Singer/songwriter Colton Dixon first caught the public’s attention on season 11 of American Idol. Dixon’s soaring vocals and upfront spirituality connected with audiences enough to secure a seventh-place finish, and it didn’t take long for the charismatic rocker to land a record deal. The resulting A Messenger, his debut for Sparrow Records, was released in 2013.

Despite all the life-changing opportunities of the past few years, Colton is still pretty much the same guy that left Tennessee for Hollywood. Home base is still in Murfreesboro, which speaks as much to his grounded foundation as it does to his hectic schedule. If music hadn’t worked out, Colton probably would have gone into ministry. His passion for inspiring people and meeting them where they are may have been put to use pastoring a church, leading worship full-time or serving as a youth minister. Instead, music just happens to be the tool God gave him to minister to others.