Here is a sweet story. Remember Hunter Metts sister? She came with him to his American Idol audition as moral support, and her backstory involved giving up a job with Disney so Hunter could join the show.
Right about now, Mattie Metts is probably very happy she gave up that job. Not only did her brother make it all the way to the Top 7 on the show, but she found herself a boyfriend.
On their Instagram earlier this week, Top 16 contestant Graham DeFranco and Mattie Metts made it official. They are dating.
The series of photos posted to their accounts are pretty cute.
“Don’t worry,” writes Graham. “These photos get progressively sweeter.” And indeed, the six photos begin with goofy poses and end with the couple embracing. Now we know that Graham watching American Idol with the Metts family the after he was eliminated was not at all random.
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And of course, a bunch of fellow season 19 contestants weigh in on the news:
Wyatt Pike: this here is quality content
Ren Patrick: She’s so pretty
Abby Lebaron: Cute relationship sales after this
The Rockwell Texas pilot sang “Part One” by Band of Horses for his audition, and the judges each gave him a yes. One of Graham’s best performance of the competition, however, was a bluesey cover of Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life” at the Top 16. He was eliminated at the Top 12, after singing Jason Isbell “Cover Me Up” for the Wildcard the following night.
At Hunter’s audition, he shared with the judges that he auditioned for American Idol twice before. The first time, he got as far as the producers round. But when they learned his sister worked for ABC’s parent company Disney, they turned him away. The eligibility requirements to participate in the show state: “As of June 1, 2021 and continuing through the completion of the competition, neither you nor any of your immediate family members or members of your household (whether related or not), may be an employee, officer or director (excluding interns or other short-term independent contractors) of…” And then the paragraph goes on to list a whole slew of entities, including 19 Entertainment, Disney, Fremantle, ABC etc.
After Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan give Hunter his ticket to Hollywood, host Ryan Seacrest ushers Mattie into the room to join the celebration.
