W.T. Thompson Begs ‘American Idol’ Judges With Little Big Town’s ‘Boondocks’

W.T. Thompson put the more on the line to be at the 'American Idol' auditions than any other contestant. With a wife in her second trimester of pregnancy, Thompson quit his job because they wouldn't give him time off. The Appomatax, Va. native chose Little Big Town's 'Boondocks' as his audition song, but didn't exactly nail it -- though that didn't stop him from making it to Hollywood.

Judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez split votes with a yes and a no, leaving Randy Jackson with a difficult choice. "I hear your voice, but I'm not sure if you're ready to be an 'American Idol'," Tyler noted. Lopez, on the other hand, was taken by his story and argued that the 25-year-old had the star-sparkle judges look for.

Thompson, with help from Ryan Seacrest, tricked viewers into thinking that the dad-to-be was being sent home without his golden ticket. The host consoled him on the way out of the audition room, before finally handing him his ride to Hollywood in front of his wife and family. They screamed, and he bent down to kiss his his unborn baby. After running through the waiting room, Thompson left the set happy that he took such a big chance with a not-so-Little Big Town tune.

Watch W.T. Thompson Perform Little Big Town's 'Boondocks'