Luke Bryan and his fellow American Idol judges stood up and danced when a contestant donned a cowboy hat and covered “That’s My Kind of Night” on Sunday (April 13).

Victor Solomon, 26, a fast food director from Peoria, Illinois, has captivated the celebrity judges since his soulful rendition of another judge’s ballad, Lionel Richie’s “Hello.” Solomon took the stage with an unexpected cover of the electrifying country anthem Bryan released in 2013 on his fourth studio record, Crash My Party. That record also included the title track, “Roller Coaster,” “Drink A Beer” and more.

“I gotta retire the song, Lionel,” Bryan said after Solomon’s performance. “That’s what this show’s about: surprise. I could’ve guessed someone doing my song, 24 people doing it, and I wouldn’t have guessed you. But that’s what made it special. The little nuances of the arrangement, the thoughts behind that that made it ‘you,’ and fresh, and you can truly outdone me. I’m super honored. You did a great job. Awesome.”

Richie also applauded Solomon for his “amazing” performance, and Carrie Underwood — who is serving as a judge for the first time 20 years after she won the show in 2005 — said the Idol contestant fits “every genre of music.” Longtime Idol host Ryan Seacrest pointed out that Bryan is touring this summer, and asked Solomon to teach the country star some new dance moves. The crowd cheered and first-ever artist in residence Jelly Roll laughed as Bryan joined Solomon stage.

Bryan is playing the first-ever West Coast stops on his annual “Farm Tour” next month. He’ll perform in the Midwest on the “Farm Tour” this fall. In between, he’s hitting the road on his headlining “Country Song Came On Tour” with up-and-coming artists on select dates, including George Birge, Avery Anna, Ashland Craft, Mae Estes, Cole Goodwin, Braxton Keith, Randall King, Vincent Mason, Drake Milligan, Adrien Nunez and Owen Riegling. DJ Rock will join all shows, per a previously-issued press release. See those tour dates below, and watch Solomon cover Bryan’s 2013 single here:

On-Air Schedule

LeeAnn Sommers