Richard W. Rodriguez
Cash Byers just couldn’t crack the “American Idol” code. For over a decade, the Fort Worth-based musician made auditioning for the singing competition an annual tradition. He’d line up in city after city — Houston, Austin, Dallas — and brave the endless cattle-call auditions that break most hopefuls long before they get to sing for the celebrity judges.
Ten tries. No dice.
Then, in Nashville, came attempt No. 11 — his last shot before aging out of the competition (once one hits the 30-year mark, they’re over the hill in the eyes of the pop industry).
After surviving the initial flurry of eliminations— when tens of thousands are sent home packing — and testing his pipes with the show’s producers, he’d finally make it to the nerve-racking round of having to belt a tune, accompanied only by his acoustic guitar, in front of three industry icons: Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood. We suspect you might’ve heard of them.
“I went in with no expectations,” Byers says. “Just thought, ‘This is it, last shot, whatever happens, happens.’”
At 29, Byers is far from your typical “Idol.” Most contestants are bright-eyed, barely-out-of-college dreamers banking on a quick break into pop stardom. Byers, on the other hand, has wrangled horses in the wilds of New Mexico and spent time working as an EMT, witnessing people “on their worst days.” But for the past six years, he’s been a full-time musician, looking for his big break by hustling for gigs and playing honky-tonks with his band, Big Valley. Name a stage in the metroplex, and they’ve likely graced it with their blend of Texas country, Western swing, and down-and-dirty blues. And with a large 6-foot-3-inch frame, long red hair permanently covered by a cowboy hat, and an earnest yet husky voice that reveals its fair share of life experiences, Byers is all at once hardened and boyish.
Though far from a prepackaged pop star, he no doubt has the kind of presence that gets one noticed. And in this era of country Western revivalism, where life-long New Yorkers are picking up the two-step, it’s a presence that could send him to Hollywood.
Richard W. Rodriguez
When Byers advanced to the room of celebrity judges and a cadre of cameras, producers wanted him to sing accompanied by their pianist, to which Cash replied, “It’ll be a cold day in hell if I ever perform without my guitar in hand.”
A gutsy call, but the strategy would pay off.
He’d play “Hey Driver” by Zach Bryan and, in a true testament of perseverance, the 11th time was the charm. Each of the judges would say “yes,” and Byers punched his golden ticket to the next round in Hollywood.
Ultimately, Byers’ hope was to end the Lone Star State’s long dry spell when it comes to producing “Idol” winners. No Fort Worthian would dare forget hometown gal Kelly Clarkson’s first season win in 2002, but one might be shocked to learn that no Texan has taken home first-place honors since.
Even in its 23rd season, and despite a two-year hiatus as the show switched networks, “American Idol” remains a show woven into the fabric of the nation’s pop culture. The show didn’t invent the singing competition, but it has been labeled “the most impactful show in the history of television.” And it’s a launchpad for singers, whether on stage or in the shower, who might otherwise never have a shot at stardom. While winning matters — it comes with a record deal and priceless national exposure — one doesn’t have to finish first place to experience success in the industry. Lainey Wilson, Kane Brown, Colbie Caillat, and Mickey Guyton have all carried out successful music careers despite not even cracking the top 24 when they auditioned for the show.
Richard W. Rodriguez
“It’s an opportunity. It’s a doorway,” Byers says about “American Idol.” “And sometimes that door is heavy and hard to pull, but if you pull hard enough, it’ll open. And once you step through, you don’t know what’s on the other side. It may be better; it may be worse.”
Despite his leap into being a full-time musician, Byers didn’t grow up believing music could be a real career — his dad made that clear early on. But such cynicism didn’t stop Byers from regularly watching contestants on “Idol” and thinking, “I can do that.” Ironically, his love for music took hold when his dad introduced him to Texas singer-songwriters, sparking a desire to learn chords and play for an audience. Having an old guitar from his grandfather, his first serious attempt learning the instrument came during a particularly harsh high school grounding — thanks again, dad. With nothing but “The Hobbit” and the dusty guitar for entertainment, he chose the guitar.
Today, his repertoire spans over 100 tunes, from classic hits to modern chart-toppers, and together with Big Valley, he’s released a dozen original songs on Spotify. Check out “Modern Day Puncher” for a sense of why the celebrity judges gave Byers the up vote.
Out of the tens of thousands of people who auditioned, he was one of only 144 contestants to receive this feedback, which meant a trip to Hollywood. But soon after making it to Tinseltown, Byers, along with 71 others, would get eliminated in an episode deemed “The Hollywood Bloodbath.” And when the episodes aired in early April, Byers, despite the lengthy audition process and golden ticket, was nowhere to be seen. But he isn’t mad about it.
“I’m honored to have been part of the process,” Byers says. “And I’m taking this opportunity as a learning experience.”
He left Hollywood a little older, a little wiser, and with a little advice from Carrie Underwood — one of the reasons he knew “American Idol” existed in the first place. “She told me, in a very nice way, to tone down my vocals because I like to come out strong.”
And if the careers of those who previously traversed the land of “American Idol” rejection are any indication, Byers remains in prime position for a career ignition.
“My goal has always been to pay my bills with music,” he says. “And I want to leave some mark on the industry, whether I play stadiums, I play Billy Bob’s, or I play the basement bar below where we’re sitting. I want people to listen to our music and enjoy our shows. And somewhere down the line, for someone to say, ‘Remember that guy? That guy was really good.’”
You can catch Cash Byers playing solo every Friday night at a spot in the metroplex. Check out his website, cashbyersmusic.com, to see his full schedule.
