Luke Bryan Calls “American Idol” Contestant “My Favorite Female Country Voice in 5 Years.”
February 28, 2022
American Idol kicked off Season 20 on Sunday (Feb. 27) with a new batch of singers hoping to follow in the footsteps of Idol alums like Carrie Underwood and Scotty McCreery.
Hunter Wolkonowski, aka Hunter Girl, took the stage to perform Rascal Flatts’ “Riot” for her Idol audition for judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry.
Earning applause from all three judges, Luke dubbed her “a new-age Miranda Lambert.”
Luke did, however, make a suggestion to the Idol hopeful to change the key she sings in. “I tell you what, I don’t even think you were in the right key for that song. I think you could go up a half-step. Do me a favor and slide your capo up a half chorus.”
Following the change in key, Luke said “that is my favorite female country voice in five years.”
