Blossoming Salisbury singer Jeremiah “Jay” Copeland stole the hearts of the “American Idol” judges after performing a song inspired by his mom on episode 14, Sunday night.
But was his cover of Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are” enough to satisfy viewers at home? America had live voting power on Sunday to help trim the group down from 14 to 11 contestants.
Copeland survived to sing for at least another episode. His fans on Facebook were pushing each other to vote for him. It looks like it worked.
“Alright y’all know it’s Idol night and Jay Copeland needs y’all to show up for him!” a fan wrote on Copeland’s Facebook wall.
“All voted up…for Jay Copeland!!” another supporter said.
“#teamjay all the way #1,” one fan wrote.
“You sounded wonderful Jay Copeland ! ” an excited fan said.
Copeland was the first performer of the night and he immediately hooked the crowd.
Folks in the audience were swaying their arms, applauding the JMB grad in what “Idol” judge Lionel Richie considered the best song selection from him on the show to date.
“For the first time you’re actually showing up on the stage singing songs that you should be singing. This is who you are. I felt this to be the closest thing to your artistry,” Richie said, while also stating that Copeland has done a “beautiful” job of singing songs in genres outside of R&B.
Yet the “Idol” judge didn’t think those tunes suited the singer’s musical identity.
“Who are you going to be as the artist is what I was concerned with. And tonight this song was the one that nailed it right on the head,” Richie added.
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Fellow judge Katy Perry affectionately greeted Copeland as “Jay Bae,” before commenting on his performance.
“I thought this was the perfect song choice for your mother and to show your heart to the world. And I thought you had incredible restraint,” she said. “I just felt like you really landed in a really cool spot with this performance today.”
“American Idol” judge Luke Bryan echoed Richie’s identity sentiment.
“Point to where you’re going to be as an artist so America can really … kinda latch on to that and start rallying behind you,” Bryan explained. “But great performance. You always sing great.”
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The judges also appreciated him implementing the advice he received from “Idol” mentor Gabby Barrett.
In a pre-recorded clip with Barrett, the 2018 “American Idol” finalist critiqued Copeland’s cover of “Just the Way You Are,” suggesting he sing a little lower in part of the song instead of hitting his usual, flashy high notes.
“I’d be careful on that high note up there ‘cause it can easily go a little too much,” Barrett said. “It’s small details like changing a note that can really change the feel of a song.”
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Copeland told Barrett his mom inspired that tune because he always tries to find something that can help him connect with whatever song he’s performing.
“I really love my mommy,” Copeland told the “Idol” icon. “My mom really is an amazing woman. She raised me single-handedly. She deserves this song.”
ABC’s ‘American Idol’ airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. The show live streamed on Fubo.tv and Hulu.com. For more info, visit ABC.com.
Andre Lamar is the features/lifestyle reporter. If you have an interesting story idea, email Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com
