Baylee Littrell Says He ‘Caved Under Pressure’ on ‘American Idol’

Baylee Littrell is looking back on his American Idol journey and how it came to an end sooner than he hoped.

“I thought I knew all there was to know, and then I went on TV and did that, and literally felt that I caved under pressure, especially in the last couple of weeks. I was just tired,” the singer, 23, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, June 4, while discussing his new music. “I wasn’t myself. I was like, ‘You’ve got more in the tank, but you’re just not showing it.’ It was those types of feelings and I walked away.”

Baylee, who is the son of Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell, competed on season 23. After performing an original song during his audition, Baylee earned a golden ticket. He made it to the competition’s Top 20 before getting eliminated. While Baylee wasn’t crowned the champion, the experience gave him some valuable lessons.

“That show taught me so much. It was hard to make friends, to feel normal,” he reflected. “But what’s really funny is, I’m going to credit Idol for this, they tried to get me in the pop or more R&B crowd, and they were like, ‘We feel like you fit here,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, well, I did when I was in grade school. I don’t think I do anymore.’ And they’re like, ‘OK, we’ll see.’ And they would keep trying to kind of push me toward that lane.”

Baylee confessed that after being eliminated from the singing competition, he felt defeated “for a moment.”

“I was so mad at myself, and I didn’t realize how angry I was with my performances and the live TV aspect of it, and all that stuff,” he explained. “I was in shock for a while after it was over. It was kind of like, you missed it a little bit. You missed the environment. You kept waking up thinking, ‘Oh, I’ve got to be up downstairs for coffee, getting ready for the day,’ and then there’s nothing to be ready for. And you’re like, ‘Man, if I would have done this differently, I could have still been there doing this, or if I’d had a better attitude.’”

While Baylee did think about how he could have improved, he is glad that his exit came when it did.

“At the same time, I’m glad I didn’t go further. I think it was like a perfect learning experience, and without it, I don’t know what I would be doing,” he reflected. “I mean, if I went farther, I might be farther into something that didn’t fit me. I really do think that most things happen for a reason. I feel like some things are chosen, but this was, I think, a little bit of destiny, even if I didn’t like it.”

After leaving American Idol, Baylee took a full “year” to reflect and figure out what was next for him. He went back to college to “debate” his “future,” and after taking “some advice,” Baylee decided to give music one more try.

Now, he’s gearing up for the release of his new single, titled “So Be It,” on June 12.

“This next chapter of music is honestly like the rebirth of my career. I’ve been telling everyone that I feel like this is actually the beginning now,” he told Us. “You know growing up [in] the music business, doing this for so long,, but not really finding something that you truly love doing yet, and then thinking, ‘Is this the right path for me, did I explore all my options before I walk away from this?’”

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Baylee admitted he did some “soul searching” and decided to venture down the path of pop music. While Baylee didn’t see himself making pop music, he’s “very happy” with where he is now.

“It’s definitely different now. It feels different. I feel like the way it’s supposed to,” Baylee told Us.

“So Be It” drops on June 12 on all music streaming platforms.

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