Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Dakota Hayden from American Idol Season 20

American Idol returns to ABC on Sunday, Feb. 27. Here’s more about Dakota.

* He’s a 17-year-old singer-songwriter from Fordsville, Kentucky.

* Dakota already won one singing competition, in an online show called “Shine” in which contestants have to compete with their original music.

* He was named the show’s Season 2 champ in January 2020 after singing an original called “Already Gone,” about the loss of someone close to his family. Former Idol contestant Ashthon Jones is a judge; former Idol contestant Layla Spring is a mentor.

* Dakota told the show that his grandfather was a major inspiration and that “I just love the fact that I can change somebody else’s life through what I do.” You can check out a clip of his performances on “Shine” below. The clip also includes a snippet of another original, “Try to Change Me.”

* On his website, Dakota says he’s had a love of music since he can remember. “From old school, Johnny Cash, to the new country songs, it touches my heart and warms my soul,” he writes.

* Dakota already has more than 7,000 followers and more than 61,000 likes on his TikTok, which features mostly cover songs.

* Dakota was one of the performers at the 2020 Denims and Diamonds concert to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Dakota on social media:
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube

Keep checking back …

I’ll be posting profiles of about 50 top contestants who auditioned for American Idol Season 20. Profiles of the singers listed below will be coming soon. More names might be added. The links take you to the profiles already published.

Allegra Miles
Ashley Blaire
Ava Maybee
Betty Maxwell
Cadence Baker
Carly Mickeal
Christian Guardino
Ciasia Nicole
Cole Wesley Ritter
Corey Curtis

Dakota Hayden
Danielle Finn
Douglas Mills, Jr.
Elli Rowe
Elliot Greer
Emyrson Flora
Fritz Hager
Hunter Girl
Jacob Moran
Jay Copeland
Joedi Silvers

Jordan Chase Torrez
Jourdan Blue
Katyrah Love
Kaylin Roberson
Kelsie Dolin
Kendra Checketts
Kenedi Anderson
Kevin Gullage
Kezia Istonia (a.k.a. Lady K.)
Kirk Richmond

Leah Marlene
Lexi Weege
Max Embers
Mike Parker
Nicolina Bozzo
Noah Thompson
Olivia Faye
Paige Fish
Ryan Argast
Ryleigh Madison

Sage
Sam Moss
Scarlet Ayliz
Sir Blayke
Tobias Hill
Tristen Gressett
Tyler Allen
Valerie Marie
Wennely Quezada
Yoli Mayor