FALL RIVER – B.M.C. Durfee High School student Colton McGrath saw his chance at appearing live on “Amercan Idol,” slip away last night when he was eliminated in the final solo rounds of Hollywood Week.
Making it to the top 48 without any interviews or song performances airing, the transgender student thanked his fans for following his “American Idol’ journey.
Then he gave his fans what they were waiting to see on TV with a Facebook Live performance of Ed Sheeran’s “Dive,” the song he performed in the solo rounds. In the live post on his Facebook page, (Colton McGrath Music) he said, “it was so sad, but I had a great time,” of the “American Idol,” journey that took him from Boston to Chicago, then to New York and Los Angeles.
In an interview on Monday with The Herald News, McGrath said the experience is “something I will carry with me for the rest of my life and has changed my music career forever for the better.”
McGrath said he will continue to watch the show, supporting his friends and fellow contestants, but he’s not rooting for anyone specifically. He’s also kept up with a lot of the contestants who are still on the show including Cade Fohner and Jonny Brenns, as well as some Massachusetts contestants who are no longer on the show.
“The best thing about this show was meeting so many amazing people. There is so much incredible talent on the show and I can't wait to see the journeys that take place,” he added.
McGrath, who was well known in the SouthCoast music scene as Cassidy before making the transition to Colton last summer, said he spoke about his transition in the interviews with American Idol judges that didn’t air.
A senior at Durfee, McGrath said he’s planning on attending Bridgewater State University in the fall to pursue a career as a professional writer. He will also use that concentration to improve his musical career and continue to perform locally.
As for another try at a reality show spot, McGrath said he’s not sure at this point, instead, he’s looking toward college in the fall. He also just released a single, “Empty Skies,” available on iTunes.