https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbLYZyJ-HXo
When he was 13 years old, Ethan Payne wrote to the Make-a-Wish foundation with the request to meet country star Luke Bryan. He got his wish and Bryan even invited Payne to join him onstage to sing a duet before thousands of people. Before Payne left the stage, the country superstar surprised Payne yet again by gifting him with his guitar.
On the March 6 episode of American Idol, judge Bryan was reunited with Payne, who's now 15, when he auditioned for the singing competition.
Payne has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that effects the lungs. When asked how the disease impacts him, Payne tells the judges that while there's no cure for cystic fibrosis, singing is his own personal cure.
"It really affects my lungs and my breathing, yes," Payne told the judges. "There's no cure for it, but singing is definitely my cure for it."
It was only fitting that Payne brought along the guitar Bryan once gave him and joined his old friend for the performance. Payne and Bryan performed Bryan's 2009 hit "Do I," making for a sweet and unforgettable Idol moment.
The young singer's confident audition earned him a ticket to Hollywood for the next round of auditions.
Read More: Meet Luke Bryan's Other Half, Caroline Boyer Bryan
The 2019 season of American Idol debuted on March 3. This week, another country hopeful, Tyler Mitchell, surprised the judges with his cover of a Vince Gill classic.
Bryan will headline the 2019 Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif. The festival runs from April 26 through April 28. Jason Aldean and Sam Hunt will also headline the festival.
Now Watch: Songs Every Luke Bryan Fan Knows By Heart
