Braden Rumfelt Delivered A Powerful Performance During The Season 24 “Songs Of Faith” Episode Of ‘Idol’
For the second year in a row, American Idol had a week dedicated to Songs of Faith, and the Season 24 episode, which aired on Monday, March 30, saw a powerful performance of a song that has come over the past year to exemplify a perceived rise in Christian faith in America.
Braden Rumfelt took on the challenge of singing Christian artist Brandon Lake’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
Notably, the crossover hit has become best known as a duet, as Lake re-released “Hard Fought Hallelujah” as a collaboration with Jelly Roll, furthering the song’s grand vision of perseverance amid earthly struggle.
As a solo performer, the stakes were high, but Braden delivered a captivating performance of the ballad that inspired viewers and had the judges commending his talents.
Learn more about Braden’s personal struggles, and watch his moving rendition of “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” below…
RELATED: 6 Contestants Sent Home During ‘American Idol’ Songs Of Faith Episode
Watch Braden Rumfelt Perform “Hard Fought Hallelujah”
Sporting a sage double-breasted blazer, Braden was one of the best dressed contestants of the night, but, most importantly, he sang with confidence as he channeled his past into the relatable lyrics of “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
During his interview ahead of his audition to compete on Season 24 of American Idol, the 22-year-old singer from Murphy, North Carolina, opened up about how his life took a turn that led him to pursue singing.
He and his twin brother, Kellen, were on a path toward success as baseball players, but Braden recalled, “Unfortunately, going into high school, I was starting to have knee pain in both of my legs. Then I found out that I have a congenital issue: my legs are naturally in the wrong position.”
To address this, he needed surgery and underwent two lower leg realignments, which he said “put a stop to the dreams of becoming an athlete. It was tough seeing everybody be able to get to do what I wanted to do.”
Then Braden had an epiphany, saying, “As I’m hurt, it kind of hit me, like, ‘I feel better when I am singing.'”
Through this, his twin brother has still had his back, serving as “a voice of encouragement,” Braden said before noting, “The only reason that I hadn’t signed up for American Idol was because I was scared. This is my dream. I didn’t know that I would get, like, a chance like this, so this is really awesome.”
While he comes from a family of singers and musicians, who have often performed at church together, we learned during the March 30 Songs of Faith episode of Idol that Braden competing on Season 24 is largely thanks to his “buddies at church” who submitted his name for consideration.
After his performance of “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” Idol judge and alumna Carrie Underwood said, “You are here because you have an incredible voice. Like, hands down, you showed it off.”
She added, “I felt like, as the song progressed, we just felt that building and felt you going for more stuff — you’re here because you should be, you deserve to be. It was great.”
Idol judge Luke Bryan encouraged Braden to not “let the moment overwhelm” him, saying he felt Braden may have gotten nervous by the song’s scale.
Similarly, Idol judge Lionel Richie said, “Don’t let it freak you out. Listen, let me tell you something, you’ve got the tools. All you need to do now is step into the light. You’ve got it, OK?”
Of course, the big surprise at the end of the March 30 broadcast was that there was no elimination as the show’s producers wanted to ensure the accuracy of votes cast with the newly instated social media approach to casting votes.
For now, Braden and the other Top 14 contestants, patiently await the results which will be revealed at the April 6 episode.
Watch Braden Rumfelt’s performance of “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” here:
Watch Braden tell his story of finding his dream as a singer, here:
RELATED: Braden Rumfelt Brings Judges To Their Feet With Jaw Dropping Hollywood Week Performance