank you for making me not have to judge,’ judge Luke Bryan, 45, said. ‘I got to sit back and watch what we’ve kind of been telling you to start coming all together. And then to see that he’s inspiring you, and you guys get to meet. I mean, what a great moment you just had on stage. I can just enjoy the birth of you as an artist.’

Lionel Richie, 72, said what he witnessed reminded him of his own experience.

Standing ovation: Lionel Richie, Kate Perry and Luke Bryan gave Mike a standing ovation

‘One of those guys in my life showed up and it was Kenny Rogers,’ Lionel said. ‘I was in the audience. He was on stage singing my song. I just kept watching the two of you interact and I said ”there’s his Kenny” because you were in the mind-set and having that guy you cherish the most watching you says it all. You did a great job.’

Katy Perry, 37 agreed.

‘I really think that this experience has helped you arrive,’ Katy said. ‘Finally, I think you have landed because it was all the things that we have been saying this whole season — all those ingredients, they were found in that song. So congratulations.’

Jimmie also congratulated him backstage.

Killed it: Mike nailed his delivery of Jimmie’s hit song

Backstage moment: Jimmie also congratulated him backstage

‘You sang it like your song,’ Jimmie said. ‘I’m so proud of you.’

‘Thank you Jimmie,’ Mike said.

Jay Copeland, 23, a medical receptionist from Salisbury, Maryland, who performed ‘I Want You Back’ by The Jacksons, was the first contestant of the two-hour long show. Jay was also one of the show’s platinum ticket winners.

‘You are doing things with your voice that I only wish I could do,’ Jimmie told him during a rehearsal.

First up: Jay Copeland, 23, a medical receptionist from Salisbury, Maryland, who performed ‘I Want You Back’ by The Jacksons, was the first contestant of the two-hour long show

Jimmie gave him some advice.

‘There’s character in vocal flaws,’ Jimmie said.

Jimmie asked him why he chose this song and Jay said it was because before he came to Hawaii he was having issues with this significant other. He said, though, that they had since worked things out.

Show mentor: Jimmie asked him why he chose this song and Jay said it was because before he came to Hawaii he was having issues with this significant other

‘Ups and downs like every relationship have that point where it’s great and then it’s not great, and then you find yourself sometimes I want that back,’ Jimmie said. ‘Now it’s all about connection’

‘Hopefully that feeling that I felt for that short amount of time, I can put that emotion into the song,’ Jay said.

Lionel immediately stood up when Jay finished his performance.

‘First of all the singing is off the charts,’ Lionel, wearing a blue jacket over a white t-shirt, said. ‘You’ve got a vocal range that’s ridiculous..’

The host: Ryan Seacrest hosted the episode filmed in Hawaii

Lionel commented on Jay’s muscle t-shirt and then added.

‘I enjoyed the fact that you brought some energy to the stage,’ Lionel said. ‘Bravo, bravo, bravo.’

‘I’m wondering who you could be as an artist rather than just like, someone who’s singing a song,’ Katy, wearing a pink top and shirt with matching pink winged eyeliner, said. ‘Like, what’s your style?’ I don’t know it just yet. But I thought that was a lot of sauce. It was great.’

Luke then told Jay his thoughts on his performance.

Pop star: Katy wore a crop top and a white skirt as one of her outfits during the two-hour show

‘You have so many available tools and don’t forget to stick to the ones that are the best ones,’ Luke said. ‘Make sure you really structure your song to showcase the absolute best aspects of your voice. We’re critiquing you hard because we gave you the platinum ticket. We want to see you in the top five and possibly win this song.’

Elli Rowe went next and picked ‘Everywhere’ by Fleetwood Mac to perform. Elli met with Jimmie and he asked her why she chose this song.

‘In a way, I think I’m singing to my younger self,’ Elli said. ‘I’ve been having this dream for a very long time and my younger self would be absolutely ecstatic to see me up on that stage singing a Fleetwood Mac song.’

Classic rock: Elli Rowe went next and picked ‘Everywhere’ by Fleetwood Mac to perform

Jimmie said that was awesome.

‘I didn’t expect her voice to be as smooth as it was,’ Jimmie said to the camera.

Jimmie encouraged her to keep her acoustic vibe going but she told him she also planned to have a full band back her up.

‘I think the band really adds an extra flair, so I’m not quite sure about that decision yet, but it definitely got me thinking a bit,’ Elli said to the camera.

Impressive voice: Jimmie was impressed with Elli’s voice

Jimmie told her to trust her gut. In the end, Elli stuck with her decision to use the band,

‘I was kind of taken to another place,’ Katy said when Elli’s performance ended. ‘I’m watching the sun change colors and listening to one of my favorite songs. It really transported me. I thought nerves kind of were there just a touch, because I know you can soar over those notes and hit them like dead every single time. But I thought you are always beautiful and angelic. And I thought this was a really good song choice.’

Luke also said it felt like moments for him.

Felt it: Luke also said it felt like moments for him

‘When you start singing you kind of have the ability to make people go to an emotional part in their soul,’ Luke said. ‘I love the way you arranged it but then there were a few notes that you were not altogether getting there, but it was really a solid performance.’

Lionel said he had two things he considered when he was judging – whether it was record quality and whether the performance translated to a show. He said she checked both those boxes.

‘I think you did an amazing job,’ Lionel said.

Next Tristen Gressett, 17, a high school student from Pell City, Alabama, met with Jimmie and told him he was going to perform ‘With a Little Help From My Friends,’ by the Beatles. He sang the song with Jimmie

Beatles song: Next Tristen Gressett, 17, a high school student from Pell City, Alabama, met with Jimmie and told him he was going to perform ‘With a Little Help From My Friends,’ by the Beatles

‘Make sure the first verse isn’t bigger than that chorus,’ Jimmie told him.

Jimmie asked him who his biggest influence was and Tristen said it was his mother Missie. Jimmie asked her to join them and asked her if she sang.

‘I will sing some, at his gigs with him, and he’ll play, you know, while he’s playing guitar,’ Missie said. Missie then sang a little for Jimmie.

‘It says a lot about a person how they treat their mother,’ Jimmie said and then started crying. ‘Man, the love that I see between you and your mom, reminds me of the love I have for my mom. Moments like this where you can tie in being a great singer, a great entertainer with being a great person, and the love people will see between you and your mom dude, that’s special.’

‘Man that caught me off guard,’ Jimmie said after Tristen and his mother walked off.

Jimmy’s mother cheered for her son standing in the front row in front of the stage during his performance

‘Tristen, man, you do what your heart desires,’ Luke said when he finished. ‘Don’t let anyone ever steer you any other way. I mean you go out and you leave it on the stage every time.’

‘Your navigation of the stage is ridiculous,’ Lionel said. ‘You have a career in this business because of who you are.’

‘Is there a priest or a pastor in the house because you are possessed,’ Katy said. ‘You’re a freak and I’m a freak…that was freaky deaky but it was so authentic and so real. When all the dust settles, you are a rock star right now.’

Scarlet Ayliz, 18, from Massachusetts, went next and picked ‘Levitating’ by Dua Lipa as her song. She showed Jimmie her singing skills.

‘You got the vocal ability to let that song have it,’ Jimmie told her.

Jimmie asked her who in her life was a big support to her musically and as a person. Scarlet told him it was her grandmother.

Hit song: Scarlet Ayliz, 18, from Massachusetts, went next and picked ‘Levitating’ by Dua Lipa as her song

‘Grandmothers are really special,’ Jimmy said.

‘My Mom had a lot of issues that she needed to deal with,’ Scarlet said. ‘ My grandma helped my mom raise me by giving me a more secure environment to live in.

‘My grandmother was everything to me,’ Jimmie shared. ‘She died in 2014, but every show, I have my scarf tied to my belt loop that she used to wear.’

Jimmie said in a confessional that he felt like Scarlet really knows who she wanted to be as an artist.

‘She really needs to tap into that love and that confidence from her grandmother to help her get through this performance,’ Jimmie said in a confessional. ‘She can do it. She just has to remember that she can do it.’

When she finished, Lionel was the first to congratulate her.

‘I’m learning something about you,’ Lionel said. ‘When you bring a crowd in you felt confident on that stage, you felt in control on the stage. It’s your entertainment quality that I applaud you this time around.’

High praise: ‘I’m learning something about you,’ Lionel said. ‘When you bring a crowd in you felt confident on that stage, you felt in control on the stage. It’s your entertainment quality that I applaud you this time around’

Katy went next.

‘You really picked a great song for this setting,’ Katy said. ‘You’ve got a real artist’s perspective and vision. You got a lot of good things going for you, girl.’

‘You started out weird with that first note you started singing, but then you got a fan out of me through the whole process,’ Luke said. ‘Just button up note choices and make sure every one of them is thought out properly. But great performance.’

Sage McNeely, from Burbank, California, selected ‘Jolene’ by Dolly Parton as her song. She told Jimmie her song choice and he said he would be nervous to sing that.

‘But you give me vibes like you’re the type of person that likes a challenge,’ Jimmie said.

Country song: Sage McNeely, from Burbank, California, selected ‘Jolene’ by Dolly Parton as her song

‘I love a good challenge,’ Sage said.

In a confessional, Jimmie said at first he was skeptical but that Sage’s singing changed his mind.

‘The way she made this song personal caught me off guard in a good way,’ Jimmie said.

After she sang the song for Jimmie, he just said ‘wow.’

‘That was a great surprise,’ Jimmie said.

‘Thank you,’ Sage said.

‘You have a special voice,’ Jimmie told her. ‘Dolly set such a big expectation. So just make sure you’re singing it to where if Dolly’s watching you perform this, because I’m sure she will see it, I’ll even show it to her. Dolly won’t even remember the way she sang it because she’s so locked in to what Sage is doing.’

In a confessional, Jimmie worried for Sage about the song choice

‘If Sage can recreate the environment that we had, she’ll be okay,’ Jimmie said to the camera. ‘ If she is not able to do that and the weight of how big this song is takes over, she might be in a little bit of trouble.’

After she performed, Katy was the first to share her thoughts with Sage.

‘That was a very hypnotic rendition,’ Katy said. It was very cool. There’s a couple other pro’s in this competition, though. So it’s really going to be how you attack each song and showing off your individual quirks and strengths.’

Very cool: ‘That was a very hypnotic rendition,’ Katy said. It was very cool. There’s a couple other pro’s in this competition, though. So it’s really going to be how you attack each song and showing off your individual quirks and strengths’

‘Yeah, I think some of your note choices were really pro,’ Luke said. ‘You’ve got so many flavors in your voice, and I think that’s why Katy’s throwing out Top 5 and I can’t pose any arguments with that. I think you have a special artistic talent just in your vocal ability.’

‘When you pick such an iconic song like that, it is absolutely imperative that you make it yours,’ Lionel said. ‘As long as you don’t lose you, you’ve got a ways to go in this career.’

Jimmie then performed his brand new single Down Home. The judges all stood and danced to his performance. When he finished, host Ryan Seacrest, 47, said he couldn’t imagine what he was feeling when he sang that song.

New song: Country star Jimmie then performed his brand new single Down Home

‘My father died in 2019 when we were on a Rascal Flatts tour,’ Jimmie said. ‘My dad raised me on country music and it’s the first song I’ve been able to write about him. So I hope he would be proud of me and my siblings, we miss him.’

‘I’m sure he is very proud of you,’ Ryan said. ‘So many people are proud of you. We’re proud of you because we saw you over a decade ago. You were on ‘American Idol.’ You auditioned in Nashville. And now look at the things that you’re accomplishing. What does it feel like to be in your shoes right now?’

Jimmie said that it felt great.

‘You know, the same thing, I told every artist here, I was like ‘every no is not a deterrent, you know?’ Jimmy said. ‘A no just means right now, because forever isn’t right now. You have to have a dream. You have to be willing to risk it all. Believe in yourself, love yourself, so that way you can love everyone around you.’

Danielle Finn, 17, from Los Angeles told, Jimmy she was going to sing ‘Your Song’ by Elton John. She told him about Katy’s earlier comments about her singing that she needed to fight for it.

Talented teenager: Danielle Finn, 17, from Los Angeles told, Jimmy she was going to sing ‘Your Song’ by Elton John

‘That means that she knows you could do better,’ Jimmie told her. ‘And just dig deep and treat every performance like it’s your last time you will ever sing.’

‘I think that’s kind of what I’m doing with this round,’ Danielle said.

After she performed the song for Jimmie, he said he was impressed.

‘Oh my gosh, I wouldn’t change anything you just did,’ Jimmie said. ‘If I could sing like that at 17, God let me tell you what, I was trash at 17.’

‘No way,’ Danielle said. I don’t believe it.’

‘Oh, I got tapes to prove it somewhere,’ Jimmie said. ‘You’ve earned your spot on this show.’

Danielle then performed the song for the judges. Katy stood up clapping when she was done.

‘I thought that rendition was really cool,’ Katy said. ‘It was really your own voice, like your own unique way of doing it. It wasn’t 100 %. I still think you’re nervous. You’re 17-years-old and it’s just going to take doing it over and over and over again.’

Luke told her she had a tone that was undeniably hers.

‘But accelerate your learning curve on being on stage,’ Luke said. ‘Love your voice. Good solid job.’

‘I heard you thinking,’ Lionel said. ‘All you have to do, honestly, is just relax.’ 

Emyrson Flora, 16, a high school student from Cleveland, Ohio, went next. She told Jimmie that she was pretty inexperienced. She told him she was going to do ‘Angels Like You’ by Miley Cyrus. She then sang the song for Jimmie.

Young singer: Emyrson Flora, 16, a high school student from Cleveland, Ohio, went next

‘I’m so glad I’m not in this competition this season,’ Jimmie said. ‘When you let yourself go, the people that you are connecting with they’ll catch you because they’ll be right there with you.’

‘You got it, ‘ Jimmie said to her after her stage rehearsal. ‘I know your’ special. Now it’s time to let the world know that, all right? It’s your moment.’

After she finished her performance for the judges and a crowd, Ryan called on Luke to give his opinion.

‘I thought it was one of my favorite performances I’ve seen,’ Luke said. ‘I hear the maturity in your voice and then I see that you’re 16 years old, I think you were tremendous. Your voice is so great, it pulls everybody in. Just walk out here and be confident because you are truly amazing.’

Lionel went next.

‘You know there is one thing you can’t teach – stage presence,’ Lionel said. ‘You could stand still and from the time you open your mouth, we know who you are and we’re mesmerized, and that’s called a star. You have a future in this business.’

‘You’re voice is just so powerful,’ Katy said. ‘It’s vibrating on a whole different level. I think you have such a great chance to be the next American Idol.’

‘Thank you so much guys, ‘ Emyrson said.

Jimmie congratulated her backstage and said he was proud of her.

Dan Marshall, a former college football player, told Jimmie that he picked ‘Heaven’ by Bryan Adams as his performance song. He told Jimmie also that Luke advised him that playing the guitar may be taking away from focusing on his singing. Jimmie had him sing the song with and then without the guitar. Jimmie asked him if there was someone he would be singing the song to.

‘My girlfriend will be in the audience,’ Dan said. ‘I’ll be alright singing to her.’

‘This performance is your proposal audition,’ Jimmie joked.

No guitar: Dan Marshall, a former college football player, told Jimmie that he picked ‘Heaven’ by Bryan Adams as his performance song

Jimmie told him that he ‘felt in it more’ when he didn’t play the guitar. Dan decided to take Jimmie’s advice and sing without the guitar.

‘I’m speechless right now,’ Dan’s girlfriend Allyson said after his performance.

‘You said that you were singing to your girlfriend but you were actually trying to lock eyes with Luke Bryan a good 15 seconds at the beginning,’ Katy joked. ‘I think if you did have a guitar you might have loosened up a little bit.’

‘I do think in the front end you let your nerves kind of tank delivering that emotion,’ Luke said. ‘You settled in in the middle and then some of the big notes toward the end of that song might not be your lane. It was not your best performance, but I don’t think it necessarily hurts you either.’

Jacob Moran, 28, a registered nurse from Michigan, chose ‘In My Blood’ by Shawn Mendes as his song. He told Jimmie that since the last time he was on Idol, during the 2019 audition, that he had lost 60-plus pounds and that he now felt more prepared.

‘I didn’t give up,’ Jacob told Jimmie as the reason for picking this song. ‘It’s not in my blood to give up.’

Registered nurse: Jacob Moran, 28, a registered nurse from Michigan, chose ‘In My Blood’ by Shawn Mendes as his song

‘You have a voice that people need to hear,’ Jimmie said. ‘Put it this way, if we were playing the same show, I’m not trying to sing after you. Nope, I’m going first.’

‘Jacob has a real good chance of winning this competition,’ Jimmie said to the camera.

‘You opened your mouth and gave us a game voice,’ Lionel said after his performance. ‘ I am telling you that was one of the greatest performances from you I have seen in such a long time.’

‘I think you have an incredibly spectacular voice,’ Katy told him. ‘I just want you to be even more free the next time because I can see you using your head to make all the choices.’

‘It’s really high-level singing you are doing,’ Luke said. ‘Take that high-level singing and make it just come straight from your heart and people are going to start getting on board with what you are selling.’

Jacob thanked the judges.

Platinum ticket winner HunterGirl, 23, from Winchester, Tennessee, picked ‘Banjo’ by Rascal Flatts as her song. She said she was nervous because she wasn’t going to have her guitar for her performance.

Platinum ticket: Platinum ticket winner HunterGirl, 23, from Winchester, Tennessee, picked ‘Banjo’ by Rascal Flatts as her song

‘She has the vocal power,’ Jimmie said in a confessional. ‘Right now she’s about delivering the full picture of an entertainer, and I really, really want her to do well.’

After her performance, Ryan joked that he didn’t know if she was comfortable on stage.

‘I ain’t worried about you, girl,’ Katy said. ‘You know how to work a crowd. People want to party with you. You know how to party. I want to party with you.’

‘I want to party with you,’ HunterGirl said.

‘It’s the first time I’ve ever seen you without a guitar,’ Katy said. ‘I felt like, if I can be a little honest, there are a couple of tiny little pitch things that I have never heard from you. So I don’t know if that was a product of you not strumming on the guitar and stuff, but like I said, I’m not worried about you.’

‘The fact that you have the sense to come out here and play a song on the beach that gets people dancing and I love the song choice,’ Luke said. ‘Good job.

Lionel agreed.

‘What makes it interesting is to watch the crowd and how you do this one little world called entertain,’ Lionel said. ‘You have mastered that and I give you a big applause.’

The last singer of the night was Nicolina Bozzo, 18, from Toronto, Canada, who told Jimmie that she picked ‘Elastic Heart’ by Sia for her performance. He asked what it was that connected her to the song.

Last one: The last singer of the night was Nicolina Bozzo, 18, from Toronto, Canada, who told Jimmie that she picked ‘Elastic Heart’ by Sia for her performance

‘Every word in that song means something to me because it’s about kind of bouncing back from heartbreak,’ Nicolina said. ‘A few years ago, my parents split and it was super messy. My sisters and I, we don’t really have a relationship with our mom. So it’s just super important to show my sisters that ‘hey I bounced back and so can you.’

Jimmie got up immediately after she sang the song for him and gave her a hug.

‘Wow,’ he said. ‘Yo, listen. I literally felt every word to that song. When I see you I don’t just see a singer, I see an artist. And I don’t know if it’s because of what you’ve been through in life. Where you pulled that from was real. You could win this competition. ‘

‘Oh my God,’ Nicolina said.

‘Like, I’m dead serious,’ Jimmie said. ‘I’m scared for my career because of you. You are great.’

‘Like why am I here,’ Jimmie said. ‘I wasn’t prepared for that, you all.’

Good times: Lionel, Katy and Luke had fun at the Aulani, Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii

When she finished, all the judges were standing.

‘I’ve always thought you were one of, if not the best singer in the competition,’ judge Luke Bryan said. ‘You always deliver. We’re outside. You know we’re not getting the sound necessarily that we would get in a big theater. But you really, really delivered all the emotions.’

Lionel addressed her next.

‘You can handle the stage like you were born here,’ Lionel said. ‘Your voice is Angelis and mesmerizing. One of my favorites on this whole competition is you,’

‘Oh my gosh, thank you,’ Nicolina said.

‘You are a star,’ Lionel said. ‘Enjoy this ride.’

‘Well, I always thought you sounded like a star but when you walked on stage I was like ‘hmm you looked like a star, too, now,’ Katy said. ‘Just keep picking those songs that resonate with you and resonate with the listener and we are going to believe it all the way to the top.’

American Idol will return Monday night on ABC.

Star power: Jimmi was impressed with Nicolina’s voice and so were the judges

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