Luke Bryan took off his cowboy boots and gave them to an American Idol contestant after spotting huge holes in his soles on Sunday’s episode of the ABC show.
The 42-year-old country star was moved after noticing 19-year-old Colby Swift wearing tattered boots as he performed during Hollywood Week.
Colby, who grew up without a mom after she fled the family when he was just age 10, was asked to show the bottom of his soles as he waited to learn if he was advancing.
‘What size shoe are you, Colby? Wouldn’t be a 12D would it?’ Luke asked, with the hopeful smiling as he said: ‘I mean, whatever fits.’
‘Well, I’m a 12D. We’ll solve that little problem,’ Luke told him, taking off his own expensive cowboy boots and walking up to the stage to hand them over.
Colby looked amazed, but finally put on the new boots after chants led by Katy Perry, 34, and Lionel Richie, 69, before doing a Moonwalk-like shuffle to show them off.
‘So Colby – those boots are made for walking to the next round,’ Luke told him, with the others from his line going through, too.
Teen talent: The 19-year-old singer performed with holes in his boots
Helping out: Luke decided to hand over his boots to Colby
The judges: Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke judged the talent as Hollywood Week started
Luke soon regretted his generosity, however, when Colby was eliminated during the group rounds after forgetting the words to the Bruno Mars song Grenade.
‘They told me those boots were your lucky boots, and then you put my boots on and this happens,’ Luke told Colby as he hugged him after his bad news.
Colby however seemed to take it in stride.
In stride: Colby took his elimination in stride
‘I am leaving with my head held high – and Luke Bryan’s boots. They’re my boots now, they ain’t yours no more,’ he said with a smile.
He earlier had tears over a standing ovation for his solo performance of Freddy Fender’s Every Teardrop Falls, saying: ‘To have Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry stand up for me – that’s a blessing, man.’
The latest episode produced plenty of tears, with some early favorites eliminated – and particularly crushing rejections from those who got through the first solo step just to go home during the group performances.
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Music stars: Luke, Katy and Lionel continued the search for the next American Idol
Perhaps the biggest sobs, however, came from Katy as she held a phone so that a sick mom could watch her son perform via FaceTime.
Dimitrius Graham, 27, told the judges that his mother was having surgery the next day, calling her ‘my American Idol’ and connecting for a video feed.
The contestant was first to cry as Katy told his mother she hoped the angels were looking over her, adding: ‘And speaking of an angel – your son is about to sing for us.’
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Sick mother: Dimitrius Graham told the judges that his mother was having surgery the next day
Katy then completely lost it as she held up the phone for the mom to watch his performance of Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath My Wings, hiding her face and getting handed tissues by Luke.
‘What you think about that?’ Katy asked his mother afterward, with Lionel adding: ‘Your boy did it, sweetheart.’
Dimitrius later told them his mom’s surgery ‘went well’ – thanking the judges for ‘praying for her’ – as he also made it through the group stage.
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Phone video: Katy help up a phone so the singer’s mother could watch him perform
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Getting emotional: The pop star got emotional while holding up her phone
His team, calling themselves Unexpected Vibe, had Lionel in tears as Dimitrius along with Assata Renay, 26, and William Oliver Jr, 23, all put on blacked-out goggles ‘to be in perspective’ with blind teammate Shayy, 18.
‘That was amazing. You got me crying in the middle of the show!’ Lionel said as he rushed up to hug them, saying they helped ‘remind us what God’s gifts really look like.’
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Tears flowing: Lionel also wiped away tears during the episode
Shayy earlier cried in frustration during rehearsals as she was unable to read the lyrics to the Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way, with her mother finally coming in and taking her aside to help her learn them.
She joined Dimitrius and Assata in getting through, with William getting sent home after Lionel told him: ‘Keep fighting, my friend.’
There was drama in most of the group rounds – with Juan Pablo, 26, leaving Jade Flores, 22, in tears as she accused him of being ‘really bossy’ and begged him to ‘be nicer’ to the women in his team.
