Wabash Native Performs on American Idol

“Holy crapoly.” Those were Katy Perry’s first words when she heard Zachariah Smith audition with John Mellencamp’s song “Hurts So Good”. He was only seconds into his performance when she reacted with such shock. Those few seconds in Season 21 of “American Idol” forever changed Smith’s life.

Smith, a 20-year-old fry cook at Bill’s Burgers in Amory, Mississippi, always had a passion for music. Whether that meant guitar lessons, middle school choir class, or one-on-one vocal sessions, this small-town guy knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

“I always knew the timing would be right someday,” Smith said with a grin. “The little boy that was sitting in the living room watching American Idol would be very, very proud of himself right now, and he is. It’s a dream come true.”

At 6 years old, Smith started to learn how to sing and realized what he wanted to do for the rest of his life: perform. He later joined the community church choir and participated in school talent shows to better understand his voice.

The moment he steps on that stage, he’s no longer Zachariah Smith. He said he transforms into this out-of-body being.

“I’m connected with that other universe,” Smith said. “When I close my eyes and hear the music, I start dancing. I start singing. I get into it. It looks like I get lost in all of it because I am.”

He originally wanted to audition for “American Idol” at 15, hoping to jumpstart his career early. However, Smith realized he needed more time.

Although he decided to train his voice and gain more experience, Nashville eventually called his name on Aug. 3, 2022. And that calling didn’t fall short.

“Go back to Amory. Get your damn apron. Get a little lighter fluid. Burn the apron,” said “American Idol” host Luke Bryan immediately after Smith’s audition. This step-by-step tutorial on how to quit his day job sparked a fire in Smith’s soul.

Living in a small town for all his life, the relationship he built with his current and past community only strengthened since his Idol journey. Although Smith is originally from Wabash, Indiana, he moved to Amory two years ago, right after high school.

For Smith’s family, friends and the Wabash community, “American Idol” has given them a reason to come together and root for their small-town hero.

“Everyone from his hometown absolutely adores him,” said Smith’s wife, Crysta. “It just warmed my heart so much to see how many people truly respected him as an artist and fully support him.”

After Smith’s audition episode aired, he planned a trip home to perform at OJ Neighbors Elementary, Wabash High School and Eagles Theater; all are places he went to as a kid.

While singing covers of Elvis Presley and John Mellencamp songs, Smith realized the amount of support from his community overwhelmed him in the best way possible. That feeling confirmed his decision to pursue music.

“We completely sold out the venue [Eagles],” Smith said in disbelief. “There were people that didn’t even have seats.”

Visiting his hometown stomping grounds connected him to people he hasn’t heard from since his high school days, including prior choir teacher Emily Unger France.

“So excited for this young man and the journey he is on,” France said. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this opportunity.”

However, fans feared his journey might come to an end during the duet round of Hollywood week.

Singing with contestant Isaac Brown, the duo, also known as the Body Roll Boys, sang “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John, only to realize their song choice could be their downfall.

“I was exhausted from crying because I couldn’t get the words down,” Smith said. “It was probably one of the scariest moments. It was tough because I wanted to do this and I knew it could change my life.”

After their attempt to see the next day in the competition, the judges huddled together.

When they decided to send the duo through solely for their stage presence and solid vocals, Smith realized the jump scare was a wakeup call.

“That was probably one of the most embarrassing nights of my life when that episode aired,” Smith said. “But, you know, everybody has a bad break and it shows I’m human. We’re not all perfect.”

From then on, he impresses the judges time and time again, including his show-stopping performance of “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen where Bryan looked to Perry and said Smith “might have just won the damn thing.”

Smith’s mother, after announcing his Hollywood debut, summed up her son’s past and possible future in a Facebook post:

“If the world had only seen him at 6 years old in our living room with his eyes so glued to the TV and his heart longing to be there so bad even at that age to now standing in front of these 3 judges, 13 years later and watching this every year, then you’d understand why he is so excited when they tell him HE IS GOING TO HOLLYWOOD!!! His reaction at that moment hits this momma’s heart because I know how much he loves music, I know how much he LOVES to sing and I know how much he LOVES EVERYONE here in Wabash.”

When both of these communities come together, Smith said there’s nothing like it. The continuous support sends his family over the moon.

As much as Amory loves his company at their local burger joint, it’s clear his spatula and apron are now retired.

“I hope everyone from your hometown has accepted that you’re no longer flipping burgers, you’re flipping the stage,” Perry shouted from her seat after Smith performed in the Top 26 Hawaii special. “You are crazy talented.”

Even though this journey began last fall, it’s far from over. His wife said he wakes up at 6:30 a.m. every day, pours his heart in the studio and then crashes on his hotel bed.

“He has worked so hard for this,” Crysta said. “He is really putting all of himself into this process and I hope America keeps voting him through!”

As he continues his “American Idol” journey in the Top 8, there is no doubt that kids are looking at their tv and saying to themselves ‘I want to be him when I grow up’.