Photo: Getty Images, ABC/Eric McCandless
Luke Bryan shared a clip of a country artist’s American Idol audition, including the heartwarming inspiration behind the singer’s original song.
Jon Wayne Hatfield, 21, reflected on his childhood, having “the best life you ever could ask for,” as his grandparents raised him in Goshen, Ohio, located in the southwestern region of the Buckeye State. Hatfield said his grandfather “was always my best friend.”
Hatfield’s grandmother, who was a mom to him, died about three years ago, and “watching my grandpa was the hardest thing,” he shared on American Idol. Hatfield said his grandfather “wouldn’t talk to anybody…not even me,” for about a year and a half after that loss.
“I got mad at myself because I couldn’t fix it,” Hatfield said. “He wasn’t ready, and I understand that. I didn’t see what he was actually going through.
“After about a year and a half of not talking to me, he sat me down and told me he was gay,” Hatfield continued, after his grandfather explained on American Idol that he feared his grandson would stop loving him if he knew the truth (his late wife, whom he met at 16 years old, reacted with compassion, he said). “I just wanted to put it out there right away, like, ‘hey, don’t think that’s gonna change a damn thing between me and you, because you’re my best friend and you’re my dad.’ …After my grandpa came out to me, it really inspired me to write a song called ‘Tell Me Ray.’”
“It turned out that he was there for me more than anybody,” Ray said of his grandson, later calling him his “rock.” “This song means a lot to me. It made me believe more in myself. I love you for that. It’s a big relief to stand here and be proud and say I’m gay and there’s nothing wrong with it.”
Hatfield delivered a soulful rendition of his original song, “Tell Me Ray,” which earned an emotional response from the panel of judges, which includes Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry. Richie even stood to give his handkerchief to Ray
“What I love about being a part of this show is, people come in and bear their souls in front of us, and people at home are maybe dealing with the same stuff, get to realize they’re not alone,” Bryan said, applauding Hatfield’s authentic storytelling and musicianship. “Maybe we’re not on an island on our own.”
Bryan encouraged Hatfield to “keep telling your stories,” as he posted the audition video on his social media channels on Thursday (February 23). “We will see ya in Hollywood.”