CLT Pianist Lands on “American Idol”
“Sing us a song, you’re the piano man, sing us a song tonight,” crooned the legendary Billy Joel.
Another piano man - this one from the Queen City - could emerge as the next breakout star of “American Idol.”
Singer, songwriter and musician Josh King is competing in Season 23 of the popular ABC show, and if he looks familiar, it’s because you might have seen him tickling the ivories and belting out tunes at the Airport.
“It’s very exciting to have one of our volunteer piano players as an American Idol contestant,” said Charles Tabor, CLT Airport exhibit coordinator. “I’m excited not only for Josh to get this opportunity, but also for CLT and the other players in the piano program, who will gain exposure and hopefully opportunities like this.”
The 24-year-old King has been a CLT volunteer since 2018, performing on the baby grand piano in the Airport Atrium. “I remember seeing a piano at the Airport when I flew in once, so I reached out to see if I could volunteer,” he said. “I love to watch planes, so being able to play piano and watch the aircraft taxi out is pretty nice.”
The volunteer piano gig has its perks, like having one of the Beach Boys stop by to give career advice or joining classical violinist and YouTube star Rob Landes for an impromptu concert during his layover at CLT.
Volunteer Piano Program
King is one of six professional musicians who perform regularly at CLT Airport, sharing their talents with the traveling public passing through the Atrium. To be considered, the pianists must apply to the program, audition and display a vast song library. They also must be able to engage with inquiring customers and positively represent the City of Charlotte and CLT.
“A lot of passengers are stressed out from traveling and the presence of live music is a brief respite for many of them,” said King. “So, a lot of people feel comfortable coming up to the pianists to share what they are going through.”
Auditioning for Idol
Last fall, King successfully auditioned for “American Idol” and received a golden ticket to advance to the Hollywood round - quite an achievement considering tens of thousands of singers submitted online audition videos for show producers before being invited to a live audition in front of the judges in Nashville.
“It was a relatively challenging drive as it was only a few days after Hurricane Helene, and a large portion of I-40 was closed due to the damage,” recalled King. “My dad helped with the drive so I could use the time to prepare for the audition.”
How It Began
King’s musical journey began as a child when the late James Cotton, a Grammy-winning American blues harmonica legend, mentored him. Cotton encouraged King to explore different genres, which led to his unique sound. King says if Cotton were still with us, he would probably tell him “Not to let the pressure get into my head.”
Thank You, CLT!
No matter what happens on his “American Idol” journey, King says his goal is to be a performer for the rest of his life. “I appreciate all the support everyone has shown me over the years,” added King. “Every tip and message people have left me at CLT has been invaluable in helping me follow my dreams and encouraging me not to give up. So, I just want to say, ‘thank you!’”
Several other contestants from North Carolina launched successful music careers after competing on the show, including Charlotte’s own Fantasia Barrino, Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler, Scotty McCreery and Caleb Johnson.
Want to Vote for Josh?
Season 23 of “American Idol” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC-TV. Tune in to watch Josh compete and cast your vote!