Hayden heads to Hollywood

Ohio County’s Dakota Hayden is heading to Hollywood.

Hayden earned a golden ticket during his audition that aired Sunday on this season’s American Idol.

The 17-year-old Fordsville resident auditioned in Nashville singing Country Music Star Luke Combs’ “When It Rains It Pours.”

In a phone interview arranged by American Idol Tuesday afternoon, Hayden said he had narrowed down a list of songs he wanted to audition with but ultimately chose this hit Combs’ song.

“I wanted a song that could show my range, but also my personality in a way,” Hayden said.

The aspiring country music star said he was anxious prior to his audition and slightly nervous.

“I was just ready to show them what I could do.”

The judges were immediately impressed with Idol Judge Luke Bryan saying, “He’s actually good,” during the audition. Bryan stopped Hayden during the song and asked him to sing without playing his guitar.

“When you saw us up here smiling the whole time you were singing, it was not because we were laughing at you. We were

hinking to ourselves ‘we found somebody here,’” Judge Lionel Richie said after the audition calling Hayden “pure country” and “believable as heck.”

“Honestly, I think you are top 10 material,” said Judge Katy Perry.

Bryan agreed with Perry.

“You are exactly what we want to find,” he added.

Hayden said he didn’t expect the judges to be so nice and personable.

“They were just like normal people and I did not think they would be,” he said.

He compared meeting the judges to a “hologram – like they weren’t even really there.”

The positive feedback and praise from the judges wasn’t something that Hayden expected and he called it “inspiring.”

“I was so grateful. Being a singer my whole life and performing places around (Ohio County) … it’s really great to be able to go out there and know that I am not just good in my local area but other people think that I am good enough.”

Of course, Hayden hoped he would make it to the next round of the show, but his priority was to go in and do his best.

“I was hoping to make it but either way I knew I was going to go in there and try my hardest and if it didn’t work out then it didn’t work out.”

All three judges gave Hayden the nod giving him a ticket to Hollywood Week in the next round of the competition.

He is grateful for all the support he has received from the people in Ohio County.

“I’m grateful for all the support I have gotten through the years and all the backing that I have gotten,” he said. “It’s wonderful to have the backing like I do in Ohio County ... I love everyone here. I wouldn’t choose another county to have backing me.”