Drake McCain get a Gold Ticket tonight to appear on American Idol.  Drake sang for judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.  All the judges were very impressed by young Drakes voice and performance.  Drake now moves on to American Idol competition.  Congratulations Drake.

Drake McCain Taylor — who goes by Drake McCain as his stage name — will sing “Knocks Me Off My Feet” by Stevie Wonder and the gospel hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” before “Idol” judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry.

Drake, 17, is a member of the 2019 class of Rhea County High School, where he sings in the high school chorus. He is the son of Courtney Swafford and Courtney Taylor — yes, both parents have the same first name.

“I’ve been singing since I was 5,” he says, “but I started singing in public at 8 when I had my first solo in chorus. I sang all the time growing up in church, and ‘Shackles’ by Mary Mary was the first song I sang for church. I knew I was meant for the stage.”

But the teen admits he “kind of gave up music” in middle school for other interests. He recalls he sang the national anthem during his sophomore year at various events, but it wasn’t until his friend Abigail Corvin began encouraging him to sing during their junior year in high school that he seriously became focused on music again. He taught himself to play piano.