https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f9B_Q3PRMs
Videos by Wide Open Country
The new season of American Idol premiered this week and 26-year-old contestant Tyler Mitchell is already turning heads. Before launching into his audition, the Louisiana native explained he's an oil field worker who enjoys hunting and fishing in his spare time.
Mitchell performed Vince Gill's 1994 hit "Whenever You Come Around" for his audition and, from the opening notes, it's clear the judges, Katy Perry, Lionel Ritchie and Luke Bryan, are enthralled by his performance. Bryan even joins in on harmony vocals.
No surprise -- Mitchell made it to the next round.
"You could sing gibberish and it would be great," Perry said. "I mean, literally, a star is born."
Read More: 5 Country Singers Who Should've Gone Further on American Idol
Ritchie told the young hopeful he "struck oil" with his audition, implying that Mitchell won't be working in the oil fields any time soon.
"Let me tell you what you did on your audition here: You struck oil. You woke us up, and that's exactly what a star is supposed to do," Ritchie said.
Bryan gave Mitchell some advice on dealing with any future performance jitters.
"You just be you," Bryan said. "Smile through the awkward times and America will love you through it all."
Now Watch: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Patsy Cline
