KY musician to perform tune by his songwriter dad on ‘American Idol’ on Monday
A Simpson County musician is making an appearance on “American Idol” this week, and he says his father provided much of the inspiration.
Christian Brown, 23, is the son of country music singer-songwriter Marty Brown, who has written songs for artists including George Strait, Tracy Byrd, Trace Adkins and Brooks & Dunn.
“I’ve grown up around music all my life,” Christian Brown said in a recent telephone interview.
Brown will appear on “American Idol” on Monday, Feb. 9. The show airs from 8 to 10 p.m. on ABC.
The Brown family lives in Franklin, about 170 miles southwest of Lexington near the Tennessee state line.
For his audition, Brown said he chose “Wildest Dreams,” written by his dad.
Marty Brown recorded the song in 1991 for his debut album, “High & Dry.”
Christian said his father was the same age as him when he wrote the song, and “he wrote it about his children.”
Christian Brown is married, and he said his first child, a boy, was born four days before his “Idol” audition.
“I never felt such a connection to my dad until I had my son,” Brown said.
“I said, ‘I want to go in there with my heart full,’ and I did. I went in there with my heart full and gave it my all,” he said.
Brown said his musical influences include Bread frontman David Gates, John Denver, Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr.
But he said his dad is his biggest influence, and “I learn from him still to this day.”
While he recorded several albums, Marty Brown may be best known for his songwriting, including “I’m From the Country,” which was recorded by Tracy Byrd in 1998.
Christian Brown is also the second generation of his family to appear on a reality talent show.
Marty Brown made it to the semifinals after performing Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” on “America’s Got Talent” in 2013.
Christian Brown began playing guitar at age 11 and then progressed to piano, banjo and “anything with strings.”
But he said his dad “never pushed me to do music,” and for a while he wasn’t sure he had what it takes.
“I was really kind of hard on myself for a little bit,” Christian Brown said. “I was kind of like, what do I need to do?”
His day job is changing oil at a local car dealership.
He said he hadn’t performed in public in a year, and when he saw the link to tryouts for “Idol,” he asked himself if he could do it.
“Before I could even say no, I ended up applying,” he said.
Brown said getting to meet celebrity judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood, as well as making friends with other contestants who are also chasing their music dreams, was “a wonderful experience.”
“It really showed, hey, I belong here,” he said.
Another Kentuckian, Landon Hughes, of Hazard, is also scheduled to appear on “American Idol” Feb. 16.
