Colton Dixon: American Idol Rejection, God's Redirection

When Colton Dixon first tried out for the reality TV competition American Idol, he didn’t make it to the on-air rounds. On the following season, he took seventh place on the show. 

On this episode of GPS: God. People. Stories., listen to how God has used one setback after another in Colton’s life to prepare him for a successful music career that glorifies Jesus. 

Connect with us through email at gps@billygraham.org or on Facebook at Billy Graham Radio. 

If you’d like to know more about beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ, or deepening the faith you already have, visit FindPeacewithGod.net.

If you’d like to pray with someone, call our Billy Graham 24/7 Prayer Line at 855-255-7729. 

Transcript

Colton Dixon: 
[00:00:00] I told him, I’m like, bro, this is super weird. I’m going home. He was like, no, you’re not. That’s crazy. Like everyone I’ve talked to puts you and I – I’m like, yeah, I’m telling you. I’m going home tonight. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:00:13] Before Colton Dixon was voted off his second season of the tv show American Idol, he had a gut feeling about his elimination. Today, he’s a successful singer/songwriter with chart topping Christian albums. Find out how Colton has overcome many setbacks in his faith journey and his music career on this episode of GPS: God. People. Stories. It’s an outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. I’m Jim Kirkland. Throughout his life, Colton has learned and relearned an important lesson. That God wants what’s best for those who believe in Him. Billy Graham explained it this way. 

Billy Graham:
[00:00:49] We are not to fear because God is on our side. No one can really be against us because God is for us.  

Jim Kirkland:
[00:00:56] We’ll have more from Billy Graham later in this episode on the confidence that Christians have in God’s love. If you’d like to learn more about God’s love right now, just pay a visit to our website. It’s FindPeacewithGod.net. That’s FindPeacewithGod.net. And if you weren’t able to jot that down, no worries. We always a have the link available for you in our show notes.  

Audio tag:
[00:01:20]

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:01:26] When Colton Dixon was just 13 years old, he had no idea that he would one day step into the spotlight on a very popular television program, American Idol. But he did have a piano recital that changed his life.  

Colton Dixon: 
[00:01:40] My teacher, whenever I showed up to the recital, said, hey, I set up a microphone. I think you need to sing as well. I had never sang before in public. That was terrifying. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:01:51] As Colton sang “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me in front of all those folks, he encountered the Holy Spirit for the first time. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:01:59] The Holy Spirit fell on the room. It’s hard to even explain. Obviously, my parents were crying. Um, but what was weird is like other kids’ parents, some of them were moved to tears as well. It was just a really weird thing as a 13 year old. Didn’t really know how to-what to make of that. But I recognize it now that God was doing something. And, uh, that was the moment He called me into this. So, it was pretty special.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:02:21] Colton realized he liked the way he felt when he was performing music. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:02:26] Some people journal. For me, it was like, man, sitting at the piano was kind of my lifeline to God. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:02:32] Colton had grown up going to church and attending a Christian school in a town outside of Nashville. He started following Jesus as a child after his teacher helped him learn how to share the Gospel with those who don’t speak English using some simple faith based words.  

Colton Dixon: 
[00:02:48] I remember going home and kind of thinking about it. Like why would I feel the need to share this? And it just was kind of that straw that broke the camel’s back for me. And I remember just looking outside and just thinking there’s no way this is chance. So, it kind of just opened me up to the bigger questions. And so, I gave my life to the Lord. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:03:07] That decision would impact many of Colton’s future decisions. And even some that, at times, made him unpopular. One time, for example, he obeyed his parents by not watching a certain movie with the rest of his church youth group. Although he received some ribbing from the older guys in the group, his parents were thrilled about his decision to not cave in. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:03:28] What was really cool was I got to see kind of God work through all of that. Like not only like doing the right thing and seeing like, oh, wow, there’s totally like an upside to doing the right thing. I’m like, you know what, God’s got my back. He’s looking out for me. He’s going to prepare the way for me. And if He’s on my side, it doesn’t matter who else is saying whatever because I know I’m-I’m following what He has for me. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:03:54] That high school lessen is still one that Colton carries with him to this day. But it wasn’t the only way God showed up for Colton while he was a teenager. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:04:03] Even in a lot of parts of high school, it was cool to see all the doors that would open. And I knew exactly who was orchestrating that. It was obvious. But one of those doors was American Idol. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:04:14] In 2010, Colton Dixon stood in line to support his 15 year old sister, Skyler, while she auditioned for American Idol. As for himself, the idea of competing on the singing competition tv series was nowhere in his mind.  

Colton Dixon:  
[00:04:29] My sister’s the one who initiated like tryouts are in Nashville. You know, we could totally go and do this. And I’m like, eh, yeah. I’ll go. Like it would be fun to go, but I-I’m good. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:04:40] As Colton waited with Skyler outside Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, they were among the first people in line out of thousands who would come to that audition. That’s when the siblings had a life changing conversation.   

Colton Dixon: 
[00:04:53] We were out there for a while. And, uh, while we were out there, my sister just goes why in the world would you not audition? Like what is the worst that they could say? 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:05:02] Colton realized his younger sister was right. And just like that, he got looped into American Idol. That summer, he made it past the first round. And that caused him to rethink his college plans at Middle Tennessee State University. 

Colton Dixon:  
[00:05:16] I was there for two months and realized that Hollywood week was during mid-terms. So, I’m like, okay, I need to make a decision. And I stand by my decision. But the Idol thing was never something that was really on my radar. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:05:33] Although Colton had grown up watching American Idol with his family, he had reservations about it being part of his music journey. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:05:42] For whatever reason, I kind of had a thing. I was like, no, I want to make it without that. I don’t know I had heard a past contestant say something or other people kind of have a chip on their shoulder about, you know, contestants on the show in the music industry, but I was like, no, I want this to be organic. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:0600] It seems that God thought otherwise. American Idol  would be the very way that Colton would enter the music industry. But on Season 10 of American Idol, Colton was eliminated. Although his run was cut short, it would not be the end of the road for Colton. Besides, as he looks back, he realizes he still needed to grow up some.    

Colton Dixon: 
[00:06:22] I was still kind of stepping into manhood and becoming an adult. It was fresh out of high school. These were college years really for me, which is where I would say the average person goes out and does everything they were told not to do just to say they’ve done it. And figure out life for their own. I didn’t really have that leisure to go out because I knew, okay, people are watching. I had eyes on me. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:06:50] The summer after Colton went on the show, the attention of so many eyes on him started going to his head. There was one encounter specifically where he says he was on a bit of a high horse. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:07:03]  Pride is something in this industry that is really sneaky. And, uh, this particular summer I had made it to the top 40 but didn’t quite make the live shows on the first season. So, I’m like all right. I’m good. I’m going to take this. Run with it. The Ellen Show called and invited me to be on her show, which was super cool. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:07:22] While on the Ellen Show, Colton was given a small camera to document his time backstage to possibly used in the final edit for the program. Colton’s dad was with him.    

Colton Dixon: 
[00:07:33] And he grabbed the camera and started documenting. And I basically told him get the camera out of my face. You know, it was really ugly. And, uh, I saw the look on his face and knew. Like I messed up. I didn’t even realize why I had messed up. It was kind of it had reached that point.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:07:51] After that encounter, Colton took some time to self-reflect. 

Colton Dixon:  
[00:07:56] I’m like, oh, man. I’m so arrogant. So prideful. I expected that opportunity. You know, whatever. I thought I was too good for, you know, whatever. And I feel like in that process of getting my heart right again and fixing my eyes on where they needed to be fixed on. I feel like that’s when God finally went, okay, I can work with that. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:08:18] God had a surprise for Colton. He was going to get looped back into trying out for American Idol for a second time. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:08:26] So that next season auditioning, I truly was not going to audition. For anyone who watched, you know, 13 years ago, that was real. My sister wanted to do it again. So, we were waiting outside the audition room. And, uh, during her audition, the judges had remember me being her brother. So, asked her to come out and get me. And-and it was a guilt trip of, you know, why aren’t you doing this? But it was so strange. I just remember the-the peace of God, you know, on it even as I was in the room. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:08:59] Colton had just minutes to choose an audition song. After all, he had come to support his sister. He didn’t have anything prepared. But once again, Colton made it through the auditions and was back in the competition for Season 11. He credits this  situation totally to God. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:09:15] I don’t believe that would have happened had I not gotten my heart right. I think about stories like the Israelites coming out of Egypt, you know, headed to Promise Land. And a journey that should have taken two and a half to three weeks at most took them 40 years because they were complaining. And they didn’t have their hearts right. it just makes me think, Lord, how often do I wander around in the desert when You had a fast track for me? It-it hit me. And I don’t know how much quicker it would have been for me. I don’t know if it would have worked out that first season or not, but I’m so glad it didn’t because His plan was to prosper me. You know, that’s what Jeremiah 29:11 says. And I don’t know that me getting to that first season of Idol and coming out, you know, better with a record deal or whatever, I don’t know if that would have really prospered me. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:10:08] Yes, the prosperous path of God doesn’t always look like our plans. In fact, God’s plan for Colton didn’t include American Idol. He finished in 7th place that season. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:10:22] I remember waking up on that results day. And I’m going I’m going home tonight. I knew it. Like I absolutely knew it. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:10:31] Colton shared his intuition with his good friend and fellow competitor, Phillip Phillips. There was no doubt in Colton’s mind of what was coming later that evening on the show.  

Colton Dixon: 
[00:10:41] UI 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:13:32] Britney stopped in her tracks and turned to Sammy. She told him she felt God leading her to start at safehouse, but she had no idea how to do that in the U.S. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:13:42] I told him, I’m like, bro, this is super weird. I’m going home. He was like, no, you’re not. That’s crazy. Like everyone I’ve talked to puts you and I – I’m like, yeah, I’m telling you. I’m going home tonight.

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:10:54] That night, the show’s host, Ryan Seacrest, finally gave Colton the news. He had placed in the bottom three and was eliminated. Before leaving, Colton sang one last time. He had chosen a song called "Everything” by the band Lifehouse, one of his all time favorite songs. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:11:12] It was a cool moment to just kind of reflect on every door God had opened, every opportunity that I didn’t deserve that He threw my way. And so, I was kind of able to just set the record straight. Give credit where credit was due. And, uh, kind of started my professional career on that moment, which I thought was super important. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:11:34] And Colton would give credit to God again that night.  

Colton Dixon:  
[00:11:38] Phillip came up to me. He’s like how in the world did you know that? I’m like it might have just been the grace of God, honestly. I don’t know. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:11:46] Even though Colton didn’t make it all the way to the finale on that season of American Idol, God still used the show as an opportunity for Colton to make music. The very day after he was eliminated, Colton was offered a deal from a music label. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:12:01] I had a meeting within the very next day. And they’re like, hey, we’re going to pick you up. And we’re going to decide to move forward with this. And you’re going to start writing and working on your first project. So, it didn’t feel like a lose, you know. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:12:14] Colton was finally getting to pursue his calling. And as he did, he remember some advice from a show mentor and former Idol success story, Chris Daughtery. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:12:24] He said I know how busy you guys are right now. He said I know it seems like you’re working harder than you ever have in your life. He’s like trust me when I say the real work starts after the show ends. That’s when it’s time to kick it into gear. Write as many songs as you can because your first record will make or break your career. It’s just how it is. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:12:43] Colton knew now was his time. But on top of all the songwriting he needed to accomplish, he also had to go through a series of tv interviews.  

Colton Dixon:  
[00:12:53] After that week of craziness was done, they flew me right back out to LA. I stayed there for two weeks while the show was still happening. And we wrote I think it was 14 songs in 13 days. Like it was just – I was done. I was like I’m out of words. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:13:08] Around that time, Colton started rehearsing for the American Idol Tour which features the top contestants from the latest season of the show. And once again, an opportunity arose.   

Colton Dixon: 
[00:13:21] As we were rehearsing, I met my wife Annie. It’s actually super funny. We met kind of in an odd spot. There’s a guy who’s on The Voice who has a rad testimony. So, I went with a friend of mine; she went with a friend of hers to kind of this dodgy venue down on Sunset Boulevard in California. And, uh, I saw her outside. I was like that is a beautiful creature. Well, Lord, that’s amazing. Realized we’re in the same group. But also just coming to terms with she’s way out of my league. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:13:51] Colton and Annie started talking, getting to know one another, and soon realized they shared a lot of the same values.    

Colton Dixon: 
[00:13:59] Kind of the big things for me were relationship with God is number one priority. But also, with what I feel called to travel and ministry is also a big part of that. And so, as we were talking, you know, her kind of sharing what she wants to do. She was helping with worship at a church out in California. She loves traveling. And obviously, God is a huge part in all of that. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:14:23] Colton thought Annie was completely wife material. But it hadn’t dawned on him yet that she would, in fact, become his wife.    

Colton Dixon: 
[00:14:31] She had my attention. I’ll put it that way. That kink in all of this was I felt a really strong don’t date until after The American Idol Tour. Like get through the tour. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:14:41] And Colton’s patience paid off. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:14:43] I think the fact that I didn’t date, and we pushed that off, and I did what I felt like I needed to do. I feel like God blessed that. And, yeah, we dated for three or four years after that long distance. And then, we got married. We’ve been married almost ten years in January. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:14:59] God hasn’t only blessed Colton’s marriage but also his music career since American Idol.  

Colton Dixon: 
[00:15:05] Coming off a show like that, the momentum is crazy. So, it’s a lot easier to see, you know, those first couple of records – as long as you had good songs. Just because you had the wind at your back. So, it’s full steam ahead.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:15:18] And then, Colton’s third record didn’t perform as he’d hoped. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:15:22] In an industry that was shifting to predominantly worship and Christian Hip Hop, you know, here was me and a few other artists going, hey, we’re holding down the Pop/Rock thing over here. You know. And, yeah, the record just didn’t connect for some reason. So, that was a-that was a hard thing as well. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:15:42] It was another setback in Colton’s life, but one that he learned from. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:15:47] It’s really hard not to wrap your identity in something that you put so much of yourself into. And ironically, that record was called Identity. But if I was honest, that’s kind of what happened. Looking back at my life and my career, I’m like, all right, this is me. You know. Here you go. And whenever it doesn’t connect or whatever in the way that you hoped it would, it almost feels like people were rejecting you. I think the only thing we should put our identity in is who we are in Christ. Because whether someone accepts you for who you are or not, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re a child of God. That He calls you son or daughter. And that’s, again, that’s something I have to remind myself constantly. It’s so easy, right, whether it’s music or whether it’s a business proposal or whether, you know, whatever it is that you do, it’s like, all right. I worked hard at this. I put all of my knowledge and wisdom and expertise into this. This is part of who I am. And if and when that gets rejected, it’s, uh, it’s an ego check. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:16:48] Not only did Colton have to face the hard news that his third record wasn’t performing well, he also got dropped by his record label. He felt like he had been rejected by his own people even though everyone said it was just business. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:17:03] That was a tough season. But my wife said something that really changed the game and flipped the script for us. She said what if God isn’t setting you back? What if He’s just setting you up for what’s next? And, uh, it’s like what a concept. His plans are to prosper us not to harm us. To give us hope in a future. So, maybe He’s just preparing what’s coming. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:17:25] Looking back, Colton realizes that was exactly what God was doing. A closed door for Colton was another one opening. Another redirection in his life. God was preparing him for something new that was coming. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:17:40] It was a really cool opportunity to sign with a mainstream label. And to be able to get in the room with other music industry people songwriters that I normally wouldn’t have been able to – 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:17:52] That label has given Colton even more opportunities to reach people with the Gospel. He’s continuing to make music for the Lord and share his platform as a light for Jesus Christ. Case in point, a new song that he released this year. 

Colton Dixon: 
[00:18:07] We released a song called “The Love I Have For You” which these last couple of years, as incredible as they’ve been, we’ve been touring nonstop. Super grateful. But balancing it all has been-has been a bear. It just has. It’s like, man, like I’m a husband. I’m a dad. But I’m also on the road it feels like two-thirds of the year. Like, God, how do I do this and do it well? And so, it’s been kind of that. He took me to Romans 8:37 which basically says we’re more than conquerors because of the love that lives inside of us. And it was like I don’t have to strive for this. It’s not a striving matter. It’s a who am I matter. You know, I’m a son of the King of Kings matter. That’s the love that I carry around with me. And that is what qualifies me to be more than a conqueror. So, remembering that first will allow me to take on whatever it is and get through it. 

Music:
[00:19:04] Playing “The Love I Have For You”. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:19:18] If you’re listening and you’re not sure if you know Jesus personally, you can start your faith journey right now. Visit our website. FindPeacewithGod.net. When you’re there, click on begin a relationship with Jesus. That’s at FindPeacewithGod.net. You can also find the link in our show notes. In just a minute, you’ll hear Colton share about the over arching theme of his life with God, and something you can do in your own walk of faith. 

Audio tag:
[00:19:51]

Billy Graham: 
[00:20:00] We are not to fear because God is on our side. No one can really be against us because God is for us.  

Announcer:
[00:20:07] Billy Graham … 

Billy Graham: 
[00:20:08] Nothing can touch the soul which is abiding in Christ without first passing through God and receiving the seal of His permission. If God be for us, it matters not who may be against us. God’s care is infinitely superior to any possibilities of human care. And He who counts the very hairs of our head takes note of the minutest matters that can affect the lives of His children. There is one thing that we know is God’s will. And that’s the salvation of men and women. It is God’s will that none should perish but that all should come to repentance. And there are many of  you listening to me today that have never received Christ. You have never trusted Him as your Lord and Savior. Today, it is God’s will that you be saved. What must you do? Repent of your sins. Right now, you can do it and receive Jesus Christ into your heart. Then, you too can claim the promises of this message that I have given from the Word of God if you are God’s child. You can become God’s child at this moment. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:21:11] If you’d like to have the kind of confidence and peace Billy Graham was just talking about, we are here to help you. Visit FindPeacewithGod.net. When you’re there, click where it stays begin a relationship with Jesus. That’s at FindPeacewithGod.net. You can always find that link in our show notes. Our guest on this episode of GPS is Colton Dixon. He’s a singer/songwriter with several chart topping Christian albums who began his music career as a competitor on the hit tv show American Idol. Colton has witnessed God’s goodness and faithfulness even when he experienced failure or things didn’t turn out like he thought they would. He wants to leave you with one more word of encouragement and a motto he lives by. Maybe it’s something you can live by too. 

Colton Dixon:  
[00:22:02] I wrote this song called “In Spite of Me”. That the tag line is I hope you find Jesus in spite of me. And it’s kind of become my life motto. Not to give myself an excuse to fail but just knowing I’m going to fail. That’s why I needed Jesus. But I hope that you can look past that and know that He will never fail. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:22:21] God will never fail. That is a great reminder for Christ followers everywhere no matter what season of life you find yourself in. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus in every season and every trial. We would like to thank Colton Dixon for that lesson. He is a singer/songwriter, also a husband, father of twins, and a follower of Jesus. If you have been inspired by Colton’s story, subscribe to GPS on your favorite podcast app or YouTube. And you will not miss a single episode. In the middle of life, GPS is here in the middle of the week every other Wednesday. I’m Jim Kirkland. And this is GPS: God. People. Stories. It's an outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Always good news. 

Music:
[00:23:06] Playing “The Love I Have For You”.

End of transcript