Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon Slays 'Time After Time' Duet With Broadway Star

Fan favorite openly gay American Idol contestant Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon got the chance of a lifetime this week — and crushed it.

All contestants were paired with a professional singer in the latest episode, for the duet round. Harmon was paired with The Color Purple star Cynthia Erivo, and together they sang a flawless rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.”

“When I first heard his voice, I was like, oh, this is special,” Erivo said of the contestant “It all floats out of him. You can give him the highest note and it doesn’t feel like he has to try at all to reach it.”

Harmon grabbed everyone's attention from his very first audition, where he blew the judges away with an original song and talked about how difficult it’s been for him coming out as gay as a pastor’s son.

“It wasn’t always easy growing up as a pastor’s kid,” he said. “I felt a sense of there are certain parts of me that do belong and there are certain parts of me that don’t belong.”

Harmon has impressed every step of the way so far, and hopes to continue to be an inspiration with not only his voice, but his story as well, particularly to any young LGBTQ people watching.

“I’m doing this for everyone who has been outcast by their loved ones,” he said. “If I can be open about it and vulnerable, then maybe that can bring hope to somebody else.”