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Colton Dixon
I told him, I'm like, bro, this is super weird. I'm going home. He's like, no, you're not. It's crazy. Like everyone I've talked to puts you and I and like the final I'm like, yeah, I'm telling you, I'm going home tonight.
Jim Kirkland
Before Colton Dixon was voted off his second season on 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
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
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 have the link available for you in our show.
Colton Dixon
Notes GPS God people stories.
Jim Kirkland
When Colton Dixon was just 13 years old, he had no idea that 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
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'd never sang before in public. That was terrifying.
Jim Kirkland
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
Holy spirit fell on the room. It's hard to even explain. Obviously my parents were crying but what was weird is like the other kids parents, some of them were moved to tears as well. 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 that was the moment he called me into this. So it was pretty special.
Jim Kirkland
Colton realized he liked the way he felt when he was performing music.
Colton Dixon
Some people journal for me it was like man sitting at the piano was kind of my lifeline to God.
Jim Kirkland
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
I remember going home and kind of thinking about it. I'm like, why would I feel the need to share this? And it just was kind of the 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
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
What was really cool is I got to see like 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, like, it doesn't matter who else is saying whatever because I know I'm, I'm following what he has for me.
Jim Kirkland
That high school lesson 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
Even in the latter parts of high school, it was cool to see all the doors that would open and I knew exactly who was orchestrating that is obvious. But one of those doors was American Idol.
Jim Kirkland
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
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, ah, yeah, I'll go. Like it'll be fun to go but I'm good.
Jim Kirkland
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
We were out there for a while and While we're 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
Colton realized his younger sister was right. And just like that, he. 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
I was there for two months and realized that hollywood week was during midterms. So I'm like, okay, I need to make a decision, and I stand by my decision. But the idle thing was never something that was really on my radar.
Jim Kirkland
Although colton had grown up watching american idol with his family, he had reservations about it being part of his music journey.
Colton Dixon
For whatever reason, I kind of had a thing. I was like, no, I want to make it without that. I don't know if 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 and the music industry. But I was like, no, I want this to be organic.
Jim Kirkland
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
I was still kind of stepping into manhood and becoming an adult. I 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 that 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 it's like, okay, people are watching. I have eyes on me.
Jim Kirkland
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
Pride is something in this industry that is really sneaky. And this particular summer, I'd 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
While on the ellen show, Colton was given a small camera to document his time backstage to possibly be used in the final edit for the program. Colton's dad was with him, and he.
Colton Dixon
Grabbed the camera, started Documenting. And I basically told him, get the camera out of my face. You know, it was really ugly. And I saw the look on his face and knew I'm like, I messed up. And I didn't even realize why I had messed up. It was like kind of. It reached that point.
Jim Kirkland
After that encounter, Colton took some time to self reflect.
Colton Dixon
I'm like, oh, man, I'm so arrogant, so prideful. I expected that opportunity. I, 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 whether they needed to be fixed on, I feel like that's when God finally went, okay, I can work with that.
Jim Kirkland
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
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 during her audition, the judges had remembered me being her brother. So I asked her to come out and get me. And it was a guilt trip of, you know, why aren't you doing this? But it was so strange. I just remember the peace of God, you know, on it even as I was in the room.
Jim Kirkland
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 the situation totally to God.
Colton Dixon
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 promised land and a journey that should have taken two and a half, 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 through that first season of idol and coming out, you know, better with a record deal or whatever, I don't know that that would have really prospered me.
Jim Kirkland
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 seventh place that season.
Colton Dixon
I remember waking up on that results day and going, I'm going home tonight. I knew it. Like, I absolutely knew it.
Jim Kirkland
Colton shared his intuition with his good friend and fellow competitor Philip Phillips. There was no doubt in Colton's mind of what was coming later that evening on the show.
Colton Dixon
I told him, I'm like, bro, super weird. I'm going home. He's like, no, you're not. It's crazy. Like, everyone I've talked to puts you and I and like the fight. I'm like, yeah, I'm telling you, I'm going home tonight.
Jim Kirkland
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
It was a cool moment just to kind of reflect on every door got it 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 kind of started my professional career on that moment, which I thought was super important.
Jim Kirkland
And colton would give credit to God again. That night.
Colton Dixon
Philip 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
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
I had a meeting with them the very next day and they're like, hey, we're gonna pick you up and we're gonna decide to move forward with this and you're gonna start writing and working on your first project. So it didn't feel like lose, you know?
Jim Kirkland
Colton was finally getting to pursue his calling. And as he did, he remembered some advice from a show mentor and former idol success story, Chris Daughtry.
Colton Dixon
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 in gear, Write as many songs as you can, because your first record will make or break your career. That's just how it is.
Jim Kirkland
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
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
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
As we were rehearsing, I met my wife, Annie. It's actually super funny. We met kind of in an odd spot. There was a guy who was on the voice who had 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 I saw her outside and was like, that is a beautiful creature. Well done, Lord. That's, you know, amazing. Realized we're in the same group, but also just coming to terms with she's way out of my league.
Jim Kirkland
Colton and Annie started talking, getting to know one another, and soon realized they shared a lot of the same values.
Colton Dixon
Kind of the big things for me were relationship with God's 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 and, you know, her kind of sharing what she wants to do and 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
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
She had my attention, I'll put it that way. The 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
And Colton's patience paid off.
Colton Dixon
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, four years after that, long distance. And then we got married. We married almost 10 years in January.
Jim Kirkland
God hasn't only blessed Colton's marriage but also his music career since American idol.
Colton Dixon
Coming off a show like that, the momentum's crazy. So it's a lot easier to Succeed, you know, those first couple 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
And then colton's third record didn't perform.
Colton Dixon
As he hoped in an industry that was shifting to predominantly worship and christian hip hop. You know, here was me and a few other artists going, 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
It was another setback in colton's life, but one that he learned from.
Colton Dixon
It's really hard not to wrap your identity in something that you put so much of yourself into. And ironically, the 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. Or whatever in the way that you hope it would, it almost feels like people are rejecting you. I think the only thing that we should put our identity in Is who we are in christ. Because when 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 that I have to remind myself constantly because 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 my knowledge and wisdom and expertise into this. This is part of who I am. Boom. And if and when that gets rejected, it's. Man, it's an ego check.
Jim Kirkland
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
That was a tough season. But my wife said something that really changed the game, Flipped the script for us. She said, what if God isn't setting you back, but what if he's just setting you up for what's next? And it's like, what a concept? His plans are too prosperous not to harm us, to give us hope in the future. So maybe he's just preparing for what's coming.
Jim Kirkland
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
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
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
We released a song called the Love I have for your, which these last couple years, as incredible as they've been, we've been touring non stop 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 calls 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.
Jim Kirkland
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@findpeacewithgod.net you can also find that link in our show notes. In just a minute, you'll hear Colton share about the overarching theme of his life with God and something you can do in your own walk of faith.
Colton Dixon
You're listening to GPS God People Stories, a podcast production of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Billy Graham
We are not to fear because God is on our side. No one can really be against us because God is for us.
Colton Dixon
Billy Graham.
Billy Graham
Nothing can touch the soul which is abiding in Christ without first passing through God and receiving 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 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 Christ into your heart. Then you too can claim the promises of this message that I've given from the Word of God. If you are God's child and you can become God's child at this moment.
Jim Kirkland
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 says Begin a relationship with Jesus. That's@findpeacewithgod.net and 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
I wrote this song called In Spite of Me that the tagline 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 gonna 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
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.
Strong.
Colton Dixon
Oh, you're gonna make it through with.
Jim Kirkland
The love I have for you.
Podcast Summary: GPS: God. People. Stories.
Episode: Colton Dixon—American Idol Rejection, God’s Redirection (October 1, 2025)
Host: Jim Kirkland (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
Guest: Colton Dixon, Singer-Songwriter, Former American Idol Contestant
This episode shares the journey of Colton Dixon, who rose to fame on American Idol and became a prominent Christian artist. Colton discusses how faith shaped his life—from early public performances and pivotal spiritual encounters, through high-profile setbacks such as being eliminated from American Idol and losing a record deal, to finding success and purpose by trusting in God’s redirection. The episode centers on the themes of surrender, identity in Christ, humility, and the assurance that God’s plans, not ours, lead to true prosperity and peace.
“Holy Spirit fell on the room... even other kids' parents, some of them were moved to tears. Just a really weird thing as a 13-year-old… I recognize it now that God was doing something and that was the moment he called me into this.” (Colton Dixon, 01:59)
“Pride is something in this industry that is really sneaky.” (Colton, 07:02)
Incident of snapping at his dad was a wake-up call.
“I don't believe that would have happened had I not gotten my heart right ... a journey that should have taken... three weeks at most took them 40 years because they were complaining... It just makes me think, Lord, how often do I wander around in the desert when you had a fast track for me?” (Colton, 09:15)
“Bro, super weird. I'm going home.” (Colton, 10:41)
“Kind of able to just set the record straight, give credit where credit was due and kind of started my professional career on that moment, which I thought was super important.” (Colton, 11:11)
“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.” (Colton, 14:43)
“It's really hard not to wrap your identity in something that you put so much of yourself into... The only thing we should put our identity in is who we are in Christ.” (Colton, 15:46)
“What if God isn’t setting you back, but what if He’s just setting you up for what’s next? ... His plans are to prosper us, not to harm us, to give us hope and a future. So maybe He’s just preparing for what’s coming.” (Annie, as quoted by Colton, 17:03)
“We're more than conquerors because of the love that lives inside of us... 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 I carry around with me and that is what qualifies me to be more than a conqueror.” (Colton, 18:06/18:48)
“I wrote this song called ‘In Spite of Me’ that the tagline 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 gonna fail. That's why I needed Jesus. But I hope that you can look past that and know that He will never fail.” (Colton, 22:01)
Colton’s narrative is a testimony to faith amid uncertainty, humility in the face of pride, and God’s sovereignty when human plans fall through. Through rejection and redirection, Colton’s journey reaffirms that believers are called to fix their eyes on Jesus in every season—trusting in God’s love, timing, and purposes.
“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.” – Jim Kirkland, 22:21
For Further Information or Spiritual Resources:
Visit FindPeaceWithGod.net to explore starting or deepening a relationship with Jesus.