‘American Idol’ surprising audition by iconic rock band’s Alabama singer
Great White singer and Alabama native Brett Carlisle on “American Idol” in 2026. (Courtesy Eric McCandless; /American Idol)Eric McCandless; /American Idol
A handful of “American Idol” singers have gone on to become part of famous rock bands. For example, Adam Lambert with Queen. James Durbin with Quiet Riot. Bo Bice with Blood, Sweat & Tears.
A singer already a member of a famous band auditioning for “American Idol” though? That’s an anomaly. And his name is Brett Carlisle.
Since 2022, Carlisle has been the frontman for Great White, the iconic Los Angeles-founded band that scored a top five 1989 smash with “Once Bitten Twice Shy.”
On the new “American Idol” episode broadcast tonight, February 9, Carlisle auditioned.
Backed by founding Great White guitar legend Mark Kendall and Michael Lardie, who’s been with the band since their MTV apex, on piano, Carlisle sang Great White’s classic ballad “House of Broken Love.”
Brett Carlisle of Great White performs during Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)Amy Harris/Invision/AP
Carlisle wowed “Idol” judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. His performance earned a golden ticket to the popular long running TV singing competition’s next round.
The audition took place at Nashville’s Belmont University.
A 28 year old Alabama native and Birmingham resident, Carlisle looks like a young Robert Plant. He sings with Plant-like range, and with feel and soul beyond his years. He’s also genuinely humble and sweet.
Asked what his “Idol” audition was like, he says, “I’ve never been with that many singers at that level before in a room, and it was cool that we all got to nerd out with the time that we had in the waiting rooms and everything else. Some really, really good people, all genres.”
Mark Kendall of Great White performs during Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)Amy Harris/Invision/AP
Carlisle was moved his Great White bandmates flew in from Los Angeles and Las Vegas on their days off to support him at the “Idol” taping. “Mark and Michael are legends,” Carlisle says, “and just to be do it with my guys was really cool. Lionel Richie said that I had a machine behind me. I’m like, I know, they’re awesome.”
Kendall says, “Well, I was personally thrilled for him. But it was such a great experience [on ‘Idol’], and it was so fun. They really did a lot with us. They filmed us all doing interviews, and Brett’s doing interviews, and it was really exciting. It was just a really fun day, long day. Like, 12 hours there from six in the morning till six at night.