When Two Teenagers With Big Dreams and Even Bigger Voices Sang When You Say Nothing At All on the American Idol Stage and Created a Moment That Still Gives Us Chills

Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina’s bond was sealed during their time on American Idol in 2011, where they became the two youngest contestants to face off in the final two. While McCreery went on to be crowned the Season 10 champion, both singers have proven to have incredible talent in their own right.

Fresh from the spotlight, the teens hit the road together on the American Idols Live Tour in 2011, where they brought crowds to their feet with each performance. McCreery, staying true to his country roots, kicked off a performance of Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing At All,” before being joined by Alaina for a heartfelt duet to finish the song.

Reflecting on their special bond, McCreery shared, “We went through something together with Idol that no one will ever truly understand. It was a blast and fun, but they definitely put us through the wringer, so to go through that with her, she’ll always be kind of a sister to me.”

Originally released by Whitley in 1988, “When You Say Nothing At All” went on to top the charts at number one. Alison Krauss’s version of the song in 1995 reached number three and earned her the CMA Award for Single of the Year that same year.

You can check out McCreery and Alaina’s unforgettable duet below.