Keyser teen to audition for 'American Idol'

Nov. 4—KEYSER, W.Va. — Christian Evans has been selected to audition for "American Idol" this month in Nashville, Tennessee, before celebrity judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Ritchie.

A senior at Keyser High School, 17-year-old Evans, a singer and guitarist, has advanced through multiple Zoom calls with producers before being invited to audition for the show's star panel on Nov. 12.

"It feels amazing," Evans said. "I'm excited about it. I'm getting nervous as the time gets closer."

The son of John and Tina Evans, Christian Evans began playing guitar and singing bluegrass and country music at age 12.

His audition is an attempt to secure a spot on the show, which will air on ABC early in 2024.

"Not a lot of people can say they've gotten to do this," Christian Evans said. "But what's the worst they can tell me — no? That won't kill my spirit. I'll keep doing what I'm doing."

Evans said he grew up around music, with his father playing guitar and his grandfather Delmas Evans playing upright bass.

"I showed him a few chords, but he learned by himself," John Evans said.

"My dad and grandfather played bluegrass for 20 years in the group New Creek Station, which included Donnie Gibson of Cumberland on banjo," Christian Evans said. "I started playing with my dad and pap in 2018."

In 2019, Delmas Evans died and the group disbanded.

"He always had a knack for music but he never really got serious until my dad passed way," John Evans said. "I'm not sure if it was a way of coping or what. That was when he really started to play seriously."

Christian Evans has been playing guitar and singing in the local bluegrass band Centerfire for the last four years. His journey with "American Idol" began when he submitted a video.

"I've watched 'American Idol' with dad and mom and the grandparents on TV," Christian Evans said. "Last year I started watching 'American Idol' here and there.

"I was sitting on the couch watching the end finale and dad said, 'Why don't you do that?' I said, 'I don't know, maybe I will and maybe I won't.' I didn't want to quit doing what I was doing with my bluegrass band."

Christian Evans decided to make a video of him singing George Strait's "You Look So Good in Love," and sent it to the show. "My dad taped me and we sent it in," he said.

"That was one that kind of opened the door for me. That made them reach out to me," he said. "After about a month we got an email. They said they liked what they heard and they wanted another audition."

He then recorded "Please Come to Boston" by Dave Loggins and submitted that.

"Then they asked me for a fast song," Christian Evans said. "I played, it's kind of funny, 'Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,' (by Joe Nichols)," Christian Evans said. "Then they wanted me to fill out a questionnaire about my hometown and things. I sent it in and a month went by and I thought, 'They must not be interested.'

"Then I got an email that asked if I wanted to do another audition. Of course I said 'yes.' This time it was for the executive producers. So it was a little bit more never wracking."

It was during that audition that Christian Evans was asked to audition for Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Ritchie.

"Of course I said yes," he said. "I had to send in an email this week with the three songs I've been thinking (of performing). It's "Please Come to Boston," "Tequila" and a song I recently wrote called "Drunk Driving."

Christian Evans said lately the producers have been doing video clips of him for the show. He will attend a promo and meet and greet in Nashville on Nov. 11.

"Then Sunday, early that morning, is whenever you go and do the audition in front of Luke Bryan, Lionel Ritchie and Katy Perry," he said.

"As much as I'd like to win, if I don't it won't be the worse thing. I've seen a lot of great people not win it," Christian Evans said.

Greg Larry is a reporter at the Cumberland Times-News. To reach him, call 304-639-4951, email glarry@times-news.com and follow him on Twitter @GregLarryCTN.