Arts & Entertainment
Paramus Native Jake Thistle Wows Judges In Hawaii Round Of 'American Idol': How To Watch
Young Bergen County musician Jake Thistle performed an original song on the latest round of "American Idol." Watch it here.
NORTH JERSEY, NJ — After performing Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home" on American Idol last month, Paramus native and recent Rutgers graduate Jake Thistle appeared on the program again this week, this time performing an original song.
After he crooned "Sleep On Me" on Monday night's episode in Hawaii, the judges sent him to the next round.
"All right, Jake, so you know you took a big chance," said judge Lionel Richie. "But as a songwriter to a songwriter, you did well."
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"It's like watching a young Bruce Springsteen...meets Paul Simon...Bob Dylan...." said the other judges.
The young musician had told Patch in an interview last month that he was three years old when Tom Petty's Super Bowl halftime show made him want to be a musician.
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He has performed his blend of classic rock and modern pop around the Garden State since he was 9 years old.
He appeared last month before judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan, who sent him to "Hollywood Week" with other musical successes.
This week, he appeared with the top 30 contestants in the Ohana, Hawaii round.
After being praised for his original song, he'll be among 20 performers moving on to the next round.
The new episode aired Monday night at 8 p.m. on ABC, and will stream starting Tuesday on Hulu.
"Been an honor to hang with the American Idol crew in Hawaii!" Thistle wrote on social media on Sunday. "Get ready to tune in tomorrow to see the Ohana round and me with a ton of sun block in my eyes."
Background
Thistle graduated from Paramus High School in 2022, released two singles in 2023, performed around the country, and graduated from Rutgers in January (he'll walk at graduation in May).
Thistle started playing gigs a few weeks before his 10th birthday, he told Patch, when a family friend suggested he try out an open mic at Mama’s Café Baci in Hackettstown.
While studying at Rutgers, Thistle kept playing shows, and especially enjoyed performing in Asbury Park. But "Idol" is bring his biggest audience yet.
Read our interview and a recap of Thistle's first appearance here:
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