Charlotte native Josh King captured hearts across the country with his emotional performances on American Idol, ultimately making it to the Top 8 before his journey came to an end. Now, King is reflecting on the whirlwind experience and looking ahead to what’s next.
King’s final performance was a heartfelt rendition of Michael Bublé’s “Home” during the Judge’s Song Contest episode. In a memorable act of selflessness, he urged the judges to save fellow contestant Mattie Pruitt instead of himself. “I had already hit my goals,” he shared. “I sang the songs I wanted to sing, met the people I wanted to meet. I felt Mattie had more room to grow.”
Describing the Idol experience as “challenging, chaotic yet fun,” King said it pushed him to grow rapidly and introduced him to lifelong connections with fellow contestants. “The Top 24 became like a big family,” he said, adding that he formed close bonds with several, including Baylee Littrell, Desmond Roberts, and Grayson Torrence. “We were practically living together,” he said. “It was like we were trauma bonded.”
Looking back, one of his most memorable moments was performing “All by Myself” — not his best vocal showing, he admits, but one where he truly connected with the song emotionally. If given the chance, he would redo “Until I Found You” from Hollywood Week, saying he wished he’d had more time to prepare.
King, who once played piano for strangers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, said the shift to performing on national television was dramatic. “In the airport, you’re background noise. On Idol, people are watching your every move,” he said.
Now that the competition is over, King plans to focus on songwriting, recording, and potential collaborations — including possibly teaming up with fellow contestant Grayson Torrence. He’s also interested in touring opportunities and hopes to open for major acts in the future. “We’ll see where this takes me,” he said.
Despite his initial disbelief at advancing each round, King said the experience confirmed his passion for music. “For a moment, I finally got to do what I love again… and now I know this is what I want to do with my life.”
