The producers of the hit show American Idol apparently told one of its top contestants to tone down his overtly Christian references if he wants to win the competition.
According to Today.com, Colton Dixon doesn't care and "plans to continue using the show and social media to spread his message of faith":
"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."
Frankly, I'm not sure the producers understand who their audience is.
Fans of the show know full well that country singers like Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, and Kelly Clarkson do well on the program because so many of the viewers are folks from red states as opposed to California and New York.
We got proof of that in 2009 when blue state favorite Adam Lambert lost in the finals to the more folksy, Arkansas-born Kris Allen.
At the time, many felt this actually became a red state-blue state battle with folks having little interest in the show casting votes to show support for liberal and conservative values.
As Allen ended up winning, Idol producers might want to rethink Dixon toning down anything as he has cruised into the top ten and definitely seems a favorite of the judges and the audience up to this point.
On the other hand, as these are the same folks that decided to pay tribute to President Obama in the middle of Wednesday's show, their political views might regularly get in the way of knowing what's in their financial best interest.
As for Dixon, he's been a breath of fresh air in this writer's opinion, and that was before I had any idea what his religious beliefs were.
Just seemed like a fine young man with a heck of a voice to me.
