An “American Idol” contestant dropped out of the reality show’s press tour after his newborn son was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition, emphasizing that his responsibilities as a father come before his music career.

Christian Brown, a Kentucky-based musician, was eliminated from Season 24 of “American Idol” during Hollywood Week. Although he was cut from the competition, Brown had the opportunity to participate in a months-long press tour promoting his time on the show.

Instead of joining the tour, the singer is focusing on his newborn son, Isaiah Brown, who was diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta, as WHAS11 reported this week:

The baby was born four days before his father auditioned for “American Idol.” Doctors later discovered the heart condition while Brown was promoting the reality show.

“If I had a record deal sitting in front of my face and my son in the other hand, I’d choose my son any time over anything,” Brown told the ABC affiliate.

Brown and his wife, Brenda Brown, drove two hours from Franklin to Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville, where their son underwent surgery to correct the defect, according to WHAS11.

The singer’s wife told the outlet the newborn needed surgery; otherwise, he could suffer a heart attack or other complications later.

Isaiah Brown is not the first member of Brown’s family to receive treatment for a congenital heart defect, WHAS11 reported. When the “American Idol” contestant was 3 years old, his brother was treated for a congenital heart defect at the same hospital.

“I remember being at the Ronald McDonald House in Louisville,” the father said. “Now we’re here with our son, and it’s this full-circle moment.”

While the singer plans to return to Nashville in the future, the full extent of those plans had not been revealed at the time of reporting. Despite everything that has happened with his son, Brown believes fatherhood has strengthened his passion for music.

“It’s love,” he said of his son. “He makes me want to write again. He’s bringing the words back to the music. I know how my dad felt back then. I do now.”

The “American Idol” contestant is the son of country music artist Marty Brown, who accompanied him when he auditioned for the show in Nashville:

During an interview about his performance, Brown said he planned to sing “Wildest Dreams,” a song his father wrote about his children. According to the contestant, the song “Wildest Dreams” is “about how much you love somebody.”

“I’m going to be singing for my dad. It’s my way of telling him that I love him,” Brown said. “I would not be where I am today without him.”

Marty Brown, who is known for co-writing Tracy Byrd’s 1994 hit “I’m From the Country,” appeared emotional as he watched his son perform the song before the “American Idol” judges. After Christian Brown finished the song, his father declared, “That’s my boy.”

One of the judges, Luke Bryan, who recognized Marty Brown when he entered the audition room with his son, commented, “It’s got to make you proud to watch your boy do that.”

“It does,” Marty Brown replied.

All three “American Idol” judges voted to send Christian Brown to Hollywood Week, where he was later eliminated from the competition. During Hollywood Week, Bryan and fellow judges Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie narrowed the group of 127 contestants to 30, according to TV Insider.

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