We’re used to crime dramas like Law & Order pulling inspiration from real-life headlines—but American Idol? That’s a new one.
Sunday’s episode of American Idol (Season 23, Week 4) featured a deeply personal and emotional audition from 19-year-old Freddie McClendon, whose father’s tragic murder became a widely covered true-crime case.
A Story That Captivated the Nation
While Idol kept the details brief, here’s some background: On May 7, 2023, Davis McClendon was found dead on the side of a road in Greenwood, S.C., after being deliberately pinned between his own car and another vehicle. The person responsible? William “Bud” Ackerman Jr., the estranged husband of Meredith Haynie—Davis’ girlfriend at the time. Davis had been separated from Freddie’s mother.
The case became a national true-crime obsession, covered in multiple podcasts and even a recent episode of CBS’ 48 Hours.
Freddie’s Powerful Tribute
With so much focus on how his father died, Freddie wanted to shift the narrative—to remind the world of how he lived. He did so through an original song, You Never Loved Him, delivering a heart-wrenching performance that left the judges visibly emotional.
Carrie Underwood, fighting back tears, praised his courage:
“It’s so brave of you to decide that you want to choose the narrative—that you want to remember him, not what happened, but him. It was a good song, and you could feel your heart behind it.”
Luke Bryan called Freddie’s performance “honest” and even compared him to a “modern-day Paul Simon.”
Other Standout Auditions
Sunday’s episode also featured a special audition from Carnie Wilson’s daughter, leading to a nostalgic group performance of Wilson Phillips’ Hold On. Plus, fans got a brief but exciting return from Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice.
Which auditions stood out most to you? Drop a comment below with your thoughts!
