Drake Milligan was already on his way to a successful career in country music, when he got a big boost by appearing on  America’s Got Talent. The 24-year-old earned the praise of all four judges, by singing an original song, “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” with his band. changing his entire life in the span of a few minutes.

“It’s so surreal when it happens, ’cause you’re standing there, and the judges are lit up like that,” Mulligan admits to CMT‘s Cody Alan. “They almost look like holograms. It takes a little while to settle in. You feel that moment, and then you go back and you’re like, ‘Did that really happen?’ It really is, it’s a surreal experience.”

Even the notably critical judge, Simon Cowell, had nothing but praise for Milligan, who called his debut performance the best one of the evening.

“He’s been just wonderful,” the rising star boasts. “And you worry about it. You go on there and you’re like, ‘Man, Simon’s tough, and if there’s anything to nitpick, he’s gonna probably try to find it.'”

“Sounds Like Something I’d Do” landed at the top of the iTunes charts after it was released, as did “Kiss Goodbye All Night,” the song he performed that earned him a spot in the AGT finale. The success of both tracks tells Milligan as much about country music fans as it does his own unstoppable talent.

“The response has been incredible,” concedes the singer. “I think it says that people love country music out there, and they’re willing to show it. And I think it says a lot for country music as a whole.”

If Milligan wins America’s Got Talent, in addition to getting to perform in Las Vegas, he will also win a cool $1 million, money he says would likely go right back into his music, in one way or another.

“I’m a big guitar guy,” Milligan reveals. “I love guitars; I want to get some vintage guitars. But if I do win, I would probably invest it back into myself, and try to get bigger production on the road, and be able to afford a little more luxuries on the road.’

Milligan is still competing on America’s Got Talent, but that isn’t stopping him from releasing new music. His debut Dallas/Fort Worth album will be released on September 15, one day after the America’s Got Talent winner is crowned.

“As a lifelong country music fan, it has been my dream to make a full-length record that pays homage to traditional country roots, while still bringing new sounds and energy to the genre,” Milligan says, adding that his Texas heritage also played into the songs he chose for the new project.

“As a native son of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I’ve always been intrigued by the difference between the two cities,” Milligan explains. “First, there’s Dallas: a city determined to prove that everything really is bigger in Texas. Then, just 30 miles to the west, there’s Fort Worth: a city that holds true to its Stockyard roots with a taut rope around its cowboy brand.”

“My goal was to bring those same distinctions to the two parts of this album,” he continues. “On Dallas, the songs have a little more polish on their boots. On Fort Worth, there are nods to those traditional Honky-Tonkin’, Western swingin’, cowboy culture roots that I’m based in.”

Milligan isn’t the only country act heading to the AGT finale. Family trio Chapel Hart will also be competing for the grand prize as well.

All of Milligan’s music and upcoming concert dates can be found at DrakeMilligan.com.