American Idol: McClendon's Son Honors Father Killed in Hit-and-Run

Freddie McClendon, a 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Greenwood, South Carolina, auditioned for American Idol with an original song dedicated to his late father, Davis McClendon, who was killed in a May 7, 2023 hit-and-run incident. The performance aired on March 23, 2025.

Davis McClendon's death was ruled a homicide after he was found crushed between two vehicles. Freddie McClendon's audition featured his original song, "You Never Loved Him," which he wrote after his father's death. His mother and sisters accompanied him to the audition.

The performance moved judges Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan, with Bryan calling Freddie a 'modern-day Paul Simon'. McClendon received a golden ticket to Hollywood.