After spending two seasons competing on the primetime talent show American Idol, singer Colton Dixon embarked on a professional career as a Christian music artist in 2013.
‘A Messenger’
Mr. Dixon grew up in a tight-knit Christian household that fostered his love of music. He found his earliest musical influences in church, where he sang in the choir throughout high school.
“American Idol was all the churchgoers’ guilty pleasure to watch as a family. … Our family grew up going to church and when ‘Idol’ was on, it was the thing we did.”
He made it through the rigorous audition rounds and appeared on the show multiple seasons. First, he competed during Season 10, but didn’t make the final round when the show culled its cast members down to 24 contestants. But he made it onto the show again in Season 11. This time, he went much further. He made seventh place by the season’s end.
The Power of Praise
Mr. Dixon blends pop, rock, and singer-songwriter styles together when he creates. While the music is important to him when songwriting, the importance of the message is greater. He detailed the ways he uses his music to bring people closer to their faith:
“Any opportunity that I have, I want to use that to glorify Him [God]. … It’s so much bigger than just me. Don’t get me wrong; I love writing songs; I love crafting a great live show. I love doing all those things. But the goal is to maybe illuminate new things for people about God that they didn’t know or just to … give joy to people.”
A Miracle Baby
Mr. Dixon stays busy performing on the road and recording in the studio, but he understands the importance of being there for his family. He spoke of his commitment to his wife and children, saying, “The moment my wife is like, ‘Hey, we think we need you at home,' ... I’m home.” He added, “I’m still learning how to manage. But I know at the end of the day, that’s what it needs to be.”
In 2020, as he and his wife welcomed twin baby girls into the world, his presence at home was needed more than ever. When his wife Annie gave birth to Ava Dior and Athens Elizabeth, doctors couldn’t find Ava’s pulse. The medical staff worked quickly to resuscitate her. She spent several days in the neonatal intensive care unit before she was strong enough to come home. Both Colton and Annie call Ava their “miracle baby.”
He recalled the experience and how they relied on their faith to get them through it:
“God works through people a lot of the time. … We had a little scare with one of our twins at birth, and I’m so thankful for doctors, for nurses, for first responders. … I’m super thankful for what they do.”
Though his family is thriving, the day his twins were born put things into perspective. As he continues to work on new music and tour America, he prioritizes staying in communication with God and making sure his family always knows he’s there for them, no matter how busy he gets.
“It’s something you have to be intentional about. … I think it’s something that you have to constantly check in to make sure that you’re doing what God has asked you to do. So for me, it’s checking in and it’s a daily conversation with God. It’s a relationship and, not only that, but even with my wife as well.”
As he juggles a successful music career and a growing family, he finds having a clear vision about his priorities not only allows him to be the best version of himself for his professional and personal relationships, but also brings him peace through life’s many twists and turns. For Mr. Dixon, “It’s God first, family second, ministry third.”
