Hi.
That was your new single, which is doing very, very well.
20,000 Kisses.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much.
As Katie said--
Katie told you how many people love you and come up to her all
the time, and I'm one of those people who told
Katie how much I loved you.
So I just-- I'm a fan.
I think you're just-- you're charming.
You have a great stage presence, beautiful voice,
and I was sad to see you go.
Thank you so much.
Yeah.
You're really-- Yeah I think you have a future for sure.
Thank you.
How have you been since you left?
It's been amazing.
To come home and to get some time
with your family, and then--
what you dream of with "Idol" is opportunities like this.
And so, to come home and get a call like this--
or to come home and finally use the launch pad of "American
Idol" has been amazing.
And yeah, it's been great.
Well music has been in your life since you were a kid, right?
Yeah, so both my parents individually moved to Nashville
to pursue music, and long story, short--
from when I was early in high school,
my dad was in and out of jobs a lot
because it was when the streaming took off, and iTunes
kind of took off, so it was really, really difficult
in those adolescent, developmental years for me
to justify why I should pursue such a crazy dream.
So I didn't want that for my family.
I ended up going to coding school after high school,
did software stuff.
And then it kind of just got to the point
where it ate at me all the time.
And it was like, if I'm going to do this,
this is going to be my time to do it.
So I did it.
Yeah, well, good for you, because you got to do what
makes you happy.
I mean, I understand having to make money,
and it is it's a scary business.
You just never know, because there
are a lot of talented people out there that never make it,
but you've got to at least go for it
and try it-- because you got this one shot at doing
something you love in life.
So, and your sister quit her job so that you could be on--
explain this.
Yeah, so it's like another hurdle,
but I originally tried to go on the show,
and my sister was a character at Disney World.
So if you don't know, Disney owns ABC, ABC runs "Idol."
And so I was unable to participate
because it was a conflict of interest,
where it's like a really weird thing they
don't run into it often.
But since she was actively working,
someone could take it as like a competitive advantage
or like I said that conflict of interest.
And so they called me.
I had the ticket and my number and everything ready to go,
and then they called me--
like sorry man.
We can't have you come on.
And so that was a bummer, but it all happened for a reason,
and I'm here now.
So
Well, and she quit, so--
Yeah, she did quit.
--so when you make it, you owe her big time.
- Yeah, absolutely.
During one of your performances, you
messed up one of the lines, which
was not a big deal and everyone kept trying to reassure you.
You broke down.
You were really emotional.
You were crying, and they kept saying that is OK,
and it's great that you're emotional.
But I'm sure when you're exhausted,
and there's so much energy, and so much hype,
it adds to the emotion.
But you really--
I hope you know that was a beautiful moment when
you broke down.
There's nothing wrong with messing up, number one,
and there's nothing wrong with being emotional.
Thank you so much.
But just in that moment, man, it was intense for me.
And coming off the show and the support has been amazing.
Yeah, well it just goes to show you
that whatever's happening in the moment is never really as big.
It's just on you at that time.
All right, you're going to sing for us, right?
Yeah.
All right, you're singing Bon Iver.
- Yeah, "Skinny Love."
All right, thanks.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) Come on, skinny love, just last the year.
Poor a little salt, we were never here, my, my, my, my,
my my, my, my.
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer.
Told my love to wreck it all, Cut off all the ropes
and let me fall, oh my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my.
Right at the moment, this order's tall.
And I told you to be patient.
And I told you to be kind.
And I told you to be balanced.
And I told you to be fine.
And In the morning, I'll be with you,
but it'll be a different kind.
Still be holding all the tickets,
and I'll be holding the fines, whoa.
Won't you come on skinny love?
Oh won't you come on skinny love.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Such a great song.
Season finale of "American Idol" airs this Sunday on ABC.
Hunter's new single 20,000 Kisses
is available everywhere music is sold, we'll be back.