Canaan James Hill, a 17-year-old aspiring preacher from Dallas, wowed the “American Idol” judges with his smooth but powerful gospel rendition of Earnest Pugh’s “I Need Your Glory.”
“We’re a gospel family,” Hill told “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest before his audition. Hill shared that after hearing his grandfather sing gospel music, he was inspired to get into music. “I was like, ‘Wow, I want to do that,'” he said.
Hill’s performance in front of judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan concluded the final auditions before Hollywood Week starts.
The young man told the judges that he is “getting into preaching” and completed high school early “so that I can go forward with my gift and do what God has called and chosen me to do.”
When Hill began singing, all three judges reacted with joy. But as Hill showed the judges his vocal range, Richie pushed his chair back in amazement.
Richie then raised his hand as Hill sang the words, “Anybody in here need his glory? I need your power. Less of me and more of you. The Lord is what I need.”
One of Hill’s vocal runs made Bryan react with a joyful laugh and forced Richie from his chair straight into a church dance.
As Hill finished the song, Richie walked up to him, placed his hand on his shoulder, and asked him, “Would you do that again?” Richie then told him, “That was powerful. You have been so blessed.”
Hill reacted to Richie’s kind words by giving God the glory.
“That was something so spectacular, I just can’t even describe what I heard,” Richie added.
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