Canadian teen Tyson Venegas is making waves on this season of American Idol. Hailing from Port Moody, British Columbia, the 17-year-old has already made it to the Top 12 with his soulful performances. Venegas impressed the judges with his rendition of Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” which earned him a Platinum Ticket, allowing him to skip the first round of Hollywood Week. In the second round, he sang a duet with another Platinum Ticket holder, Kaylin Hedges, and they performed Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
Although he struggled with nerves during a performance of “Cuz I Love You” by Lizzo, Venegas still made it to the Top 24. His latest original song, “180,” which he performed on last Sunday’s episode, propelled him into the Top 12. Fans have been praising the song’s powerful message and hoping for its release on Spotify.
Judge Katy Perry has also lauded Venegas’ original song, saying that she knows what he stands for and where his heart is, allowing her to «fall deeper in love» with him. To secure a Top 10 spot, Venegas performed an emotional rendition of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John and George Michael. Fans and judges alike are eagerly anticipating Sunday’s episode to see who will advance to the next round. American Idol airs on Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. on CityTV in Canada.