Jayson Arendt Scores Golden Ticket With Unforgettable American Idol Audition and Epic Line Dance With Luke Bryan

“You’ve got a distinguishable voice, and we don’t have anything like that yet,” Lionel Richie told Jayson Arendt during one of the most memorable auditions of the season.

Jayson Arendt, a 24-year-old Banana Ball League player and aspiring singer from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, delivered an American Idol audition that combined baseball, country music, and pure entertainment. His entrance alone set the tone for what would become one of the most unexpected moments in the audition room.

As “Cotton Eyed Joe” blasted through the speakers, a group of men in royal blue baseball jerseys danced into the room, led by Arendt. The team, known as the Texas Tailgaters, is part of the Banana Ball Championship League—an entertainment-focused baseball organization made famous by the Savannah Bananas. Their energetic arrival immediately stunned judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan.

“What’s happening? What’s going on?” the judges asked in disbelief as the group filled the room. Luke Bryan couldn’t resist joining in, stepping onto the floor to dance alongside the Tailgaters.

Arendt soon explained the moment, handing each judge a custom Texas Tailgaters jersey and introducing himself as the team’s singer. His teammates gathered near the piano to watch as he shared more about what Banana Ball represents.

“We’re in the Banana Ball Championship League. You might be familiar with the Savannah Bananas—we play with them. It’s entertainment baseball. People compare us to the Harlem Globetrotters, but it’s competitive too. We’re all best friends, and we want fans to have fun the whole time. I actually got into it as a singer. We put on concerts. The whole point is to keep people engaged.”

Luke Bryan continued joking with the team, asking, “How did I do?” before adding, “You ought to see me pitch.” Arendt confidently replied, “I think we can make that happen.”

After Carrie Underwood slipped on her new jersey, she invited Arendt to showcase his vocals. When he revealed that he would sing a Chris Stapleton song, Bryan laughed and said, “Love it! You better be able to sing.”

Arendt then performed “Fire Away” by Chris Stapleton, wearing his Texas Tailgaters jersey, khaki pants, and a baseball cap. His confident delivery filled the room, and when the song ended, his teammates erupted in cheers as the judges applauded.

“I want a team,” Bryan said. “Carrie, you’ve got the gear on. You’re officially a Tailgater.”

Underwood passed the moment to Lionel Richie, who offered his feedback first.

“You’ve got a nice voice. You’ve got a distinguishable voice, and we don’t have anything like that yet,” Richie said.

Underwood followed with thoughtful guidance.

“If you do end up going forward, it’s about taking this part of you seriously. You guys are obviously so much fun—I love it. But I want to feel you emote. I want to hear more.”

Bryan added his own perspective, sharing advice from his career:

“I used to try to sing everything as loud as I could. It took me years to realize I don’t have to sing loud every time. You can calm it down. Just think about that.”

Richie was the first to vote “yes.” As Underwood prepared to cast her vote, Arendt’s teammates jokingly encouraged her.

Underwood fired back with a smile, saying, “I’ve got my own set of abs at home—my husband’s. I want to know who you are as an artist, so I’ll say yes.”

With three “yes” votes, Jayson Arendt officially earned his golden ticket to Hollywood Week, which will take place in Music City this season.

But the moment wasn’t over.

“You thought we were done?” Arendt asked before launching into a choreographed line dance to Jason Aldean’s “Hicktown.” Luke Bryan immediately jumped in, joining the Texas Tailgaters and showing off his own dance moves.

“I didn’t expect Luke Bryan to bust a move like that,” Arendt said afterward. “I guess you see something new every day. I’m going to Hollywood Week!”

American Idol Season 24 premiered Monday, January 26, at 8/7c on ABC and is available to stream on Hulu. New episodes continue every Monday at 8/7c.

With a unique blend of personality, performance, and pure fun, Jayson Arendt turned his audition into an experience—and proved that sometimes, the most unforgettable moments begin with a dance.