17-Year-Old Aspiring Preacher Takes ‘American Idol’ to Church, Earns Platinum Ticket
A 17-year-old aspiring preacher wowed the judges on ABC's American Idol this week with his rendition of a gospel hit that earned him a prestigious Platinum Ticket -- allowing him to skip ahead of other contestants in the televised competition. Canaan James Hill of Dallas stepped alone in front of the American Idol judges during an episode Monday night and performed Earnest Pugh's I Need Your Glory, impressing them with his vocal range and emotion from the very first note.
One of the judges, Lionel Richie, was visibly moved and rose to his feet by the end of the song.
"That was powerful," Richie told him.
"That was something so spectacular -- I just can't even describe what I heard," he added.
"To God be the glory," Hill responded.
The clip of Hill singing trended on YouTube and has amassed 600,000 views.
"You have a gift," Carrie Underwood, another judge, told him. "... I'm kind of speechless."
The Texas native told the judges he graduated from high school early and wants to preach.
"You did not give off the air of a 17-year-old," Underwood said.
Asked what pushed him to graduate early, Hill replied, "So that I can go forth with my gift and do what God has called and chosen me to do."
Richie gave Hill a Platinum Ticket, which marked him as a standout and let him skip the first round of Hollywood Week -- a high-pressure stretch where contestants face rapid-fire challenges and tough cuts. Half of the contestants are eliminated during that stretch.
The Platinum Ticket, awarded to only three contestants each season, gives him a head start and extra time to prepare for his next round.
Luke Bryan, another judge, joked that Hill's voice is so powerful that when people at church hear it, "they just run to the baptism pit and jump in."
American Idol airs on ABC on Sundays and Mondays at 8 Eastern.
The Platinum Ticket, Richie explained with a smile, means "you can bypass the first round of Hollywood, and you get to sit back and watch all the people you're gonna slay."
WATCH: Canaan James Hill's "I Need Your Glory" Performance Wins Platinum Ticket on American Idol
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/American Idol
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published April 02, 2025.
