Reviewed by: Liv George
3 young Alabamians continue success in national TV competitions
Reading time: 5 minutes
There are three Alabama natives making the most of their time in the spotlight, looking like seasoned veterans instead of the rising stars that they are.
We highlighted the three young Alabamians last week but after another round of competitions, all three are still in the running to become a champion. Keep reading to find out more about their most recent performances + how you can keep up with their journeys moving forward.
Triston Harper, American Idol
Harper is just 15 years old but his voice will make you question that every time you hear him sing. Sunday’s episode of American Idol was no different as the McIntosh native competed for a spot in the Top 5.
It was Adele Night on the show which meant each singer had to perform one song by Adele but the second song had to be something people could dance to. Neither theme fits the mold of the kind of songs Harper has sung to get this far in the competition but he looked extremely comfortable doing both songs.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a pop song, it’s a rock song, it’s a country song, it’s about how you sell the story. And I feel like those words are also your words. I could feel you singing them from your heart, like you wrote them, and I believed it.”
~ American Idol judge Katy Perry
Harper sang “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” by Elvis Presley, singing it more like the Travis Tritt rendition of the song while rocking a stage presence he has not shown very often that included some dance moves and plenty of smiling.
For his Adele choice, Harper slowed things back down by singing “Easy on Me.” You can watch both performances below.
After the votes were tallied, Harper advanced to the final 5 and is one show away from making it to the finale. The next leg of the competition will be Disney night which will include each singer performing a pair of Disney songs. Here’s what you need to know:
- What: American Idol Disney Night
- When: 7PM Sunday
- Watch: ABC
- VOTE
Bryson McGlynn, MasterChef Junior
It may not have been the easiest episode to relive for the 12-year-old from Opelika but once all was said and done, Bryson McGlynn survived the night and is moving on to the final of MasterChef Junior.
McGlynn and three other contestants had to duplicate a recipe while watching Gordon Ramsay put together one of his signature dishes: Duck à l’Orange. As expected, it was a challenge for the kids to keep up but McGlynn did just enough to stay alive in the competition.
The judges gave the young chef some constructive criticism about how he prepared the meal + how his vegetables turned out but his main dish—the duck—was cooked perfectly and carried his plate.
“The good news is, the duck is beautiful. Surprisingly, the skin is crispy and seasoned to perfection. Now the bad news, the broccolini is hammered. It is so crispy, it’s charred. But understand that, no matter what happens tonight, you cooked the duck beautifully.”
~ Gordon Ramsay
His cooking was good enough to take McGlynn into the finale, which will air in two parts over the next two weeks. Here’s what you need to know:
- What: MasterChef Junior Finale
- When: Part 1 at 7PM Monday, May 13 | Part 2 at 7PM Monday, May 20
- Watch: FOX + next day on Hulu
Asher HaVon, The Voice
Asher HaVon may be considered the old one of this group but he’s still just 31. During this week’s episode, HaVon chose a song that came out when he was just 2 years old and it sounded like he’s been performing it every day since it was released.
Monday’s episode marked the first of the Live Shows but HaVon didn’t seem to be nervous at all, impressing all of the coaches especially his own—Reba McEntire. His performance was enough for him to be voted into the Top 9 and he is now one of two singers left on McEntire’s team.
The Top 9 episode will serve as the semifinals with five singers advancing to the finale. The champion will be determined May 21.
HaVon will perform again this Monday. Here’s what you need to know:
- What: The Voice quarterfinals
- When: 7PM Monday + Tuesday
- Watch: NBC + Peacock
- VOTE
Will you be watching any of these Alabamians compete next week? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
