Jermaine Sellers photo from press kit
Top 24 American Idol Finalists
The list of Top 24 American Idol finalists has been leaked, and several artists with gospel music ties have made the 2010 list. While we are just starting to get the scoop on these contestants and more information will be forthcoming, here are the ones known to have gospel ties: Lacey Brown, Chris Golightly, Ben Honeycutt and Jermaine Sellers.
Lacey Brown
Out of the top 12 women, Lacey Brown, who made the Hollywood semi-finals in the last season of American Idol, returned this year and has reportedly made the Top 24 list. According to Nashville American Idol blogger Brian Mansfield, Brown's parents co-pastor Victory Church in Amarillo, Texas.
Christopher “Chris” Golightly
Chris Golightly has said he was raised in various foster homes and turned to music at an early age as an emotional release "to tell his story through singing" (e-styling). Today Golightly attends Calvary Church in Santa Ana, California. Brian Mansfield reports Golightly's pastor recently blogged that Chris Golightly sang in the congregation's Christmas pageant.
Ben Honeycutt
Before trying out for American Idol, Ben Honeycutt was in the Christian band Candlefuse. Christian Activities reports Candlefuse appeared at Gospel Music Week in 2007 with their their 2006 release Never Go Unheard produced by gospel music's Barry Blair (Audio Adrenaline, Bleach) who also produced their self-titled EP, which was released in early 2005. According to Honneycutt's website, he is as a worship leader at The Church at Catoosa in Ringgold, Georgia.
Jermaine Sellers
Jermaine Sellers was a finalist on BET's Gospel competition, "Sunday Best" in 2007. He served as assistant choir director and participated in the church’s praise and worship team growing up. According to his MySpace page, Sellers recently appeared on BET’s "Bobby Jones Gospel" and is working on a new BET show called "106 & Park Generation Gospel." He hopes to record a contemporary gospel album some time in 2009.
The Other Top 24 American Idol Finalists:
Men
Tyler Grady
Lee DeWyze
Jose Munoz
Andrew Garcia
Casey James
Aaron Kelly
Alexander Lambert
Michael Lynche
John Park
Women
Michelle Delamor
Katelyn Epperly
Ashley Rodriguez
Lillian “Lilly” Scott
Katie Stevens
Haeley Vaughn
Janell Wheeler
Siobhan Magnus
Vered Didi Benami
Crystal Bowersox
Paige Dechausse
If you know of any other American Idol finalists with a gospel music connection, please leave a comment below!
Comments
Bryan Walker used to sing in Southern Gospel. I know he made it to Hollywood, but am not seeing his name on the top 24 list anywhere.
Thank you for this info. I don't think he made it into the top 24 which is why I didn't mention him.
Uh. Just for the record that isn't Ben's website. This is his official site: benhoneycuttmusic [dot] com. (I personally know Ben and I used to run the Candlefuse website back in the day.)
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