Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell spoke out in support of his son Baylee Littrell’s time on American Idol, where he attempted to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Brian revealed to Parade that the ABC reality show had been trying to get his son to audition “for a couple of years” before he auditioned for Season 23. But the Backstreet Boys singer revealed that he “didn’t want” his son to try out for the show.

 “It wasn’t [my idea] actually,” Brian said. “To be honest with you, I didn’t want him to do it at first, but they courted him for a couple of years. They were like, ‘Come and audition,’ and he was like, ‘Nah.’ I don’t think he was ready at that time, but he did well.”

Brian praised Baylee’s performance on the show, where the 22-year-old country music singer made it to the Top 20. Unfortunately, Baylee did not receive enough votes to make it past the first live show of the season.

“He stepped up. He’s super professional. He’s just a great individual. He’s just a great person. He has a heart of gold, and he’s super talented,” Brian said of his son.

To say Brian has been supportive may be an understatement. The singer crashed his son’s American Idol audition, where Baylee performed an original song as well as a duet with his father for judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan.

“I believe I get my voice from my dad,” Baylee said in his American Idol audition. “And I hope I can do him justice today.” But Baylee clarified he did not inherit his father’s dance moves.

Brian went on to praise Baylee for making it to the Top 20.

“I get choked up a little bit when I talk about my boy,” he admitted. “He’s just [the] most inspiring thing in my life right now. He inspires me more than anything. Top 20 isn’t a bad thing out of 124,000.”

American Idol is streaming now on Hulu.