When 25-year-old Hunter Price from Georgia stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage with his guitar, he seemed confident enough. Having started singing at age 18 after his mother entered him into a local karaoke contest, Hunter decided to perform a cover of Bryan Adams’ classic, “Everything I Do (I Do It For You).”
However, just a few lines into the ballad, Simon Cowell abruptly put his hand up and stopped the music—leaving the entire theater in dead silence.
From Generic Cover to Heartfelt Original
Simon didn’t hold back, calling the cover generic and sounding “like a karaoke competition.” He challenged Hunter to ditch the cover tracks and show who he really was as an artist.
Taking a massive risk in front of millions, Hunter agreed to switch gears and perform his own original song, “Left Behind.”
The shift was immediate:
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Authentic Songwriting: Hunter strummed his guitar and delivered a raw, country-infused story about love, sacrifice, and longing.
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Stripped-Back Vocal Power: Stripping away the karaoke polish revealed a rich, genuine tone with real emotional depth.
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A Heartbreaking Backstory: Prompted by Simon to drop the rehearsed line about making people forget their problems, Hunter opened up about surviving on his own since age 18 and facing periods where he couldn’t afford to eat.
The Judges’ Split Decision
The original track sparked a heated debate on the judging panel:
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Howie Mandel voted “No,” arguing that Hunter was still too closed off emotionally for America to connect with him.
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Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough praised the songwriting and gave him two enthusiastic “Yes” votes.
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Simon Cowell admitted Hunter was overthinking his performance but acknowledged his genuine songwriting gift, taking a “leap of faith” to give him the crucial third “Yes.”
The Verdict
By taking Simon’s harsh advice, dropping the cover routine, and revealing his true story, Hunter Price turned a potential elimination into a second chance at stardom, advancing to the next round with three “Yes” votes!
