American Idol finalist Trent Harmon will perform Justin Timberlake's lone country single "Drink You Away" during Thursday night's episode (Fox, 8PM ET). It's a first in many ways for the show, mentor Scott Borchetta says.
“It’s the first time Justin ever cleared a song for the show, so pretty proud that he stepped up and did a solid, and Trent crushes that,” Borchetta — president of Big Machine Label Group — tells Taste of Country.
Timberlake released "Drink You Away" as a single shortly after he performed the song with Chris Stapleton at the 2015 CMA Awards. It did not receive significant airplay, barely cracking the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Timberlake put the song on his 2013 album The 20/20 Experience.
Borchetta chose "Drink You Away" for Harmon, a frontrunner to win Season 15 of American Idol. This week, contestants will perform one song he picked, one the judges pick and one inspired by his or her hometown. The field of four will be narrowed to three by the end of the broadcast. Next week's two-part finale will be the final two episodes of American Idol ever.
Thursday night's show is sentimental for the crew of the hit reality show, as it's the last at CBS Television City. Borchetta said it has been emotional.
Borchetta's other picks for the finalists are Lorraine Ellison's "Stay With Me" for La'Porsha Renae. Dalton Rapattoni will sing Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" and Mackenzie Bourg will sing Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon."