American Idol is back for Season 10 and we at One21music are back for our third year of coverage. However, as we did in Seasons 8 and 9, we will take a little different slant. We will identify and focus on American Idol contestants of faith.  So far we have identified five American Idol Season 10 contestants.  If you know of any other believers who have made it to Hollywood, please let us know.  We would love to feature them through out Season10.

There have been a slew of changes form previous years including an almost complete turnover of judges.  Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez have replaced Simon Cowell, Kara Diogardi and Ellen.  The schedule has changed and this year their were Myspace auditions.  It remains to be seen if these changes can bring American Idol back from the disastrous Season 8.  They can make all of the changes they want but, in the end, it is the performers who make or break the show.

American Idol Season 10’s Hollywood theater of torture is upon us.  It starts on Thursday February 10th.  American Idol will narrow the Hollywood field down to 40 for a trip to Las Vegas to perfom on the Cirque du Soliel’s Love stage.  American Idol Season 10 will then announce the Top 20 semi-finalists after Las Vegas.  We then begin voting on live performances on March 1.

We will research the American Idol Season 10 hopefuls to find those who profess their faith in Christ, and then we will follow their progress, with you, throughout American Idol  Season 10. As we head into Hollywood week, keep your eyes open for these faith based performers we have found so far.

American Idol Season 10 Christian Performers

Ashton Ahmirr’ Jones

Home: Nashville, TN
Audition City: Nashville, TN

Originally from Valdosta, Ga, Ashton Ahmirr’ Jones has won several local Nashville music scene awards, including a Ville Award for “Best R&B Female for Hip Hop”.  She has performed with Amy Grant and has released an album titled Introducing Ashton Jones.

Ashton Jones was a runaway at 15 but proclaims a strong faith.  “My faith in God saved my life.  Even when I was living on my own, I never strayed from the core values I learned in Church.”

Brittany Mazur

Home: Tucson, AZ
Audition City: San Francisco, Ca

This teen beauty queen competed in beauty contests through out her formative years. Brittany Mazur is a former Ms. America Outstanding Teen and is the reigning Miss Tucson.  Based on what we have seen of Brittany Mazur on youTube she seems to prefer big bombastic pop songs.

Raised by Christian parents, she didn’t make the leap of faith herself until last year.”My parents didn’t push me. I made the decision to be a Christian,” she said. “It makes my belief in God my own.”

Colton Dixon

Home Town: Murfreeboro, TN
Audtion City: Nashville, TN

Colton Dixon auditioned with his sister Schyler.  He fronts the Christian rock band, Messenger, and leads worship for a youth gathering called New Vision. Colton graduated from Middle Tennessee Christian School. He sang “Hanging By a Moment” by Lifehouse for his audition and says the artists he admires include Skillet, Casting Crowns and Chris Tomlin.
Colton Dixon describes himself as, “simply a guy who desires to know and further the Kingdom. I love music, love God and love people.

Jimmie Allen

Hometown: Lewes Beach, DE
Audition City: Nashville, TN

Jimmie Allen is a active Christian music performer with two pop/rock releases “Comet” and Back2Mercury EP on the market.  After high school, Jimmie Allen put together a demo showcasing his talents as a singer and songwriter. He began taking trips to New York City banging on doors, and passing around his music.

Jimmie Allen made his way to Tennessee and work began immediately. Within two days of his arrival, Jimmie and producer Kevin Wayne had written and recorded a song that solidified Jimmie’s sound and musical direction. Within a few months, major labels, managers, and agents were showing interest in the new artist.

Tiwan Strong

Hometown: Racine, WI
Audition City: Milwaukee, WI

Tiwan Strong is an acapella, jazz, R&B, Christian music singer.  His interpretation of “Twisting The Night Away” showed his strong jazz roots and was one of the highlights of the Milwaukee auditions.

Father of two, Tiwan Strong contributed his singing voice to saxophonist Jeremy Scott’s 2005 smooth jazz release Movin’ On.

Please, if you know of any other Christian performers who have made it to Hollywood, please let us know and we will feature them each week on American Idol Season 10.