A 17-year-old aspiring preacher from Texas brought the house down—and gave glory to God—during a powerful audition on American Idol, which aired Sunday night on ABC.

Canaan Hill, a teenager from Dallas, stunned judges with a soul-stirring rendition of the gospel anthem “I Need Your Glory” by Earnest Pugh. The moment wasn’t just about showcasing his vocal talent—it was a bold testimony of faith and calling.

“I actually graduated early,” Hill shared before his audition. “I’m getting into preaching soon. I did it so that I could go forth with my gift and do what God has called me and chosen me to do.”

And with that, he stepped behind the microphone and delivered a performance that had judges speechless—and worshipful.

Lionel Richie was the first to respond, walking up to Hill and placing a hand on his shoulder. “Would you do that again?” Richie asked, visibly moved. “That was powerful.”

Hill humbly replied, “Thank you so much. To God be the glory.”

Richie, clearly impacted, added, “You have been so blessed. That was something so spectacular.”

Judge Carrie Underwood, herself a devout Christian and former Idol winner, called Hill’s voice “velvet” and “butter.”

“It was smooth but powerful,” she said. “You have a gift. Thank you for bringing your gift to us.”

As Luke Bryan added his thoughts—humorously asking if people “run to the baptism pit” when Hill sings at church—Richie could be seen in the background joyfully pacing and chanting “Hallelujah!”

In a unanimous vote, the judges gave Hill their approval to move forward—and then took it a step further. While most contestants received a golden ticket, Hill received the coveted platinum ticket, an honor reserved for only three contestants each season.

“It means you can bypass the first round of Hollywood and sit back and watch all the people you’re going to slay,” Richie said. “I present this to you from the heavens above.”

Underwood emphasized just how rare this opportunity is. “There’s only three of these that go out.”

As the competition moves into “Hollywood Week,” where the field will be dramatically narrowed down, Hill is already a standout. Only 24 contestants will advance to the live shows at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii, airing April 13 and 14.