A front-runner is emerging in the new season of American Idol, or at least, that's how it looked on Monday, Feb. 23. Braden Rumfelt stole the show with his rendition of Sam Smith's "I'm Not The Only One."
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Luke Bryan was so impressed with the performance, he told his fellow judges that Braden "may win."
"Can you make it look harder next time? We knew you were special in your audition," Bryan said after Braden has finished with his rendition. "We knew it, we felt it, we're here to support you, we're here to lift you up, we want you to have fun," he continued. "Man, you picked the perfect song. Lean in, be you, be yourself and get ready for the ride. It's gonna be really, really special."
Braden, 22, has certainly put his stamp on the competition already and has set the bar for other competitors to try and reach, or even clear.
Of course, as is the case every year, the competitor pool is really strong, and Braden must keep up his level of performance whenever he steps out onto the stage. Nevertheless, he has certainly ensured that the judges and the audience will remember him before his next performance, and that's half the battle.
American Idol's Braden Rumfelt Has Undergone Two Knee Surgeries in a Year
Before Braden took to the stage on Monday, American Idol played an intro package, showing a short interview with the young and talented singer. He revealed that he's undergone two surgeries on his knee in the past year, which has led him to navigate a difficult path in getting onto the show.
"I kind of developed contamination OCD," he said. "It's really debilitating. I've made huge strides to getting a lot better. Hollywood Week — that's good for me. I can focus on putting my energy into something that is real."
Braden, a substitute teacher, will now look forward to his next time on stage and will undoubtedly be working on picking another "perfect song choice." After all, he's already got a major fan in Bryan, and that could help him go a long way in the competition.
