Freddie McClendon put his father’s tragic story into a song.

During his audition on American Idol, the 19-year-old moved judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie with an original song dedicated to his father, Davis McClendon, who was murdered in May 2023.

“I really started doing it seriously about a year ago. My dad passed away,” Freddie said before singing “You Never Loved Him” during the March 23 episode. “My dad was killed about a year ago in May 2023, and it became a national and statewide news story and a lot of things. Everyone was just kinda focusing on his death and I wanted to tell the story of his life.”

Freddie’s father, Davis, was killed in what police initially believed to be a hit-and-run accident. However, in October 2024, William "Bud" Ackerman—the estranged husband of Davis’ girlfriend Meredith Haynie—was sentenced to 45 years in prison after he was found guilty of intentionally hitting Davis with his truck. The story was highly publicized, after being featured on local news and 48 Hours and Court TV.

For Freddie, his song embodied the man behind the sensationalized story.