Benson Boone: Pop's Latest Golden Boy or TikTok's Worst Nightmare?

Oh boy, where do we start with this one? So, Benson Boone, the Mormon-adjacent, BYU-studying, 22-year-old pop sensation, decided to grace us with his presence at ACL. And guess what? He was in full "prove-it" mode, complete with a back-flipping entrance and a red jumpsuit that screams "look at me, I'm Austin's new favorite toy!"

His message, loud and clear: "I am so legit," according to Taylor Swift herself. Because if Taylor says it, it must be true, right? I mean, he opened for her at Wembley, so that automatically makes him a real boy, not just a TikTok sensation.

He pulled out all the stops too. Scissors to cut open his jumpsuit for a shirtless spectacle before "What Do You Want." High-pitched vocals on "Drunk In My Mind." And the obligatory "drink some water" banter because, you know, it's October but still hot. Thanks for the heads-up, Benson.

And let's not forget the absolute gem of a Gen-Z ballad about girls with green eyes. You know the type—cringe-worthy, earnest, and just begging to be chip-tuned into a viral snippet. But hey, he nailed the "Day Oh" call-and-response like a true Freddie Mercury wannabe.

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So, yeah, Benson's a ringer. He did a backflip, played an entire hour, and closed with "Beautiful Things." The catalog isn't his fault—his fame skyrocketed faster than you can say "Eras Tour, VMAs, American Idol."

But someone behind me actually said, "I love this song" before "Cry." I mean, really? It's like he's channeling The Cars with that crunchy strumming on "Just What I Needed."

His music? A blend of Lumineers balladry, Imagine Dragons breakdowns, and the grandiose falsetto of that Fun guy. Just what we need, right?

And the cherry on top? Someone in line for the bar mid-set gushing, "He’s so hot. Oh my God." Because clearly, that's what matters most.

Boone even threw in a profound moment, asking us to put our phones away and focus on how much it sucks that our loved ones die. Deep, dude. Real deep.

Oh, and he asked if we've ever been scared of something. Yes, Benson, I'm scared of you becoming the next big thing in pop.

Even my 41-year-old college buddy Clint said, "He’s better than I thought." Great, Clint. Just great.

Well, folks, there you have it. Benson Boone, the next big thing in pop. Or maybe just TikTok's latest victim. Who knows? Who cares?