“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…”

Christian Brown first introduced himself to the world during his audition for Season 24 of American Idol. He won over viewers and the judging panel with his talent and the heartfelt moment shared with his father, Marty Brown, a Kentucky  Music Hall of Famer and accomplished songwriter. While he appeared eager and ready to begin the journey of a lifetime, a far greater challenge was waiting for him back home.

The hopeful singer chose to sing a song his father wrote, titled “Wildest Dreams,” and earned a golden ticket to Hollywood week. There, he got one last chance to fight for his spot in the competition but was ultimately eliminated after the first round. Even though his journey on the show came to an end, Brown agreed to take part in a months-long press tour to help promote the new season into the spring.

What many fans didn’t realize was Brown had just welcomed his newborn son, Isaiah, only four days before stepping into the audition room in front of judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

As he kept up with the press tour, things back home in Kentucky took an unexpected turn. Brown tells whas11 doctors discovered his baby boy had a serious heart condition called coarctation of the aorta, “that would require life-saving surgery.”

Hearing this news, Brown’s priorities suddenly took a complete 180. In a short time, he went from pursing his dreams in front of a national audience to fearing for his son’s future. The 23-year-old and his family made the two-hour drive from Franklin to Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville so that Isaiah could undergo the necessary surgery to try and mend the defect.

“He has to have this fix, or down the road he could have a heart attack or something happen to him,” Brenda Brown, Christian’s wife, told the outlet.

This unfortunately was not the first time the family had been to Norton Children’s Hospital for life-saving care. Brown shares when he was 3 years old, his brother was also treated there for a congenital heart defect.

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

He took to Facebook on March 4 to share an update with his followers. The aspiring artist was pleased to say that his “strong” “Little angel” had made it through surgery and was in “perfect condition.”

“His mommy and daddy sure did miss him while he was with the surgeons that took excellent care of him. Thank you to Norton Children’s Hospital Downtown for taking the time to help our little guy,” he added.

With Isaiah is now recovering surrounded by family, Christian Brown’s  music career is taking a backseat and there’s no place he’d rather be than by his little one’s side.

“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,” Christian said.

This isn’t the end of his music journey, just a pause. In fact, he notes how his love for his son has inspired him to want to get back to songwriter. Brown also admits he now understands the place his father was in when he wrote the song that would later become his heartfelt audition track, “Wildest Dreams.”

“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.”

Fans will not see Christian Brown continue his journey on American Idol, however he did tease plans to return to Nashville and hints that a new opportunity is on the horizon, with more details to come.