NATCHEZ — A Natchez teenager is attending the second stage of auditions today for the TV singing competition, “The Voice,” and is one step closer to appearing on the show.

John Ashton Hicks, 17, sang in front of approximately 10,000 people Saturday at the Minute Maid Park baseball stadium in Houston, Texas, and received a callback for another round at 4:20 p.m. this afternoon.

Hicks, a junior at Cathedral High School, sang Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” for the first round on Saturday.

“I’m not really a ‘belieber,’” Hicks said. “I just liked the song. I’m keeping it young with the song choices.”

Hicks said he has loved music since early childhood, when he first began singing in his church choir. His musical aspirations, however, are not about being on television.

“Since I was about 3 years old, it’s always been my dream to sing and perform for people,” Hicks said. “That my music can be important to other people, the way other people’s music is important to me.”

John Ashton’s mother, Courtney Hicks, made the two trips to Texas with her son.

Courtney said she also has been helping her son pick out stage-appropriate outfits and waiting with him through the long lines.

“Even if this was as far as he went, or all he got to do, it was a great experience,” Courtney said. “(It was good) for him to see that if you want to sing, you have to go through a lot and do a lot of hard things to get to that point.”

John Ashton is also a student athlete, but could not play sports this year due to a torn ACL and MCL.

“The injury was really bad, which is sad because he didn’t get to play football, but it opened up an opportunity to pursue this more,” Courtney said.

John Ashton is required to have four songs prepared for today’s audition. He will reprise Saturday’s success with “Love Yourself,” and will sing Charlie Puth’s “One Call Away,” “All I Want” by Kodaline, and “Perfect” by One Direction.

The round this afternoon will be at a recording studio in Houston, and will involve cameras, lights and the watchful eyes of the judges.

John Ashton said he never gets nervous, and his mother has confidence in her son’s talent.

“The (competitors) that will be there will be really good,” Courtney said. “He’s just got a different voice. It’s unique. He can sing really anything.”

If John Ashton is selected to continue, he will face at least one more audition and an interview stage before possibly appearing on the next season of “The Voice.”