Still, the 21-year-old earned accolades from all the celebrities, progressing to the next round on the show.
"Yo man, you're great. I love that song it's a classic," Maroon 5's Adam Levine said after Hartigan's rendition of "Danny's Song" by Kenny Loggins.
Hartigan started as an actor when he was three years old in a 1-800-FLOWERS commercial.
"Then I picked it up when I hit puberty," he told the judges.
"That's a good time to pick it up," Alicia Keys laughed.
Hartigan landed many commercials through childhood leading to his big break as Nicole Kidman's son on "Stepford Wives."
These days, he writes songs in his basement studio that he built with his dad.
Last season, Cresskill's Josette Diaz made it all the way to the show's knockout round with Team Miley before her elimination. She said the experience was a dream come true.
"I don't even have to fight for you," American Idol winner Clarkson told Hartigan during after the audition.
"That was beautiful. I can't wait to see what you have in your arsenal."
Hartigan made it through to the battle rounds, which will air Monday and Tuesday next week at 8 p.m. on NBC.
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