Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Dan Marshall from American Idol Season 20

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

* His full name is Daniel Marshall Griffith, and if you head to his Instagram page, you’ll see more photos of him in a football uniform than holding a guitar.

* He’s a graduate of Virginia Tech, where he played on the football team for three years. Mostly a special teamer, he received the Paul Frederick Cobb Award for player with the most spirit at the end of the 2019 season.

* Daniel graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and agricultural business operations.

* He attended high school at Nansemond Suffolk Academy in Suffolk, Va., where he played quarterback and linebacker for the football team and helped his squad to a state title as a senior. He recorded three sacks in the 2015 state championship game.

* But he’s more recently launched a music website where he explains that he began playing piano at age 12 and guitar when he was 18.

* Daniel says his style is heavily influenced by late 1990s and early 2000s country music and rock. His website adds: “By combining slight alternative rock hooks, crisp country, and meaningful lyrics, (his) music is sure to satisfy a large range of listening tastes and backgrounds.

* And you’ll find lots of samples of his music on TikTok, where he has more than 29,000 followers and has accumulated more than 170,000 likes. He appears to have posted his first video there, a Brooks and Dunn cover, in May 2021.

* He hails from a Marine Corp family. His father retired from the Marine Corp and one of his two older brothers made 1st lieutenant.

* Dan announced his Idol audition in mid-January, thanking everyone who has supported him “ever since I decided to chase after this crazy dream.” He describes himself on Instagram as “just a singer of simple songs.”

Dan on social media:
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube

American Idol Season 20 profiles

The links take you to the profiles of singers who auditioned for Season 20 of American Idol.

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

Dakota Hayden
Dan Marshall
Danielle Clavell
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
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