AMERICAN IDOL: Drew Ryn Delivers “Brave” Performance Of “Always On My Mind”
Drew Ryn performs during the Showstoppers round of 'American Idol' (Drew Ryn / Facebook)
American Idol Contestants Pull Out All The Stops During The Showstopper Round
Season 23 of the hit singing show American Idol continues, and the stakes are high. This week, the contestant pool will be cut from 62 to 24. During this round, titled “showstoppers,” the aspiring singers perform with a full band in front of a live audience consisting of their family, friends, and fellow competitors.
Judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie will use their collective knowledge and experience with musical success to find the next rising star.
The top 24 contestants will move on to the live shows, where the viewers will cast their votes and determine the fate of the contestants. The next round of competition will take place at Disneyâs Aulani Resort in Hawaii.
“Always On My Mind” And Always On The Charts
“Always On My Mind” has an impressive recording history, having been released by multiple iconic musical artists. Brenda Lee and Elvis Presley both recorded the ballad in early 1972. Lee’s version dropped first and became a crossover hit, charting on both the country and pop charts.
Presley released his rendition a few months later, and it peaked at the sixteenth spot on the US Hot Country Songs Chart. In a 2013 poll, “Always On My Mind” ranked #1 on a list of The Nation’s Favourite Elvis Songs.
Willie Nelson put his spin on the beloved song, which was released ten years later in 1982. It quickly summited Billboard‘s Hot Country Singles chart, spending two weeks on top and a total of 21 weeks on the chart. Additionally, Nelson’s version earned three Grammy awards in 1983: Song of the Year, Best Country Song, and Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
Drew Ryn Impresses With “Brave” Performance On American IdolÂ
Nashville-based singer/songwriter Drew Ryn chose to tackle “Always On My Mind” in hopes that the iconic song would help her advance in the competition.
She originally impressed the judges during her audition with her original song titled “Walk on Water.” She officially recorded and released the song in January. Stream it here!
This time around, the 28-year-old took a risk and began her showstopper performance a capella, in a move that Carrie Underwood called “Brave.” Drew showed impressive vocal control and delivered the song like a seasoned professional.
Watch a clip of Drew Ryn singing “Always On My Mind” on American Idol below!Â
View this post on Instagram
