CCM Spotlight: Baylee Littrell
The first time I connected with Baylee Littrell, it was through a Zoom screen. He was in the studio recording a raw, trembling new song called “Hey Jesus,” and I caught him in that brief post–American Idol window where the lights had faded but the journey was only beginning. Months later, I saw him live in a Nashville club, leading a full band through a set that jumped from love songs to party anthems and even a soul-soaked cover of “Tennessee Whiskey.” At the merch table, fans weren’t just picking up T-shirts, they were greeted with prayer books, a detail that said as much about Baylee as the music itself. He’s no reality-show novelty; he’s an artist with depth, conviction, and something to say. That night I also met his parents. Baylee joked that his dad is the bus driver and roadie, while his mom runs the show as manager.
It wasn’t just a sweet line. You could feel how strong that family bond really was. His dad, Brian Littrell, may always be known as a Backstreet Boy, but in this setting he was literally hauling gear and helping his son get ready to play. And right beside him, Leighanne Littrell was clearly the engine in the room, managing, troubleshooting, and keeping everything on track.
Baylee’s story starts early. “I’ve been really doing this for a long time, in a way, kind of my whole life. I started super, super young, but, I got my my first big taste of the business at 13. I was on Broadway in New York.” At thirteen, most kids are worrying about homework and braces. Baylee was stepping onto a Broadway stage in Disaster!, already testing the waters of show business. And by then, of course, music was in his blood. “It’s super cool to be able to have that experience of growing up and seeing, your parent and your idol do what you want to do in life”.
When American Idol came calling, Baylee knew it wasn’t a guaranteed win, it was a test of authenticity. “I had the chance to go on American Idol and audition. And to tell you the truth, I was absolutely terrified. I had no idea what was going to come of it. And I was I was nervous to get up there and sing, but I thought if if I was going to do this, I had to play original songs and, and try to be my own person”. Against the advice of industry insiders, Baylee chose to perform “Hey Jesus.” It wasn’t a safe choice. It wasn’t a pop cover that would make the judges smile. It was a prayer that poured out of him in minutes when his faith felt like it was slipping away. “I literally looked up to the ceiling… and I said God, what can I do to believe? Please show me the way. And, I’m sitting there writing a song, and all of a sudden it just kind of stopped and I felt something come forward and say, write one for me”. What emerged was a song about survival, belief, and the decision to believe even in doubt.
One of Baylee’s greatest gifts, and struggles, is his refusal to stay in one lane. “I feel that’s that’s my goal is to blend all genres and, I love music so deeply that it’s so hard to to see one lane and pick it and go for it. I’m torn all the time. One week I’m going to make this record, and one week I’m going to make this record, and I’m like, why can’t I just make all of them, at the same time?”. That restless creativity might scare some industry executives who like neat boxes. But it’s exactly what makes Baylee interesting. He can play country with the best of them, write faith songs that feel like modern hymns, and still nod toward the grit of rock ’n’ roll. And in today’s landscape—where Jelly Roll wins Dove Awards with Brandon Lake, maybe “picking a lane” isn’t necessary at all.
The deeper I sat with Baylee, the more it became clear: faith isn’t a marketing angle, it’s his anchor. “It’s reorganizing your priorities, realizing what’s important and what comes first.”. He doesn’t talk like someone trying to play Christian artist when convenient. He talks like someone who knows the struggle, who has doubted and found his way back, who writes songs not to fit a format but to survive the night.
The road ahead is still forming. “I’ve been in the studio pretty much since the beginning of the year. Just trying different things, recording different songs… by spring or summertime [ of 2026] I’ll have a have an album ready to go.”
For the son of one of the most famous pop stars of all time, Baylee’s path isn’t about coattail riding or reliving someone else’s glory. It’s about building something honest, messy, beautiful, and deeply his own. His voice could be considered country-gold, his lyrics cut like a songwriter twice his age, and his faith makes it all worth paying attention to. The kid who once stared at a painted sky ceiling and begged God for answers is still asking the big questions. And with every song, he’s letting us hear the answers unfold.
