Freddie McClendon is a singer-songwriter from Greenwood, South Carolina. He first fell in love with music as a child living in a retirement home where his dad worked, spending his earliest years dressing up as Elvis and performing for the residents who encouraged him to perform. After his father’s shocking murder in 2023, McClendon turned to writing songs as a way to process his grief.
In 2024 he released Present Memories. In 2025 he appeared on Season 23 of American Idol, performing his original song “You Never Loved Him,” which moved Carrie Underwood to tears and prompted Luke Bryan to call him “the next Paul Simon.”
McClendon’s songwriting often blends personal history with observations about the South, most notably in his viral single King Henry, which challenges the “Good Ole Boys” system and generational corruption in South Carolina. His live shows have grown steadily, selling out in numerous markets across the southeast.
His unreleased tracks “Drinkin’ Crimes,” “Rambler,” and “Lover” have already drawn millions of views ahead of their official release, and he plans to release new music throughout 2026. In early 2026, he will also join SUSTO on their North American tour as a supporting act.
