Fritz Hager from Tyler, Texas describes his dull day job–sitting in a room watching security cameras. It’s not a thing he wants to do for the rest of his life.
He’s been watching American Idol since the 21 year old was a kid. Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips is his biggest inspiration. “I loved his sound and the way he played guitar,” says Fritz. “He inspired me to play guitar.” He added, “I always wanted to be where he was.”
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Before he hits the audition room to sing for judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, Fritz receives a special message from his hero, Phillip. “Good luck,” says Phillip. “Do what you do, have fun and let’s rock it.”
“To even have the opportunity to be on the same stage as Phillip Phillips was on is mind blowing to me,” Fritz exclaims.
Fritz sings “Before You Go” by Lewis Capaldi in front of the judges, as he plays the guitar. Just like Phillip, he’s decked out in plaid.
“The chorus was pretty good,” says Katy afterward. However, she adds, “I was not in until the chorus. I need you to find who you are as an artist in the first verse. Keep us…locked in from the first note. You may have the ability to do that.”
Katy thinks Fritz is the kind of person who will sharpen once he’s around other singers. “I think you deserve a shot. It’s a yes.”
However, Luke thinks Fritz has a “little more growth” ahead of him. He notes that Lewis Capaldi is a “tough one” adding “I wouldn’t know how to start singing a Lewis Capaldi song.” He says NO.
Fritz needs a second yes!
Lionel believes that Fritz’s attitude is right. And he agrees with Katy. It’s a yes for Lionel. Two yeses, and Fritz is going to Hollywood! He’ll have to content himself with meeting alums David Cook, Ruben Studdard, Jordin Sparks and Lauren Alaina once he is there.
American Idol Auditions 4 airs Sunday on ABC March 20 at 8 pm. The last audition episode airs on Monday March 21.
Fritz began songwriting when he first picked up a guitar
“I’ve been writing songs ever since I picked up a guitar,” Fritz told the TylerPaper. “The day after my first guitar lesson, I learned my first four chords, and then I wrote my first song.”
Writing songs is like therapy, he said. “For me, it’s for my mental health,” he said. “So I write to work through emotions and feelings that I can’t really come to terms with yet, and I’m hoping that other people will be able to relate with it.”
“When COVID hit was when I really started focusing more on my music, like who I am as an artist,” Hager said. “I was really able to figure that out.”
