One of our favorite contestants on Season 19 of American Idol is Hunter Metts. The 22-year-old has an indie folk sound and an ability to bring emotion to his performances.
Hunter has officially made it into the Top 10 this season, and we can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve as the competition continues.
5 Facts About Hunter Metts
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1. Hunter Was Previously a Software Engineer
Hunter comes from a musical family, both his parents moved to Tennessee to pursue their careers. He intended to do the same, until things didn’t work out for his father and his family “went through some hard times.”
“During that time I decided that I didn’t want to really pursue music because it was so unsteady and it’s just such a risk,” he told local news. “So I decided to go to coding school and from there and got a job coding. I played it safe.”
2. His Sister Quit Her Job So He Could Audition
Hunter previously tried to audition for American Idol, but his sister Maddie’s job at Disney held him back. It was seen as a conflict of interest, since the show airs on ABC.
This season, Maddie made a sacrifice for him by quitting her job. She joined him for his audition and told him she’s “so proud” of him. The judges even invited her into the audition room to hear that Hunter was going to Hollywood.
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3. Hunter Metts Has Released Two Singles
Hunter put out two original singles earlier this year. One is called “The River,” and the other is called “Loaded Gun.” The tracks show off his amazing voice, backed by an acoustic guitar. The first song is more of a ballad, while the second is bouncier. You can listen to the songs on various platforms.
4. He’s Friends with Graham DeFranco
You probably remember contestant Graham DeFranco from earlier this season. He made it to the Top 16 before he was eliminated. But did you notice him cheering Hunter on with the singer’s family during Oscars Night?
Talent Recap recently interviewed Hunter, and he shared that he and Graham “hit it off really well” during Hollywood Week. Graham later stayed with Hunter in Tennessee. Hunter said they “have a really special bond.” Graham even drove nine hours to see Hunter!
5. Melinda Doolittle Gave Him Support
During Oscars Night, Hunter performed “Falling Slowly” from the movie Once. He had a slip-up toward the end of the performance, and broke down in tears over it. However, the judges praised his performance as the best he’s ever given.
During an interview with local news, Hunter also received support from American Idol alum Melinda Doolittle. “I didn’t even notice,” she assured Hunter, saying she thought he was crying from the emotion of the song rather than a mistake. She called his voice “beautiful.”
Words by:
Jill O'Rourke Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
