From the baseball field to Hollywood, Jayson Arendt scores a Golden Ticket on American Idol

Texas baseball fans might know No. 3 Jayson Arendt for his high-energy presence and crowd-pleasing antics as part of the Texas Tailgaters.

Though originally from North Carolina, Arendt has become a familiar face at games, helping bring an entertainment-first, Savannah Bananas-style atmosphere to the ballpark. Now, he’s taking that same charisma beyond baseball by auditioning for the latest season of “American Idol.”

The iconic singing competition series premiered in 2002, with contestants competing for a $250,000 cash prize and a recording contract with Hollywood Records/19 Recordings.

This season’s judging panel features Season 4 winner and eight-time Grammy Award-winning Carrie Underwood, five-time Entertainer of the Year winner Luke Bryan, and four-time Grammy Award winner Lionel Richie. Ryan Seacrest, the show’s original host, has led the series since its debut.

Arendt’s audition immediately stood out. He entered the room alongside his fellow Texas Tailgaters to the song “Cotton Eye Joe,” leaving the judges visibly confused.

“What’s happening?” Underwood asked.

The team danced into the room as Arendt handed Texas Tailgaters jerseys to each of the judges. Before the audition even began, the group lined up for a line dance and showed Bryan a move or two.

“We’re all best friends, we all get along—it’s great,” Arendt said during the episode, referencing his teammates. “I actually got into this as a singer. Outside of the games, we put on concerts. The whole point is just to keep fans engaged the entire time and make sure they’re having fun.”

Underwood even put on one of the jerseys during Arendt’s audition.

The 24-year-old performed “Fire Away” by Chris Stapleton on the Season 24 premiere. Afterward, Bryan joked, “I want a team!” referencing the Tailgaters cheering loudly, waving their arms in support throughout the performance.

“You’ve got a nice voice — you’ve got a distinguishable voice,” Richie said. “And we don’t have anything like that yet.” Underwood and Bryan also offered Arendt tips on how to further develop his vocal skills.

With all three judges voting yes, Arendt earned a Golden Ticket to Hollywood. The team celebrated with a dance party, with Bryan joining in and busting a move alongside them.

Texas stops 2026

“American Idol” airs Mondays on ABC, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.