‘Pretty amazing’: Alabama country singer wows Luke Bryan on ‘American Idol’Alabama’s Kutter Bradley performed in the ‘Ohana Round on Season 24 of “American Idol.” Bradley, from Florence, was one of 30 singers competing at Aulani, a Disney resort in Hawaii.(Disney/Eric McCandless)

Morgan Wallen might want to look over his shoulder right now, as a singer from Alabama gains national attention.

Kutter Bradley is moving up the ranks on “American Idol,” during Season 24, with a sound and a vibe that evokes Wallen and other mainstream country-pop stars.

Bradley, 22, a Florence native, made the top 20 this week on the ABC reality series, covering Jason Aldean’s “Amarillo Sky.” Bradley even looked a bit like Wallen during his performance, courtesy of a ballcap, mustache and mullet hairdo.

Bear in mind that Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie didn’t compare Bradley to Wallen on Monday’s episode, which was filmed at Aulani, a Disney resort in Hawaii. But the judges must realize that Bradley would be a natural fit for the contemporary country scene.

“Great song choice for you,” Bryan told Bradley. “And I tell you, rocking overalls in Hawaii, I tell you what, that’s pretty amazing. You really impressed me with where you went vocally. I enjoyed it. Great job.”

Bradley was one of three Alabama singers competing in the ‘Ohana Round, a new phase of the competition. It gives “Idol” hopefuls a chance to perform on an outdoor stage, facing an audience of family and friends, social media celebrities and more.

Bradley fared well on Monday and will move on to sing for viewer votes. Two other contestants from the state were eliminated: Bryant Thomas of Mobile and Kiera Howell of Geneva.

Alabama’s Bryant Thomas performed in the ‘Ohana Round on Season 24 of “American Idol.” Thomas, from Mobile, was one of 30 singers competing at Aulani, a Disney resort in Hawaii.(Disney/Eric McCandless)

Thomas, 26, covered “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac in a gritty, emotional style, but the judges were not impressed.

Like most of the top 30 singers, Thomas had loved ones in the audience in Hawaii, and he dedicated his performance to them. Bryan said, however, that Thomas’ strong feelings in the moment might have led him astray.

“I know talking to your family and telling them how much you love them is emotional,” Bryan said. “We still got to remember: ‘I got a song to deliver, and I got to make sure I’m knocking this thing out start to finish.’ Now, you’re one of my favorite voices, but it got a little screamy, a little bit. So just curve down some of that overly raspy, gravelly stuff.”

“He was trying real hard, and he doesn’t need to,” Underwood said.

Thomas appeared worried after he left the stage, but took the criticism in stride.

“I was trying my hardest to get through this song, and that just wasn’t what the judges were looking for this round,” Thomas said. “I’m glad my dad got to see it because it might have been my last performance.”

Howell, 16, wasn’t featured on Monday’s episode, and her name wasn’t announced when the top 20 singers were revealed. She confirmed via Facebook post that her “Idol” journey had ended, but expressed gratitude for an “unforgettable and amazing experience.”

Now, Bradley remains on “American Idol” as the season’s sole representative from Alabama. He offered a glimpse into his background on Monday, detailing some of the jobs he’s held. (Bradley is identified as a “fire protection inspector” when he’s performing on screen.)

“I used to be a welder and a machinist, so I went to college for that,” Bradley said. “I’ve worked many jobs, from carpentry, welding, to construction. But music, ever since I did music, something was just poking at me like, I gotta see how far I could take it.”

Bradley also dedicated his performance of “Amarillo Sky” to his parents, saying they provided him with a positive work ethic.

“It’s a song about hard work, dedicated it to my parents right here, ‘cause they showed me what hard work is,” Bradley said on stage. “And it’s rubbed off on me, ‘cause I’m hard working for my dreams right now.”

Alabama’s Kutter Bradley traveled to Hawaii to compete as one of the top 30 singers on Season 24 of “American Idol.”(Disney/Chloe Rice)

Next up: Bradley and other singers in the top 20 will perform again in Hawaii, this time courting votes from the TV audience. Brad Paisley and Keke Palmer will mentor the contestants during episodes that were filmed in advance. It’s unclear how many singers will be eliminated in this round. However, two more episodes in Hawaii are on the agenda, airing March 16 and 23.