(L-R) “American Idol” judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and host Ryan Seacrest pose for a photo on Oct. 2, 2024 in New York City.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Austin-based singer-songwriter Bartly received a “golden ticket” from judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood on Sunday’s episode of “American Idol” Season 24. The 23-year-old, whose full name is Densmore Bartly, will now move on to the competition’s “Hollywood Week in Music City” rounds.
Bartly — who attended the pre-recorded audition with his parents in Nashville — performed an acoustic rendition of “Texas Sun,” a song by fellow Texas artists Khruangbin and Leon Bridges. Before he took the stage, longtime “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest said he liked Bartly’s “enthusiasm” and “energy.”
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“I do music for a living. This is my full-time job,” Bartly said when the judges asked him to tell them about himself. “I do three to four gigs, sometimes five a week, on a really busy week. I started playing guitar in second grade. I’ve been singing since I can remember my mom telling me to be quiet.”
Bartly continued, “My mom grew me up on Temptations, Lionel Richie, Sammy Davis Jr.”
Panelist Lionel Richie interjected that the Austinite could “be the clone” of Sammy Davis Jr.’s son.
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Following his performance, Underwood said she loved Bartly’s voice. Bryan said he wasn’t “cookie cutter” and that he was “unique to (his) own thing.”
“Soulful top end, man,” Richie told Bartly. “If you can make the bottom end — the verse guy — (into) the top end guy, that’s the key. That’s a voice up there that is so on the money.”
After receiving three yeses from the judges and a golden ticket, Bartly said: “I’m usually not one to be lost for words, but right now I don’t even know what to say.”
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“You’re at the ‘University of Idol,’ man. This is the best advice we can ever give you,” Richie added.
Catch ‘American Idol’ contestant Bartly at Rodeo Austin
If you’re interested in seeing Bartly perform live, he will be playing Rodeo Austin’s outdoor stage on March 16 at 4 p.m. The show will be open to anyone who has tickets to enter the fairgrounds. For more information, visit rodeoaustin.com.
Mama Duke performs on the finale of “America’s Got Talent” Season 20 on September 23, 2025.
Trae Patton/NBC
Austin representation on national TV competitions
In September, Austin rapper Mama Duke advanced to the finale of “America’s Got Talent” Season 20 after receiving judge Mel B’s “golden buzzer” during the show’s quarterfinal episode. While she didn’t win the competition, Duke cemented herself as a top 10 finalist, and the City of Austin proclaimed Oct. 23 as “Mama Duke Day.”
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Austin singer-songwriter Nakia was a contestant on Season 1 of “The Voice,” where he performed a rendition of “Forget You” by Cee Lo Green during the blind auditions, prompting judges Green and Blake Shelton to turn their chairs. Nakia chose to join Team Cee Lo and reached the semifinals before being eliminated, placing him among the debut season’s top eight contestants.
College Station native wins ‘The Voice’ Season 28
On Dec. 16, 20-year-old Texas A&M student Aiden Ross won Season 28 of “The Voice,” representing Team Niall Horan. The show has had three other winners from Texas: Danielle Bradbery (Season 4), Sundance Head (Season 11) and Maelyn Jarmon (Season 16).
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Fort Worth-born singer Kelly Clarkson famously won the first season of “American Idol.”
While she wasn’t born in Texas, “America’s Got Talent” Season 20 winner Jessica Sanchez is currently based in Houston and previously studied at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
How to stream ‘American Idol’ Season 24
“American Idol” airs Mondays at 7 p.m. on Austin’s ABC affiliate KVUE (Channel 24) and streams the next day on Hulu.
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For more information, visit abc.com.