After five grueling tryout stages, American Idol has advanced to the Hollywood Week round, where the chosen candidates will perform solo and in pairs under various obstacles. The show will broadcast on ABC on Sunday, April 2 at 8 p.m. ET. Dawson Wayne is a singer-songwriter who cleared the American Idol off-camera tryout and will move on to the Hollywood Week round.
Last August, he auditioned for Zoom’s famous music challenge. Wayne traveled to Nashville to perform live in front of judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie. Dawson is one of 150 contestants who got a “yes” from all three evaluators and will now compete for a spot among the top 24 vocalists.
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Dawson Wayne, an American Idol competitor, has won a $4000 scholarship.
Dawson Wayne, real name Dawson Rice, is a Katy, Texas resident, and Reagan High School alumnus. He was the pit commander and percussion major for his school’s military band. Dawson used to perform on stage in the Foundations and Chamber Choir as Hello Dolly and Titanic. For his work on Titanic, he received a $4000 bursary at the Joci Awards. Wayne is presently attending Brigham Young University in Hawaii and intends to relocate to Utah.
He also wishes to attend BYU in Provo, and he published his solo record, With All My Heart (penned by someone else), last October as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ yearly student album. In a discussion about his record, the American Idol contestant revealed:
“It was the coolest thing I’ve ever done; I’ve always loved music and wanted to make a career out of it, so getting to go to this huge recording studio with this producer (Mitch Davis), who is so talented, was life-changing.”
Dawson’s life aim is to “look at the audience and give them a good show,” which they can sense and which makes them grin. Dawson published his first original single, More Me, Lonely, on the night of his Hollywood Week show. The music Wayne played during his audition is unclear, but it pleased the evaluators. Katy Perry called him “an artist in the making,” and Judge Richie added:
“I like where you’re coming from with your singing — deep within, from a spiritual place.”
Jana Rice, Wayne’s mother, disclosed that while Dawson appeared tranquil on the surface, it was his ambition to compete on American Idol. Jana was not in Hollywood at the time of Wayne’s show, so she will see him act on television for the first time with others.
What can we anticipate from the seventh show of American Idol season 21?
Golden and silver ticket holders will compete against each other in Episode 7 of American Idol season 21 to reach the final 24. Many previous champions and players in the program will guide the candidates, including:
- Justin Guarini
- Catie Turner
- Clay Aiken
- Jordin Sparks
- David Archuleta
- Noah Thompson
- Phillip Phillips
The candidates will compete in various tasks that will require them to concentrate on composition, stage appearance, and confidence with the help of these teachers. Watch American Idol on ABC this Sunday, April 2 at 8 p.m. ET to see if Dawson makes it through the Hollywood Week round.
