Christian Contestant Ignores American Idol Producers, Says 'God, Use Me' on Live TV
As NewsBusters reported last Friday, the producers of the hit show American Idol warned contestant Colton Dixon to tone down his overtly Christian references if he wanted to win the competition.
Dixon clearly didn't heed their advice, for after his incredible performance of Billy Joel's "Piano Man" Wednesday, he told host Ryan Seacrest, "I’ve been praying before this whole thing because tonight was a big moment for me, and I was just collecting myself and saying, 'God, use me.' I want Him to shine through first and foremost." (Video follows with commentary.)
Here's what Dixon told Today.com last week:
"When we first started the Twitter and Facebook stuff, they said beware of political and religious tweets," he told TODAY.com. "Just because it can turn off voters or whatever. But, you know, being a Christian is who I am. It is a part of me musically. It is what I want to do after the show -- go into Christian music." [...]
"I am not going to hide it, and I am not going to stray away from it just because I am on a TV show." [...]
"I wake up and I do devotional every morning," he added. "It reminds me why I am here, which is to share the love of God. I know there are several other contestants who can say the exact same thing. But it is a part of me and I want to share it -- no matter what, good or bad outcome. It is me."
He sure kept to his word, didn't he?
Bravo, Colton! Bravo!
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Comments
You go, Colton
Submitted by Dave. on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 2:28am.
And then keep going some more.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Didn't Boy Baraka brag about
Submitted by killa37 on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 2:34am.
Didn't Boy Baraka brag about doing 'devotionals'..........from his blueberry, or blackberry, or raspberry........and getting a wide variety of them from one of his 'spiritual guides', or some such crap??? I don't remember anybody in the MSM mocking him about it - of course, WE knew he was full of Kenyan Kow Krap. But now, this young man makes a stance as to his beliefs, and for some reason he's ridiculed and attacked??? I thought this dumb program was a 'talent show'!!! I guaran-damn-tee you that if some moooooooooooooslem was on there, rocking out and over-singing the morning prayers, that little tilley SeaQueeb wouldn't be making fun of him!!!
You
Submitted by grammajane on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 2:40am.
are a beautiful young and talented man. Keep doing what you are doing and am sure there are many rewards out there, for you.
Beautiful thought
Submitted by Gat New York on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 8:16am.
What a wonderful thought.
The irony is that this contestant picked a song written
Submitted by lrgon on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 3:09am.
by a fool of a person that has little respect for the church and her teachings.
Joel wrote a song titled Only The Good Die Young in which this ogre gives no respect to the Catholic Church nor to women that believe in the church's teachings.
Where were all those supposed "offended" liberal women that today find the word "slut" offensive when Billy Joel was attacking women for their religious beliefs?
Theme was Billy Joel
Submitted by Mystapitt on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 5:10am.
@irgon: all the contestants did Billy Joel songs. It was the nights theme.
My point is still valid
Submitted by lrgon on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 5:39am.
Joel's lyrics to Only the Good Die Young are offensive.
I don't watch this show.
..she was counting on her rosary...
Submitted by Franksam on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 12:50pm.
Lighten up, Irgon. As a man who married a Catholic girl forty plus years ago, I can tell you that this song hits it on the head. My mother-in-law did not count on me, but she got over it, and we came to love each other. If I wasn't as pure as you, I wasn't so bad after all.
Fortunately for you, Billy Joel does not suggest that all the good die young.
I've not watched it this year...
Submitted by MacWell on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 4:48am.
maybe I should. If there's a young Christian man singing I should support him, not to mention Him.
If he wants to win??
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 7:50am.
Aren't American Idol winners picked by votes from the public?
If so, we'll find what the viewers think of him. If they're OK with it, they'll keep voting for him; if not, he'll lose.
The Market at Work!!
If he's OK with not winning on that basis, why should they care?
The producers are clueless . . .
Submitted by Gat New York on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 8:29am.
They have a show that appeals to a broad base American audience yet they try and invoke whenever they can their silly Hollywood left wing political and social views.
If they bothered to look at past years all they have to do is go back to 2009 and Kris Allen - also an openly devout Christian - won over Adam Lambert who was more of the liking of the Hollywood left.
The year before David Cook, whose brother was battling cancer, would regularly invoke the prayer and faith. And there were other winners (and non-winners) who would refer to their upbringing and the church as well as their faith at times. Even this year, Joshua Ledet, is the son of a Pastor which is brought up regularly.
Knowing what Noel had previously posted, when Colin finished and commented by immediately refering to his faith I was very pleased.
Gal, I can honestly say that
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 9:15am.
Gal, I can honestly say that I have never watched an episode of American Idol. But if your history is correct (and I have no reason to believe you're BS'ing) this is just more of the "enlightened" producers presuming to know what's good, in spite of the fact that history refutes it.
You gotta hand it to them; they don't give up. LOL
American Idol
Submitted by oldfart on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 7:42am.
If this young man was a devout Muslim and said Allah Akbar (God is Great) at the end of his performance does ANYONE think this would even be an issue?
Actually it would be an
Submitted by Gat New York on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 11:35am.
Actually it would be an issue, but not for the reason your think.
If you knew the history of the show (see my prior comment), someone like that would be voted off quickly and then the show producers would have to invent a way for the person to be retained. The fact is that Simon Cowell invented something that the liberal left cannot control..
Talent from God
Submitted by NewLife56 on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 7:51am.
What a talent, and a blessing to hear him sing..
Yes, but the boy needs a proper haircut.
Submitted by WhoIsJohnGalt on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 12:04pm.
What is that, the "I just rolled out of bed" look?
WJG
Submitted by Seashell on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 1:07pm.
I think is called being "edgy".
Does this sound familiar?
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 7:51am.
This kind of sounds to me like those "helpful" liberals who are always so concerned and so willing to tell Republicans what they "need to do" to win.
IOW what they want them to do.
Typical
Submitted by Utherpend on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 9:48am.
Isnt this the same show that wants all the Gay and Lesbian performers to highlight that fact but then try and put the religious kid in the closet??
I see his witness and see he
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 10:22am.
I see his witness and see he is genuine. I really did not like his rendition of piano man though.
Hi, I'm NOLAgirl and I watch American Idol
Submitted by NOLAgirl on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 10:57am.
There, my shameful secret is out. The fact that I watch it is probably the reason I have so few coherent thoughts anymore because I swear I lose brain cells every time.
Having said that, it was very obvious on last nights show that Colton's mention of God was uncomfortable for the show's people. His closing comments were rushed by Seacrest and the rising music level. I'm sure if asked, they would say it was just because they were running out of time or some such, but we all know the truth.
NOLAgirl
Submitted by Seashell on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 1:32pm.
No, not shameful at all. A I is a decent family program that on many occasions you can actually hear a great talent especially when it gets down to the final 13 or so.
I think about some of the talent that the show has brought to us: Kelly Clarkson-her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl this year was the best it's been sung in a long time. Jennifer Hudson-an Oscar winner. Fantasia, Adam Lambert (yes, I think he has an amazing voice) and many others.
But to your point. I saw the show last night and I know what you mean. Seacrest looked so uncomfortable it made me snicker. Colton will go far I think. He is talented, and I think that people are hungry for Christianity, morals and just plain goodness today, and this guy offers that. (Not to mention fairly nice looking.) :)
I voted for him last night (and while I may watch I rarely vote, but he seemed worth my time to do so).
Thanks, Sea
Submitted by NOLAgirl on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 2:00pm.
I agree, I think Colton will go far. He probably has the younger girl vote. I told my husband we probably needed to start voting, too.
I love Adam Lambert's voice as well; he is immensely talented as are the others you mentioned.
It does not matter
Submitted by John21 on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 11:43am.
He is gone, it does not matter how much talent he has or how well he can display that talent. The liberals on the panel will twist the result to send him home and provide a warning to all other contestants that they have no careers if they do not follow the politically correct liberal agenda.
Polarizing!
Submitted by bkeyser on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 12:11pm.
Not because of his faith, mind you; it's because he still needs to improve on his singing. /
Thanks, BK!
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 2:19pm.
That made me laugh.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
the new counterculture
Submitted by lotr on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 1:18pm.
This incident completely reminds me of the incident in the 60s whereby Ed Sullivan instructed Jim Morrison not to sing "girl we couldn't get much higher" (a rather innocuous poetic expression) on national TV. Of course, we all know that Jim Morrison did anyway, and this moment of defiance in the face of overly puritanical censorship was celebrated (and sensationalized) in Oliver Stone's movie.
Fast foward a paltry 45 years and we have now come full circle. Now we have the in-your-face defiance of censorship, brought on by political correctness serving the false god of hedonism, of active belief in a higher power (i.e., a direct assault on the inseparable components of the First Amendment).
Yet somehow, I won't be holding my breath for limousine-liberal Oliver Stone to celebrate the moment in film...
HOPE
Submitted by angelann1 on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 12:14am.
He is a sign of HOPE!! occubama is a sign of dispare !!!