Every now and then, a certain song emerges that truly touches people who have gone through an addiction struggle. It definitely requires the perfect balance of vocals, instrumentation and lyrics to do the trick and there is no doubt that Demi Lovato’s “Sober” has made that mark for a new generation of recovering Americans. In fact, it recently went viral again thanks to a notable appearance on American Idol.
Contestant Logan Johnson made the latest headlines with his rendition of the song in front of judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
Belting out powerful lines like “Wake me up when myself has reappeared,” Johnson truly encapsulated the painful emotions of addiction. And, as he openly admitted on the show, he too has a personal connection to the song. Just eight months ago, he was battling a crippling opioid dependency in his home town of Boise.
But, just like the title of the song, Johnson successfully entered treatment and beat his addiction. He told the judges that hopes to inspire and advocate for others through his music.
“Growing up, music was everything to me, but the path to get there wasn’t always an easy one,” the 20-year-old guitarist explained. “Unfortunately, I really got into painkillers.”
He added that the struggle took a tremendous toll on his family, partially because his brother became dependent on opioids as well. Now, however, Johnson’s parents and siblings were fully united in the Idol crowd to support Logan’s journey.
His mom, Nanette, also spoke out on behalf of families battling addiction. “I don’t think most people, unless they’re living with addiction in their family,” she added. “I don’t think they know how hard it is.”
The happy ending occurred when Katy, Lionel and Luke all unanimously voted to move Logan along. Perry, in particular, offered words loving support.
“One day at a time,” Perry told Johnson in front of a roaring crowd. “Congratulations. You’ve worked really hard and you should be proud of your clarity that you’ve given yourself. You’ve earned this.”
Logan’s journey actually became so inspirational that Idol producers have begun sharing his “Sober” performance on YouTube. As of this month, Johnson’s video has received over 1.2 million views and hundreds of encouraging comments.
You can watch Logan’s live “Sober rendition (and a bit of his backstory) in the clip below…
