LAGRANGE, Ga. \u2014 A west Georgia man is looking for his big break and hoping the \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d stage is the place.<\/p>\n
Philmon Lee, a 26-year-old singer-songwriter from LaGrange, spoke with Channel 2\u2019s Karyn Greer before his audition airs in Monday night\u2019s episode on Channel 2.<\/p>\n
Lee says that since he was a kid, \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d has been the dream.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up, you always watched \u2018American Idol,\u2019 especially in our house, so it was always a topic that we talked about…to try and get on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
And he did just that, driving to his audition in Nashville, Tennessee with his family by his side.<\/p>\n
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks<\/a>]<\/p>\n When the time came to step in front of judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and fellow Georgia boy Luke Bryan, Lee said the nerves kicked in.<\/p>\n \u201cI was super nervous, and the audition was great,\u201d he described. \u201cIt kind of went towards the end of the day, and walked in, and it all kind of was a blur.\u201d<\/p>\n He told Greer that his whole life has been filled with music.<\/p>\n Lee has toured with his father, who was part of a Gospel group called The Georgia Melody Boys and a Rock band called The Hired Guns. <\/p>\n He\u2019s also released music with some heavy-hitters, including Atlanta rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. In 2023, Williams was featured on Lee\u2019s single \u201cBaby Don\u2019t Cry.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cEver since I was four years old,\u201d he said. \u201cThe music\u2019s always been in my family, you know, and my dad was a great mentor growing up.\u201d<\/p>\n On Monday night\u2019s episode, all three judges agreed and gave Lee a golden ticket to Hollywood week.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had 10 people in here today who look like they were trained to sing,\u201d Bryan said. \u201cBut you look like you were born to sing.\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time ever, Hollywood Week is taking place somewhere else. This year\u2019s golden ticket holders are heading to \u201cHollywood Week: Music City Takeover\u201d in Nashville.<\/p>\n The Peach State is no stranger to producing top-tier \u201cIdol\u201d talent.<\/p>\n Last season, country singer Slater Nalley<\/a> finished in the top five.<\/p>\n In 2019, south Georgia powerhouse Willie Spence<\/a> was the season\u2019s runner-up. He was tragically killed in a car crash in 2022 at the age of 23.<\/p>\n