Country Singer Colt Glover Takes on Flatt & Scruggs’ 1965 Song “Rock Salt and Nails” on ‘American Idol’

Joined by his friend Jevyn Lester on guitar, Oklahoma-based country singer and student Colt Glover shared a smooth rendition of Flatt & Scruggs’ “Rock Salt and Nails” during the fourth round of auditions on American Idol on March 12.

Prior to his performance, judge Luke Bryan asked the 21-year-singer about his musical journey.

“I was a freshman in college, and one of my buddies came up to me and said, ‘Hey man, you gotta start taking this stuff seriously,” shared Glover. “He was like, ‘Let’s go to a pawn shop and get you a little Washburn guitar, about 100 bucks.”

Following his audition, Katy Perry was the first judge to respond to Glover’s performance. “If we were living in a video simulation, and I picked a character in country music I would pick the guy named Colt Glover,” said Perry, who later predicted the singer would make it to the top 10. “You are the best country singer we have seen so far. You’re my fighter.”

Lionel Richie offered some sage, stage advice to the young singer. “All we have to do in your whole career is to teach you what to do with your hands while you’re singing,” said Richie.

Judge Luke Bryan added, “I’m really happy you’re with us. You’re going to see stuff you never seen out here in Vegas and LA and you’re gonna be on a country boy amusement park rocket ship.”

Decades before Glover’s time, “Rock Salt and Nails” was released in 1965 by the bluegrass duo of singer and guitarist Lester Flatt and banjo player Earl Scruggs (Flatt & Scruggs), who originally formed in 1948.

The duo became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955 and continued performing through 1969 with the Foggy Mountain Boys as their backing band.

It’s one of a number of songs Glover has been sharing on his social media accounts. Already building a small following on social media, Glover has posted covers of songs on his accounts, in addition to some original songs like “Mother Nature.”

Born in Boerne, Texas, Glover currently lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and is set to graduate from Oklahoma State University in 2024.

At the end of his audition, Glover was sent on to Hollywood with three yeses from the judges and later posted a photo with him and fellow AI competitor Trey Louis, who auditioned a week earlier and also made it through in the competition.

“Just two guys from Houston living the dream,” wrote Glover of him and Louis.

Photos by ABC/Eric McCandless