American Idol season 18 hopeful Dillon James shares his story of sobriety and redemption before performing Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel Me Love” for judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.
Dillon explains that he had a good upbringing but met his “trials and tribulations” through drugs and alcohol. He shares that “a lot of things happened to me that made me turn into the man I am today, trying to do better than what I was doing before.”
American Idol 2020 Auditions 3 Preview: Meet the Contestants! (PHOTOS)
American Idol 2020: Genavieve Linkowski’s Heartbreaking Return (Video)
American Idol 2020: Yodeler Gives Katy Perry a Lesson (VIDEO)
Currently, he’s working at his dad’s asphalt company in Bakersfield, California, a job that still affords him time to pursue music. “I fell in love with music at an early age, and never fell out of love with it,” Dillon explains. Several years ago the singer began his slide into drug and alcohol use. Eventually, he found himself out on the streets with no money, amid suicidal thoughts. Thankfully, he turned to his family, who helped Dillon find his way to the light. The singer has been sober for two years.
Dillon’s plaintive rendition of the classic Dylan tune impresses the judges. Luke calls the performance real, honest and unexpected. He compares his vocal to 90s pop singer, Chris Isaak. Lionel fells the singer made the song his own.
Katy finds Dillon “mysterious,” calling him a “country Post Malone.” Is the comparison to Malone because of Dillon’s extensive body art? He shows the panel the giant depiction of Jesus he has tattooed on his torso (!!!). In any case, Dillon would be crazy to tattoo that pretty face, amiright? Heh.
A tid bit NOT mentioned during Dillon’s video package: The substance abuse occurred as he pursued an acting career on Los Angeles. Dillon has a short resume of movies filmed between 2010-2015.
American Idol Auditions 3 airs tonight (March 1) on ABC at 8 pm ET/PT
Watch American Idol 2020 Contestant Dillon James Sing “To Make You Feel My Love.”
https://youtu.be/drURFdS9NZE
